REDLAND

Originally known as Victoria Point, the club was formed in 1966 by Ern Dowling, and over the next three decades it gradually grew in strength, raising its sights accordingly. After adopting the name of Redlands in 1972 it began to experience on field success, winning a premiership in 1975, and going close on several subsequent occasions.

By the 1990s Redland, which by this stage boasted the Sharks emblem, was knocking on the door of Queensland’s state league, and when it secured successive emphatic SQFA division one premierships in 1998 and 1999 the time had clearly come for elevation into elite company. An affiliation with AFL club Essendon saw the Sharks nickname consigned to history, with Redland borrowing both emblem (Bombers) and colours (black and red) from its new partner.

Although Redland has yet to procure a premiership at the elite level it is consolidating fast, and in 2001 had the satisfaction of providing a Grogan Medal winner in the shape of century goal kicker Paul O’Brien.

When AFL Queensland undertook a comprehensive restructuring exercise in 2005 the Bombers found themselves as inaugural members of the state league division one. However, a disappointing debut season saw them manage just 1 win from 18 matches to land the wooden spoon, a result which was repeated in both 2006 and 2007.