The Broadbeach Cats will enter the Bond University QAFLW competition in 2026 after AFL Queensland granted a licence to the club earlier this week.
The Cats have long been a powerhouse for women and girls' Australian rules football in Queensland and this entry into the QAFLW will provide them a full pathway for girls from grassroots all the way through to the state’s premier women’s competition.
At the conclusion of the 2024 season, AFL Queensland identified the need to explore the possibility of adding another QAFLW licence in the Gold Coast region for the 2026 season. The growth of female participation, overall talent, the strength of the Gold Coast SUNS Academy program and the elevation of two clubs, Morningside and Moreton Bay Lions in 2025, drove this demand. All TPIL Lawyers QFAW clubs within the Gold Coast region were invited to express their interest to enter the competition in 2026.
This week AFL Queensland awarded the licence to Broadbeach following a thorough assessment of the competition landscape and measured the club’s alignment with the QAFL and QAFLW Optimum Standards Framework.
In 2025 Broadbeach were the 2025 TPIL Lawyers QFAW Division 1 premiers and their performances earned them the ability to test themselves at the next level.
The Cats have pathways, structures and upgraded facilities plans in place to ensure they can achieve success on and off the field.
The Broadbeach juniors have the largest female junior base on the Gold Coast, with a 55 per cent growth in participation since 2022 and have Division 1 teams across all Youth Girls age groups.
Female specific changerooms are to be constructed and they have ongoing investment to support continued growth and high-performance environments.
With the addition of the Cats in the QAFLW, Broadbeach will be represented across both the TPIL Lawyers QAFL and Bond University QAFLW competitions. The Cats high performance program is highly regarded, having won the QAFL Premiership in 2021.
Head of AFL Queensland and International Trisha Squires congratulated the Cats on their promotion to the QAFLW.
“We are excited to grant a third Gold Coast based club a QAFLW licence to further strengthen the competition,” she said.
“Broadbeach have demonstrated that they are ready for the next step in their women’s program, having success on the field in the TPIL Lawyers QFAW Division 1 and creating strong foundations at the club.
“With such strong numbers in girls’ participation, it is pleasing that they can now see a full pathway from Broadbeach juniors, through to our premier women’s competition.
“We have seen exciting talent come through Broadbeach, including the Gold Coast SUNS’ Tara Harrington, so we look forward to seeing what they can produce in 2026.”
Broadbeach Cats Women’s Operations Manager Alera Heyward said this elevation into the QAFLW will strengthen the club’s reputation as a destination club for female players.
“Broadbeach is excited to take the next step into the QAFLW and contribute to the next chapter of women’s football in Queensland,” she said.
“We have the talent, resources, infrastructure, and strategic intent to ensure success both on and off the field.”
The Bond University QAFLW fixture will be finalised in January 2026.