About the Central Blues
Founded with a passion for growing Australian Rules Football in the heart of Toronto, the Central Blues bridge the gap between high-performance athletic achievement and a welcoming, grassroots community. Whether your goal is to represent Canada on the international stage or simply find an unbeatable social network in the city, you belong here. We operate as a proud member of AFL Ontario, competing in a structured,
competitive summer league against rival clubs across the Greater Toronto
Area, Hamilton, and Ottawa, as well as tournaments across Canada.
Explore the Club
Club Awards & Honours
Our History
From winning silverware to pioneering Ontario's very first women's footy program in 2009—sending players straight to the Canadian National Teams—our history is built on community growth, passion, and elite development from the ground up. Read more...
Our Values
Development
We don't care where your skills are today; we care about your willingness to learn. We teach kicking, handpassing, and game strategy safely from scratch.
Performance
For experienced athletes, we offer a demanding, fast-paced training environment and a direct pipeline to the Canadian National Team.
Community
A club is only as strong as its culture. From post-practice socials to summer road trips and our annual events, we build connection off the oval.
player Resources
Development
- Learn the Club Song
Get familiar with the lyrics and get ready to sing it loud after a win.
- Member Protection Policy
Review our club's code of conduct and safety guidelines for an inclusive environment
- Incident Reporting Form
A secure, direct channel to safely report any safety or conduct concerns to the executive board.
- Club Fitness & Training Programs (coming soon)
Recommended running, gym workouts, and mobility to stay match-ready.
Get familiar with the lyrics and get ready to sing it loud after a win.
- Member Protection Policy
Review our club's code of conduct and safety guidelines for an inclusive environment
- Incident Reporting Form
A secure, direct channel to safely report any safety or conduct concerns to the executive board.
- Club Fitness & Training Programs (coming soon)
Recommended running, gym workouts, and mobility to stay match-ready.
Prospective Players
- New Player Resources (coming soon)
- Introduction to Footy Guide (ask us for access)
A simple, beginner-friendly breakdown of positions, basic rules, and core skills written by the club.
- Frequently Asked Questions (coming soon)
- Introduction to Footy Guide (ask us for access)
A simple, beginner-friendly breakdown of positions, basic rules, and core skills written by the club.
- Frequently Asked Questions (coming soon)
Club Media Mentions
Canada's Australian Football League star Andrew McGrath happy to see the 'game of chaos' grow back home (By Brendan Kennedy, September 2025, The Toronto Star)
The piece directly features interviews and insights from two Central Blues players about the club's role in cultivating elite Australian football roots right here in the Greater Toronto Area.
Wombats, Emus, and the Wild World of Edmonton Footy (By InfoEdmonton Media, June 2025, InfoEdmonton)
The article explicitly credits the Central Blues as a vital pioneer in establishing the early women's competition in Eastern Canada alongside the Montreal Angels.
How Aussie Rules Football is Taking Over Downtown Toronto Parks (By blogTO Staff, July 2024, blogTO)
The article highlights the Central Blues' vibrant community presence, social culture, and open-door recruitment for Toronto athletes.
Cam’s Postcards: Part 2 (By Cameron Wood, October 2014, Carlton Football Club Official Media)
The professional AFL’s Carlton Football Club tracked player Cameron Wood’s journey to Toronto, detailing his unforgettable experience celebrating the AFL Grand Final at Paupers Pub with the club.
Growth of the Women's AFL Competition in Ontario (By CBC Sports, May 2023, CBC News Toronto)
This televised and digital feature shines a spotlight on the explosive growth of the women's AFL competition across Ontario over the last decade. The segment showcases the Central Blues' training sessions and player recruitment efforts, highlighting the club's welcoming and competitive environment.
Building a Footy Club from Scratch (By The Toronto Sports Podcast, May 2024, The Toronto Sports Podcast)
In this exclusive audio episode, the hosts sit down with the Central Blues coaching staff to talk about the unique challenges of building and sustaining an amateur Australian football club in Canada.
