Aussie Rules to grow at Bribie Island with $1.8m investment

Published 02 September 2025

• City of Moreton Bay has formally handed over a new $1.8 million amenities and change room facility to the Bribie Island Junior AFL Club
• The facility includes two fit-for-purpose change rooms for visiting female Australian Rules football teams and are disability compliant
• Council’s investment ensures the club is positioned for future growth of the women’s game

Aussie Rules on Bribie Island has scored a new $1.8 million facility that is set to kick goals for female participation in the sport.

Jointly funded by City of Moreton Bay and AFL Queensland, the facility features two unisex change rooms with ambulant showers, delivering improved amenities for the Bribie Island Junior AFL Club and away teams that use the Bribie Island Sports Complex.

It comes as the Bribie Island Bulldogs celebrate a big win on the field, taking out the U13 Girls Division 2 Brisbane Grand Final last weekend.

The facility includes cubicle showers for player privacy, public amenities for game day, storage area, and a disability-compliant toilet and shower.

AFL Queensland contributed $50,000 to the project through their Grand Final Facilities Fund.

Mayor Peter Flannery said the new facility ensured the club would help cater for the growing number of female sport participants in the City of Moreton Bay.

“There is increasing demand for quality and fit-for-purpose sporting facilities to support women's participation,” he said.

“We know that Australian Rules football continues to experience strong growth in the City and with this new facility, the Bribie Island Bulldogs will be positioned to capitalise on this growth and provide welcoming and inclusive facilities at Bribie Island Sports Complex.”

Division 1 Councillor Brooke Savige said the new facility was a welcome boost, with the old amenities block having first been constructed in 1989.

“The new facility gives visiting female players a positive experience when they come to play the Bulldogs,” she said.

“With junior numbers growing every year, I’m excited for what the future holds for the women’s game at Bribie.”

Cr Savige said the facility not only improved the aesthetics but would also appeal to the broader local community for non-football events and activities.

“The installation of this modern facility now opens up the possibility of additional revenue streams generated through future venue hire,” she said.

Bribie Island Junior AFL club president Dannielle McGrath said the new building came at a critical time for the club with nearly 70 per cent of their membership being female and growing.

“It has been designed to support the growth of girls and women in sport and means that visiting female teams will now have access to modern, private and secure change rooms that meet the standards expected at all levels of the game,” she said.

“It’s a massive step forward in showing that as a club we respect every player who visits or plays here.

“Players of different genders will no longer have to share a single change room, which might seem like a small thing, but it’s hugely important for young people to feel safe and respected in sport.

“This is about future-proofing girls’ participation in AFL on the Island, we’re creating an environment that says: you belong here, and we’re ready for your future.”

Ms McGrath also highlighted the importance of the change rooms having ambulant compliant toilets and showers, particularly as the club continues to grow and cater for greater inclusivity.

“While our club has always been welcoming to our members and supporters and their diverse needs, these new change rooms take that commitment even further,” she said.

“They provide a space where players who may have previously felt awkward or uncomfortable can now feel at ease. It’s about supporting their dignity and ensuring they have the same level of support and comfort as everyone else.”

Head of AFL Queensland and International Trisha Squires was thrilled the club had a new facility.

“The Bulldogs have nurtured new talent in our game by heavily investing in their NAB AFL Auskick and junior Australian rules football programs, which are all run by dedicated volunteers,” she said.

“Since 2023 NAB AFL Auskick has grown by 156 per cent and junior Australian rules football is up 33 per cent year-on- year, with over 220 players participating in these programs this year. Women and girls’ participation has also soared year-on-year, with a 25 per cent increase in registrations in 2025.

“All of these upgrades are significant in ensuring our facilities are safe, inclusive and equitable for all.

“I would like to thank City of Moreton Bay and the Queensland Government, through our Grand Final Facilities Fund, for their investment in this project.”

City of Moreton Bay has a proud reputation for supporting grassroots clubs and community sporting facilities to champion local participation in sport to encourage healthy and active lifestyles.