AFL Atlantic was founded in 2024 in response to an explosion of growth in interest in Australian Football across the Atlantic Canadian provinces.

Formerly known as the Nova Scotia Australian Football League (AFL NS), the league came into existence in 2013 and was comprised of the Halifax Dockers (2013) and the Sydney Giants (2015).

The league was also home to the St. John’s Puffins (Newfoundland and Labrador’s Club) who operated from 2015 to 2019 out of St. John’s, Newfoundland.

Rising interest from surrounding provinces prompted the expansion of the league to include all of Atlantic Canada and the creation of AFL Atlantic.

In 2024 AFL Atlantic welcomed the newly formed Saint John Bulldogs into the league, the first footy club established in New Brunswick. In 2025, the Cornwall Tigers entered the ranks as the fourth team in the league and the first club established in PEI.

Footy is on the rise in Atlantic Canada and AFL Atlantic is looking to continue to push that growth.

To grow the relationship with AFL Ontario and AFL Quebec, AFL Atlantic sends a team (the Atlantic Pirates) to the annual pre-season Pony Platter tournament in Ottawa.

The regular season consists of a multi-round schedule throughout the summer culminating in a finals weekend.

Alongside the Halifax Dockers, AFL Atlantic proudly hosts the Halifax Cup tournament on Labour Day long weekend. The tournament is an annual 18-aside footy carnival played in the heart of Halifax that is open to all and has welcomed teams from across Eastern Canada and players from across Canada and the USA.

With interest being expressed from Moncton, NB; Fredericton, NB; St John’s, NL; Truro, NS; and more – we are always looking to welcome new players or help plant new clubs in cities across the region.

Due to our geographic location, we are also looking to continue to deepen our relationship with clubs in the NE USA like the Maine Cats, Boston Demons, and New York Magpies, as well as reach across the pond to members of AFL Ireland, AFL Scotland, and AFL England.