Newtown Breakaways AFL Club

Community Football with a Proud Women’s Football Heritage

The Newtown Breakaways Football Club is an independent senior Australian Rules Football club based in Sydney’s Inner West. Established in 2002, the club has played an important role in the development of women’s football in Sydney and now provides opportunities for both women and men to play, develop and compete.

Guided by the values “Committed. Competitive. Inclusive.”, the Breakaways welcome experienced footballers, newcomers and returning players. Their approach combines competitive football with a strong commitment to ensuring people from different backgrounds feel welcome and supported within the club.

Football at Newtown

Women’s Football

Women’s football is central to the Breakaways’ identity. In 2026, the club fielded teams in AFL Sydney Women’s Division One and Division Three, providing different levels of competition within the same football community. The Division One side remained in contention for finals until the final home-and-away round. A narrow three-point defeat against North Shore ultimately decided the final qualifying position, bringing a closely contested finish to Newtown’s campaign.

Men’s Football

Newtown introduced its first men’s team in 2020, adding a men’s program to an established women’s football club. The team made an immediate impact, winning the AFL Sydney Men’s Division Three premiership in its inaugural season. By 2026, the men’s program comprised teams in Division Three and Division Six, extending the club’s opportunities for senior participation across different grades.

Women’s Masters and Social Football

The Breakaways also support women’s participation beyond traditional open-age competition through a partnership with Balmain, operating as Sydney Women’s AFL Masters. The partnership offers social football for women aged 34 and over, welcoming newcomers, returning players and those seeking additional opportunities to play.

Home Ground: Mahoney Oval

Newtown’s home ground is Mahoney Oval at HJ Mahoney Reserve, located on Wharf Street, Marrickville. The club also uses Henson Park for selected feature events, including its Pride Round celebrations. Players and visitors should check the Breakaways’ official channels and competition fixtures for current match locations, training arrangements and event information.

Club History and Premiership Success

Breaking Away and Building a New Club

The Newtown Breakaways formed in 2002, when a group of players left the Sydney University Bombers to establish a new team in the Sydney Women’s Australian Football League. The club adopted the red and white of the Sydney Swans, beginning a distinct identity within Sydney’s women’s football community.

An Outstanding First Decade

The Breakaways won four consecutive premierships from 2002 to 2005, followed by further titles in 2009 and 2010. Their achievements were recognised with Sydney Women’s AFL Club of the Decade honours in 2011, as recorded by the Sydney Swans. A seventh women’s premiership followed in 2015.

Remembering Rebecca Burridge

Founding player Rebecca “Bec” Burridge holds a special place in Newtown’s history. A leading goalkicker and premiership player, she was recognised for her courage, loyalty and leadership. Following her death in 2015, the club continued to honour her contribution through the “Courage of Burridge” award, recognising a player who exemplifies the spirit of the Breakaways.

Pride, Inclusion and Community

Inclusion is a defining part of the Breakaways’ culture. The club’s Pride Round celebrates diversity and promotes a welcoming football environment for players, officials, volunteers and supporters, including members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

In 2020, the Rainbow Swans, the Sydney Swans’ official LGBTQIA+ supporter group, announced a partnership with Newtown supporting its Pride Round guernseys. The partnership recognised the Breakaways’ longstanding commitment to community engagement and inclusion.

That commitment remained prominent in 2026, when Newtown hosted the Sunday program of AFL Sydney’s Pride Round celebrations at Henson Park. The event featured in the AFL Sydney podcast, with Breakaways representative Ash Golden discussing its importance to the club and the wider football community.

Connections to AFLW

Newtown has also contributed to the development of players who progressed to the national women’s competition.

Eilish Sheerin began playing Australian Rules Football through friends at Newtown before moving to the Inner West Magpies. Richmond subsequently selected her with pick 58 in the 2022 AFLW Draft. Her early involvement with the Breakaways formed part of a pathway that took her from community football to the professional game.

Sheerin’s first AFLW season brought significant recognition, including the AFL Players’ Association Best First Year Player award in November 2022.

Connections with Pennant Hills

Newtown and Pennant Hills meet through AFL Sydney’s divisional competitions. The league’s 2026 Pride Round schedule included a Men’s Division Three match between the Breakaways and the Demons at Henson Park on Sunday 14 June, placing the clubs together within a broader celebration of community football and inclusion.

AFL Sydney and the Sydney Football League

Newtown competes within AFL Sydney’s divisional football structure and is not among the nine foundation clubs awarded licences for the Sydney Football League, which begins in April 2027. Its historical women’s premierships should therefore be distinguished from participation in the new SFL competition.

AFL Sydney will continue alongside the SFL, providing men’s and women’s divisional football, underage competitions and Masters football. Players seeking information about Newtown’s teams for future seasons should refer to the club’s announcements and confirmed competition gradings.

Find Out More

Visit the Newtown Breakaways website for player information, registration links, club history and community events.