Southern Power Australian Football Club

Community Football in the Sutherland Shire

The Southern Power Australian Football Club has been part of the Sutherland Shire’s football community since 1972. Based at Waratah Oval in Sutherland, the club provides opportunities for men and women to play Australian Rules Football through AFL Sydney’s divisional competitions.

Southern Power’s approach combines competitive football with a welcoming environment for players, members and families. The club’s stated values emphasise sportsmanship, integrity and unity, alongside its ambition to strengthen Australian Rules Football within the Shire.

Football at Southern Power

Men’s Football

In 2026, Southern Power fielded men’s teams in AFL Sydney Division Two, Division Four and Division Six, providing three levels of open-age competition within the same club. This structure allows players to participate at different standards while remaining part of the Southern Power football community.

The men’s program has competed under several divisional structures throughout its history, with premierships and Grand Final appearances across senior, reserves and lower-grade football.

Women’s Football

Southern Power’s women competed in AFL Sydney Women’s Division One in 2026, following a Women’s Division Two Grand Final appearance in 2025. The program has a history of both team success and individual recognition, including a Women’s Division Two premiership in 2014.

Home Ground: Waratah Oval

Southern Power’s home is Waratah Oval, at 42 Rawson Avenue, Sutherland NSW 2232. The club relocated from Gwawley Oval in Taren Point in July 2016, beginning a new chapter in its development.

The move was supported by a long-term partnership with the Miranda Bombers Junior Australian Football Club, together with assistance from AFL NSW/ACT and Sutherland Shire Council. The clubs worked towards creating a shared football facility serving both junior and senior participation.

Facilities for Players and Supporters

The Waratah development includes a clubhouse, home and away change rooms, showers, lockers, a canteen, floodlighting and an electronic scoreboard. Following initial matches in late 2016 and subsequent ground works, both clubs played their first full seasons at the upgraded venue in 2018.

Club History and Development

From the Southern Sharks to Southern Power

Founded in 1972 as the Sutherland Australian Football Club, the club originally competed in the Sydney Football Association and became known as the Southern Sharks. In 2008, members voted to adopt the Southern Power name, creating a distinct identity from the many other sporting teams in the region using the Sharks name.

Premiership Success Across the Grades

Southern Power’s published history records success across men’s senior and reserve grades, women’s football and age-group competitions. Early milestones included First Grade and Reserve Grade premierships in 1984, followed by another Reserve Grade title in 1986. Later achievements included the 2013 Men’s Division One premiership, the 2014 Women’s Division Two premiership, and success in the Platinum Division and Platinum Reserves competitions. Its Under 19s also claimed Division Two premierships in 2018 and 2020.

Junior Connections and Player Development

Southern Power’s partnership with the Miranda Bombers connects junior and senior football at the same venue. The Waratah facilities were developed with the aim of supporting participation across age groups and creating stronger local development opportunities within the Sutherland Shire. The club’s historical Under 19 premierships also demonstrate its involvement in age-group football. Players and families considering their next step should contact the club for current team availability and registration information, as age groups and competition gradings can change between seasons.

AFL Sydney and the Sydney Football League

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

AFL Sydney will continue alongside the SFL, providing men’s and women’s divisional football, underage competitions and Masters football. This maintains opportunities for clubs and players with different experience levels, commitments and football ambitions.

Find Out More

Visit Southern Power’s official website for registration, training information, club contacts, fixtures and historical records.