AFL Capricornia is an amateur Australian rules football competition played across Central Queensland between the months of March to September. Spanning across three main regions of Central Queensland. Including Rockhampton, Gladstone and Livingstone. Popularity and Participation Rugby league being the most populous sport in the state, means that Australian rules sees only mild popularity in Central Queensland. AFL Capricornia is an amateur Australian Rules Football competition played across Central Queensland between the months of March to September, which are typically the cooler months of the Queensland climate. Traditionally the Grand Final is held in Rockhampton at the "Rockhampton Cricket Ground" or occasionally at "Stenlake Park" (last in 2011), however Gladstone has twice held the Grand Final at "Clinton Park" (2004 & 2015). Brief history Rockhampton's first football club, the Rockhampton Football Club was formed by Dr. Roberston under Australian Rules in 1873, making it the third city in the colony after Brisbane and Ipswich to take up the sport. Matches were played on the Rockhampton Cricket Reserve. By the 1880s there was a full league running in Capricornia. North Rockhampton Football Club was founded in 1885. However at the turn of the century, rugby football took hold across most of the state and the Australian rules competitions went into recess. The existing competition commenced as an informal, social competition, and in 1972 the competition expanded with clubs playing in Rockhampton and Gladstone, and later variously Blackwater, Biloela, Boyne Island and Yeppoon. During the mid to late 1980s there were eight clubs in the competition. Since 1994 there have been six clubs in the competition, with all clubs having their own grounds to train and play on. Every club currently is fielding teams in all nine competitions (A-Grade, Reserves, Women's, Under 17, Under 15, Under 13, Under 11, Under 9, & Under 7). It is the only competition in Queensland outside of Cairns and Brisbane to run a full league that includes seniors to juniors at all six clubs. Following the 1997 season the neighboring Central Highlands AFL collapsed leaving the then Capricornia AFL as the sole league for Australian Rules Football in Central Queensland. Since 1998 some fans have talked about the possibility of some former Central Highlands AFL clubs joining AFL Capricornia, however neither the leagues (AFL Capricornia or Central Highlands AFL) or any of their associated clubs have officially commented on the possibility that AFL Capricornia might expand