The 2026 AIC Australian Rules Football season once again highlighted the strength, depth of one of Queensland’s premier school AFL competitions. With strong participation across all eight AIC Member Colleges and AIC Guest College – Ambrose Treacy College, the season showcased skill, physicality, and sportsmanship from Year 5 through to the First XVIII competition.

Each round delivered high-quality contests, with teams demonstrating significant growth in teamwork, discipline, and football ability across the course of the season. Australian Rules Football continues to grow in popularity within AIC Colleges with record numbers again participating in 2026.

First XVIII Premiership

At the premier level, the 2026 First XVIII competition delivered another close and exciting competition. In a remarkable outcome, the premiership was shared between Padua College, St Laurence’s College, and Villanova College, reflecting the incredibly even nature of the competition at the highest level. Each College demonstrated consistency, resilience, and high-quality football across the season, with no single team able to be separated at the top of the ladder.

The shared premiership highlights the competitive balance of AIC AFL and is a testament to the standard of play across the First XVIII competition in 2026. It is also the 4th year in a row, the First XVIII Premiership has been shared showing an outright undefeated premiership in this competition is hard to achieve.

Aggregate Champions

St Laurence’s College claimed the 2026 AIC AFL Aggregate Shield, recognising outstanding performance and consistency across all year levels. St Laurence’s retained the Aggregate Shield for another year- continuing the South Brisbane’s school’s record of being the only school to have claimed the aggregate title since Australian Rules Football was reintroduced into the AIC Secondary school program in 2019.

In a strong overall campaign, Villanova College finished as runners-up in the aggregate standings, with both Colleges demonstrating impressive depth and development throughout the season.

The Aggregate title reflects the collective strength of a College’s AFL program, rewarding sustained performance across all teams and divisions.

Year Level Premierships

Premiership success across the various year levels was shared among several Colleges, reinforcing the depth and balance of AIC AFL.

Year 5 and 6

The AIC Primary fixtures on a Saturday morning expanded in 2026, with increased numbers. Having outgrown capacity at the traditional primary school playing venue at Yeronga, for the first time primary school fixtures were split between Yeronga and Iona College. The AIC would like to thank Iona for their willingness to support the competition by also hosting these primary school fixtures.

The younger age groups highlighted the future strength of AIC AFL, with emerging talent, enthusiasm, and strong fundamentals evident across all Colleges.

Acknowledgements

The AIC extends its sincere thanks to all coaches, staff, umpires, and volunteers who contributed to the success of the 2026 AFL season.

We also acknowledge and thank AFL Queensland (AFLQ) for their ongoing support of the AIC competition, which continues to play an important role in the development and growth of schoolboy Australian Rules Football in Queensland.

The AIC would also like to acknowledge and sincerely thank those AFL clubs in Brisbane that hosted fixtures each and every week, along with those clubs who provided facilities for rounds during the season. A massive thank you to Yeronga AFC, Wynnum AFC, Aspley AFC, Zillmere AFC and Coorparoo AFC for their support every week of the season and to Springfield AFC, Moorooka AFC, Calamvale AFC, Kenmore AFC and Sandgate AFC for their support in hosting AIC fixture rounds during the season.

Photos supplied by AIC Colleges and Ambrose Treacy College