Australian Football

Sherwood Districts

Formed in 1991 following a merger between the Western Districts and Sherwood Football Clubs, West Brisbane enjoyed premiership success in 1996 with a 17.10 (112) to 8.10 (58) grand final defeat of Mt Gravatt.

After several seasons out of Queensland football’s leading state competition the club returned, under a new name, the Western Magpies, in 2001.

As part of a large scale restructuring operation at the end of the 2004 season, the Magpies were invited to participate in the Queensland state competition’s Division Two competition from 2005. They won their first premiership at this level in 2006, pulling away from Noosa in the second half of the grand final to win with apparent comfort by 51 points, after leading by just 4 points at the main break. Final scores were Western Magpies 19.13 (127) to Noosa 11.10 (76). The Magpies again reached the Division Two grand final the following year only to lose to Palm Beach Currumbin. 

In October 2007 it was announced that the Western Magpies would be admitted to the state league’s first division competition in 2009. AFLQ chief executive Richard Griffiths confirmed the reinstatement following ongoing discussions with the Magpies and significant progress by the club on and off the field over the past year. He said the club had been given a twelve month lead-in to ensure all necessary preparations could be completed.

The Magpies celebrated their impending elevation by capturing a second Division Two flag in 2008. Once again opposed in the grand final by Palm Berach Currumbin they came from behind in the final term to record a highly impressive and emotional 3 point triumph with scores of 16.8 (104) to 14.17 (101).

Western Magpies are currently one of ten clubs which comprise the Queensland Australian Football League's top tier competition where they have experienced mixed fortunes, with their best return coming in 2016 when they qualified for the finals in third place which was where they ultimately finished. A year later they dropped to sixth, a result that was repeated in 2018.