THE BYRON Bay Magpies will not be defending their AFL North Coast premiership this year.

After one season in the AFL North Coast competition, the Magpies have decided to return to the Queensland Football Association competition based in South East Queensland.

They will do so in a joint venture with the Ballina Bombers, where they will be known as the Southern Stingrays.

The Bombers competed in last year’s QFA Division 2 South seniors’ competition.

The Byron Bay Magpies had a successful first season in the AFL North Coast competition, winning the 2023 senior men’s premiership.

Former North Melbourne Kangaroos player Andrew Swallow coached the side, while Lilli Hutchings won the AFL North Coast’s Best and Fairest award in the women’s competition.

Both the Magpies and Bombers will compete separately in the QFA women’s competition, with the Magpies winning the QFAW Division 2 South premiership in 2022, while the Bombers were runners up in last season’s competition.

Magpies president Nick Rojo said his club enjoyed their experience playing in the AFL North Coast competition.

“I had a lot of our players come up to me last year and said that the season in the AFL North Coast was the most enjoyable one they’ve had,” he said.

By Aiden BURGESS