AFL: Byron Magpies, Ballina Bombers join forces as Stingrays to take on southeast Queensland competition

Premiership winners Byron Bay Magpies are joining forces with the Ballina Bombers to field AFL players in a southeast Qld competition under the banner of the Stingrays.

Byron Bay Magpies player Jackson Coppin lines up a goal. Picture: Supplied

A joint venture between Byron Magpies and Ballina Bombers AFC will see the North Coast AFL clubs field a combined seniors and reserves men’s team.

Players are set to compete in the Queensland Football Association (QFA) Division 2 South Competition this season.

Magpies president Nick Rojo approached the Bombers late last year to float the idea.

Byron was interested in joining the competition and helping boost Ballina’s numbers.

“There’s been some talks going on over the last few months and we’ve come to an agreement where we’re going to put out a joint team called the Stingrays,” Magpies spokesman Luke Prendergast said.

Clubs must enter two teams, seniors and reserves, in the competition.

Ballina competed last year but it became evident at the end of the season it would be difficult to consistently field two teams.

Byron Bay Magpies. Picture: Supplied

Byron won the 2023 premiership in the AFL North Coast competition, which only required the club to field one team.

The North Coast clubs have consulted with AFL Queensland and an in-principle agreement has been put in place.

Final sign-off is yet to be completed, but all parties have expressed confidence it’s a formality.

“Once all this is signed off we’ll get a jumper design up, colours and everything,” Prendergast said.

The Stingrays are due to train at Byron Bay’s Cavanbah Centre and home games are set to be split between Byron’s home ground and Fripp Oval, Ballina.

“We’re still working on aspects of coaching. Ex-North Melbourne captain Andrew Swallow, who coached Byron to the premiership last year, is stepping back from senior coaching to concentrate on his family and business,” Prendergast said.

“He’ll still be coaching, just not as head coach.”

Byron Bay Magpies coach Andrew Swallow addressing the team. Picture: Supplied

The clubs’ women’s teams will continue to play in the southeast Queensland competition.

“The two clubs will remain distinct from each other, but players will register for either Ballina or Byron and they’ll just come together to play under this entity the Stingrays so we can get a couple of teams in there,” Prendergast said.

“Hopefully a short term solution as the clubs really suffered post-Covid.”

Prendergast said committees believe they are taking the best course of action to ensure ongoing AFL participation and development in the Northern Rivers.

AFL Queensland confirmed the Ballina Bombers and Byron Magpies will become a joint venture in 2024 and field a Senior and Reserves team in the QFA Division 2 – South Competition.

This decision was made in the best interests of program sustainability and player availability for both clubs.

AFL Queensland Competitions Manager Mitchell Simpson said the competition was excited to welcome the “Stingrays” in 2024.

“We are pleased to welcome the return of the Ballina and Byron teams under the new umbrella of the Stingrays to our QFA Division 2 – South competition in 2024,” he said.

“We will continue to work closely with both clubs to ensure a seamless start to the 2024 season.”

In the women’s competition, the Ballina Bombers, 2023 QFAW Division 2 – South Grand Finalists, will remain in the competition, while the Byron Magpies women’s will return to the QFAW and field their own team.