Formation of Thirds and Fourths sides

In 2006 a large increase in player numbers resulted in the formation of a men's Thirds side. The Thirds team, which also included players from the Griffith University Gladiators, played in the reserves competition of Division 2 of the newly formed SEQAFL competition. ^[6] 2009 represented another year of growth for the club, with unprecedented player numbers allowing the creation of a men's Fourths side for the first time, which persisted for six seasons. ^[7]

Reserve side success

The 9 seasons from 2006 to 2014 represented a highly successful period for UQAFC's men's reserve sides, with the Seconds and Fourths securing 7 flags for the club, including a "threepeat" by the Fourths team in 2012, 2013 and 2014.

2011-2012: Seniors make consecutive grand finals

In 2011 and 2012 the men's Seniors side had their best chance in decades at ending their flag drought. They dominated the competition in both years, finishing as minor premiers with 15–2 and 14–2 win-loss records respectively. However, they could not convert this dominance into premiership glory, as they were defeated both times in the grand final at the hands of Coorparoo. ^{[10] [11]}

After these two grand final defeats, the Senior side's performance declined sharply in the next few years. Following the AFLQ's decision to re-structure their South East Queensland competitions for 2014, the Red Lions Senior side joined the newly re-formed QAFL. UQAFC's new women's side also moved from the SEQAFLW to the QAFLW. ^[12]

Women's Seniors go back-to-back

The women's senior team dominated the competition in the 2021 and 2022 seasons, with coach Ross Clayfield delivering the side's first taste of premiership success with back-to-back QAFLW flags. In 2021 they faced Bond University in the premiership decider. The Bull Sharks jumped out of the blocks and led at half-time, but the Red Lionesses rallied in the second half for a dominant 40-point win. ^[15] In 2022 they faced Southport, ^[16] and found themselves a goal down at the final change; but Ava Seton kicked truly in the dying minutes to send the game to extra time. Just moments into extra time, Megan Hunt's clearing kick to the goal square was brought to ground by Jess Stellard, who beat her defender and kicked the winning goal. The Red Lionesses held on for the next few minutes to win by 7 points in an all-time QAFLW classic. ^[17]

Consecutive prelims for Men's Seniors

After winning the wooden spoon in 2023, the men's Seniors surged up the ladder and pushed deep into finals. They lost consecutive preliminary finals in 2024 and 2025, falling short of reaching the premiership decider both times, denying them a chance to end their 41 year flag drought. ^{[18] [19]}

Men's Reserves make grand final

In their third preliminary final in a row, the reserves side were finally victorious and made it through to the 2025 Div 1 Reserves Grand Final. They faced Springwood and battled hard to keep scores level at half time, but kicked just 2 goals to 11 in the second half and lost by 55 points. ^[20]

Thirds win maiden premiership

The Red Lions Thirds side also returned to finals after a number of years in the wilderness, and in 2023 qualified for the second grand final in their history with a thrilling 3-point preliminary final victory over bitter rivals Ferny Grove, that was decided by a kick after the siren. The following week they faced Caloundra in the grand final, but lost by 14 points in a low-scoring affair in which Caloundra dominated the play. ^[21]

The following season saw outgoing coach Peter Rosengren be replaced by assistant coach Brett Hayes. In his first season, they finished minor premiers and played Glasshouse Hinterland in the 2024 Div 4 North Grand Final. The game was a tense and low-scoring affair, and despite wasteful goalkicking and a late surge from the opposition, the Red Lions held on to win by 7 points, securing the side's maiden premiership in a thrilling finish. ^[22]

Early history

As two large inner-Brisbane clubs, separated by just 4 km, UQ and Coorparoo have been intense local rivals since the club's early days. Within the first 8 years of UQAFC's establishment, the two clubs had already met in the 1961 and 1964 grand finals of the QANFL's second-tier competition, with the Red Lions emerging victorious on both occasions. ^[24] With the establishment of the SQAFA in 1970, UQ moved to the new competition, with Coorparoo staying in the QAFL, leading to an extended hiatus in regular fixtures between the clubs.

Suffering under significant financial strain in 1993, the Roo's left the QAFL and joined the Red Lions in the Brisbane Australian Football League (BAFL) for the 1994 and 1995 seasons, before the club folded in 1996. The establishment of a new Coorparoo club in 1999 ensured that the clubs would continue to face each other on a regular basis in the new millenium.

