North West player numbers hit an important milestone
The number of junior players in the AFL North West has grown by 49.47% over the past 12 months.
THE number of players registered to play in the AFL North West has passed the 500 mark.
Considering in 2024 the League had 342 players registered, the figure reached so far this year is a fantastic result.
The League had endured two years of a significant drop in player numbers but the end of season audit reveals 514 players registered in 2025. A number which represents a Year-on-Year growth in player numbers of 50.29%.
There isn’t just one part of the football community in particular that the growth can be attributed to either.
Female player numbers are up 52.89%, the number of males playing this year is up 48.87%. The junior ranks have swelled by an impressive 49.47% while the senior player numbers are up by 50.61%.
The jump in this year’s figures has seen registration numbers almost return to the 2022 level. In that year Moree and Narrabri combined to field both a mens and womens team.
The New England Nomads returned to the senior competiton this year after going into recess in 2024.
AFL Northern NSW Community Football and Competition Manager Brad Greenshields said the Nomads having 66 players registered this year is a great reward for a lot of hard work but he added the growth in the League this year can’t just be attributed to the return of the Nomads.
“The number of addtional registrations the Nomads seniors have brought in this year accounts for 36% of the total number of added registrations this year, Greenshields said.
“A look at the Year-on-Year numbers shows that all clubs have contributed to the growth. A bit more than a quarter of the growth is from an increase in junior players.
“The four senior clubs who played last year have also seen their total numbers increase from 243 last year to 301 players.”
| 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
| Glen Innes Celts | 13 | 17 | 11 | 12 |
| Gunnedah Juniors | 8 | 32 | 24 | 33 |
| Gunnedah Seniors | 79 | 75 | 49 | 60 |
| Inverell Juniors | 28 | 13 | 12 | 29 |
| Inverell Seniors | 78 | 62 | 66 | 88 |
| Moree | 42 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Narrabri | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| New England Nomads Juniors | 13 | 14 | 31 | 34 |
| New England Nomads Seniors | 75 | 68 | 4 | 66 |
| Tamworth Kangaroos | 71 | 52 | 54 | 74 |
| Tamworth Swans | 79 | 76 | 74 | 84 |
| Tamworth Roosters (Juniors) | 29 | 21 | 17 | 34 |
| TOTAL | 530 | 430 | 342 | 514 |
| YoY GROWTH/DECLINE | – | -18.87% | -20.46% | +50.29% |
| Female | 202
38.11% |
161
37.44% |
121
35.38% |
185
35.99% |
| Male | 328
61.89% |
269
62.56% |
221
64.62% |
329
64.01% |
| Junior | 91
17.17% |
97
22.56% |
95
27.78% |
142
27.63% |
| Senior | 439
82.83% |
333
77.44% |
247
72.22% |
372
72.37% |
| AFL North West Growth since 2022 | – | -18.87% | -35.47% | -3.02% |
