Richie Lyons with outgoing Head of AFL Queensland Trisha Squires.
Richie Lyons is the new Head of AFL Queensland after Trisha Squires was appointed the AFL’s Head of AFLW Operations.
Lyons brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the role, having worked in the AFL industry for more than 22 years.
Starting his career on the Sunshine Coast as a trainee, Lyons has held roles at AFL offices across Mt Isa, Townsville and the Gold Coast. From 2020-2024 he held the senior roles of Queensland Participation Manager and Queensland Participations and Operations Manager.
Lyons most recent role was the national Head of Participation for the AFL. In 2025, the AFL achieved a national participation record, with more than 625,000 registered participants.
Revered by AFL colleagues and highly connected in Queensland community football, Lyons has played a crucial role in the game’s growth in the state over the past 20 years.
Lyons said he was honoured to become Head of AFL Queensland.
“I came to Queensland from Adelaide at 15 years old and having the opportunity to play a role in the growth and awareness of the game over the past 22 years is something I am incredibly proud of,” he said.
“With Queensland having 91,000 registered participants and on track for further growth in 2026, we have put the country on notice that we are becoming a ‘traditional’ AFL state.
“In this role, I want to continue the AFL Queensland team’s hard work in growing overall participation, particularly women and girls, and offering new ways to play.”
“On behalf of the entire AFL Queensland community and staff, I extend a heartfelt thanks to Trisha Squires for her leadership and advocacy in growing the game in Queensland.”
Under Squires' leadership, AFL Queensland achieved five participation records, with the most recent surging past 91,000 registered participants. Queensland now sits second in participation nationally, only behind Victoria.
In late 2020, after arriving in Queensland, she navigated the organisation through the uncertainty of the pandemic and was a key driver in AFL Queensland’s Grand Final Facilities Fund with the Queensland Government, a legacy facilities initiative following the 2020 Toyota AFL Grand Final being held in Queensland. The fund has since supported more than 100 projects for Queensland AFL community clubs and facilities to a total project value of over $120 million.
In 2024 Trisha was named QSport's Gallagher Sports Administrator of the Year.
Trisha thanked all AFL Queensland staff, community clubs, umpires, volunteers and the Brisbane Lions and Gold Coast SUNS for their support over the past five years.
“It was an honour and privilege to lead such a high performing team and be a custodian of our great game in one of the most exciting chapters in its history in Queensland,” she said.
“I want to recognise the commitment of our AFLQ staff and thank our broader AFL ecosystem- our community clubs, volunteers, umpires, government and commercial partners, and the Brisbane Lions and Gold Coast SUNS - for their support and shared passion.”
Squires will be based at the Brisbane AFL office in her new role.