Goedheer Announced as New Northwind Head Coach (By AFL Canada Media, December 2021, AFL Canada)
When Sean Goedheer was named the Head Coach of the Canadian National Men's Team (the Northwind), his official appointment prominently highlighted his elite player development and leadership history with the Central Blues.
Canadian Invasion (By Hampton Rovers Media, January 2011, Hampton Rovers AFC)
This feature highlights the arrival of Central Blues players to Melbourne to train and play with the Hampton Rovers Football Club in the VAFA. The article celebrates the strong global ties and athletic exchange between the Canadian and Australian club football systems.
Australia Bound: Local Players Named to National Squad (By Iain Colpitts, July 2011, The Mississauga News)
This regional sports feature profiles standout athletes Sherelle Kelly-Witt and Lisa Tazzman following their official selection to the Canadian Women's National Team (the Northern Lights). The article tracks their development with the Central Blues squad ahead of their journey to represent Canada at the International Cup tournament in Australia.
Inaugural Jersey Days (By WAFA Media, May 2009, Women’s Australian Football Association)
As pioneers of the sport, the Central Blues proudly established Ontario's very first organized women’s Australian Rules football team over a decade ago. Follow the early tournament archives and match logs of the trailblazing "Lady Central Blues" squads via the Women’s Australian Football Association Archive.
The piece directly features interviews and insights from two Central Blues players about the club's role in cultivating elite Australian football roots right here in the Greater Toronto Area.
Wombats, Emus, and the Wild World of Edmonton Footy (By InfoEdmonton Media, June 2025, InfoEdmonton)
The article explicitly credits the Central Blues as a vital pioneer in establishing the early women's competition in Eastern Canada alongside the Montreal Angels.
How Aussie Rules Football is Taking Over Downtown Toronto Parks (By blogTO Staff, July 2024, blogTO)
The article highlights the Central Blues' vibrant community presence, social culture, and open-door recruitment for Toronto athletes.
Cam’s Postcards: Part 2 (By Cameron Wood, October 2014, Carlton Football Club Official Media)
The professional AFL’s Carlton Football Club tracked player Cameron Wood’s journey to Toronto, detailing his unforgettable experience celebrating the AFL Grand Final at Paupers Pub with the club.
Growth of the Women's AFL Competition in Ontario (By CBC Sports, May 2023, CBC News Toronto)
This televised and digital feature shines a spotlight on the explosive growth of the women's AFL competition across Ontario over the last decade. The segment showcases the Central Blues' training sessions and player recruitment efforts, highlighting the club's welcoming and competitive environment.
Building a Footy Club from Scratch (By The Toronto Sports Podcast, May 2024, The Toronto Sports Podcast)
In this exclusive audio episode, the hosts sit down with the Central Blues coaching staff to talk about the unique challenges of building and sustaining an amateur Australian football club in Canada.
Goedheer Announced as New Northwind Head Coach (By AFL Canada Media, December 2021, AFL Canada)
When Sean Goedheer was named the Head Coach of the Canadian National Men's Team (the Northwind), his official appointment prominently highlighted his elite player development and leadership history with the Central Blues.
Canadian Invasion (By Hampton Rovers Media, January 2011, Hampton Rovers AFC)
This feature highlights the arrival of Central Blues players to Melbourne to train and play with the Hampton Rovers Football Club in the VAFA. The article celebrates the strong global ties and athletic exchange between the Canadian and Australian club football systems.
Australia Bound: Local Players Named to National Squad (By Iain Colpitts, July 2011, The Mississauga News)
This regional sports feature profiles standout athletes Sherelle Kelly-Witt and Lisa Tazzman following their official selection to the Canadian Women's National Team (the Northern Lights). The article tracks their development with the Central Blues squad ahead of their journey to represent Canada at the International Cup tournament in Australia.
Inaugural Jersey Days (By WAFA Media, May 2009, Women’s Australian Football Association)
As pioneers of the sport, the Central Blues proudly established Ontario's very first organized women’s Australian Rules football team over a decade ago. Follow the early tournament archives and match logs of the trailblazing "Lady Central Blues" squads via the Women’s Australian Football Association Archive.