Illawarra Lions is an Australian rules football club competing in the

Sydney AFL AFL Sydney is an Australian rules football League, based in metropolitan Sydney, Australia. The AFL Sydney competition comprises 126 teams from 22 clubs which play across seven senior men's divisions, five women's divisions, a Master's Division ...

league and based out of

Wollongong Wollongong ( ), colloquially referred to as The Gong, is a city located in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. The name is believed to originate from the Dharawal language, meaning either 'five islands/clouds', 'ground near wa ...

. The club was formerly known as Wollongong Lions, but changed their name in 2011 in response to their designated pathway area being further afield than merely the city of Wollongong. They play their home games at

North Dalton Park North Dalton Park is located on Pioneer Rd, Towradgi, in the northern suburbs of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. The ground has a grandstand on the western side, where 430 plastic bucket seats were installed over the concrete steps in e ...

in Towradgi, and following the installation of lighting during the summer of 2006–07 the club hosted 3 night matches during the 2007 season which attracted encouraging crowds. Trevor Burnett was head coach from 2008 to 2011 seasons, replacing Jason Philp after the 2007 season. Former Sydney Swans player

Neil Brunton Neil Brunton (born 3 January 1969) is a former Australian rules football player with the Sydney Swans of the Australian Football League (AFL). He was plucked from the Sydney AFL competition during the middle of the 1991 season where he was play ...

is the assistant coach. Current player/coach is Ken Ewen-Chappell

History

The club formed in 1971 as the Swans and moved to the Sydney AFL in 1989, becoming the Lions. After winning the First Division premiership in 2004, the Lions were promoted to Sydney AFL Premier Division in 2005. They won 3 games in 2005, 4 in 2006, 3 in 2007, 3 in 2008, 4 and a draw in 2009, and 2 in 2010.

References

External links

Profile for Illawarra Lions
on Full Points Footy Australian rules football clubs in New South Wales Sports teams in Wollongong 1971 establishments in Australia Australian rules football clubs established in 1971 {{AFL-team-stub