Recent finals

The Kings defeated the Red Lions in consecutive grand finals in 2011 and 2012 and denied the men's Seniors from ending their lengthy premiership drought. Both results were considered significant upsets, as the Red Lions had dominated both seasons and finished minor premiers. ^{[10] [11]} The two clubs would meet again in the 2024 preliminary final of the QFA Division 1 Seniors competition, with Coorparoo winning by 26 points. ^[25] UQAFC's women's senior side faced Coorparoo in the 2018 QWAFL Seniors preliminary final, with Coorparoo winning by 16 points. ^[26]

The Red Lions Thirds side has also faced Coorparoo's Thirds and Fourths sides in a number of seasons in the 2010s and 2020s. The Kings emerged 25-point elimination final victors over the Friday night Red Lions team in the 2021 QFA Div 4 season. ^[27] The Coorparoo Fourths would also thwart the UQAFC Thirds team's attempt to win back-to-back premierships. The Red Lions travelled to Giffin Park for their final match of the 2025 QFA Division 3 Brisbane North home-and-away season, needing a victory to secure a place in the finals; unless Aspley was able to defeat Mayne in the same round. Despite their status as significant underdogs, Coorparoo rose to the occasion, and they lead the score for virtually the entire match, with UQ kicking a wasteful 3.10 despite dominating much of the play. A goal from Darcy Stevens in the dying seconds of the match was able to salvage a draw for the visitors, but the result was of no help to the Red Lions, and they missed finals as a result, ending their season. ^[28]

These matches in recent years have greatly contributed to a renewed rivalry with the spiritual successors of the original Coorparoo club. Since 2011, Coorparoo has a 5-0 record against UQ in finals.

Early history

Despite only fielding its first senior side in 2015, ^[29] the Ferny Grove Falcons have developed a significant rivalry with UQAFC's men's Thirds team, having frequently faced each other in various QFA Friday night competitions.

The two teams faced each other for the first time in Ferny Grove's debut senior season, with both sides playing in the QAFA B Central division in 2015 and 2016. Following the reorganisation of AFLQ's competition structure, the two teams would play in different competitions, with UQAFC competing in the QFA's fourth division, whereas Ferny Grove was assigned to the fifth division. ^[30] Due to this change, the two teams would not face each other again until the fifth division was eliminated heading into the 2020 season. ^[31] UQAFC and Ferny Grove were placed together in Division 4 North when AFLQ divided the competition in 2022.

The Red Lions dominated early on, with UQ winning the first seven matches between the two clubs. Ferny Grove defeated the Red Lions Friday night side for the first time in the final round of the 2022 home-and-away season, more than seven years after the first match between the two teams. ^[32]

2023 QFA Division 4 North Season

The 2023 season saw the rivalry between the two clubs reach new heights, with the two sides facing each other five times over the course of the season. Of note was not only the unusually high number of games between the sides, but the fact that in every match, the away team was victorious. The matches were defined by consistently close finishes, with all five matches being decided by less than 3 goals, and an average winning margin of 8 points. ^[33]

For the first week of finals, the Falcons travelled to the home ground of the Red Lions and faced them in the first qualifying final. Despite their considerable underdog status, they emerged victors by 13 points. ^[34]

The two sides would face each other again in the preliminary final at Ferny Grove Oval. In yet another intense and see-sawing affair, UQ overcame a 7-point deficit at three-quarter time to lead by four points, but a mark taken by Ferny Grove two seconds before the siren sounded gave them the chance to kick to win the game. The kick for goal was hooked and UQ won by three points. ^[35]

Recent history

UQAFC and Ferny Grove have continued to face each other in QFA Friday night fixtures in recent years, with both sides currently playing in the QFA Division 3 Brisbane North competition. UQ currently holds a 13-3 win-loss record against the Falcons as of the end of the 2025 season.

Ferny Grove v University of Queensland, 2023 QFA Div 4 North Preliminary Final

The two teams met each other in the preliminary final having faced each other already four times that season for a 2-2 record. The previous matches were defined by close finishes and an intense physicality. The match was hotly contested with several lead changes, and at half-time the scores were level. The intense contest that defined the first half continued into the second, and at the final change, the Falcons held a 7-point lead. UQ dominated the play in the fourth quarter, and kicked an inaccurate 2.6 to give themselves a 10-point lead in the dying stages of the match.

A 50-metre penalty to Ferny Grove brought them within 4 points with less than a minute of game time remaining. Ferny Grove won the ensuing centre clearance, but a spoil from veteran UQ defender Shannon Brown denied them a mark close to goal. UQ's kick out of defence was turned over, and Ferny Grove immediately kicked inside 50 and found a mark 30 metres out directly in front of goal. Two seconds later, the siren sounded to signal the end of the match, giving Ferny Grove the chance to kick a goal after the siren to win the preliminary final. However, the kick for goal was hooked badly, and only a behind was registered. UQ 8.11 (59) defeated Ferny Grove 8.8 (56) by three points. ^[35]