Brisbane/Fitzroy merged (Brisbane Lions continued in AFL competition in 1997).

There were moves afoot from the former Tasmanian Amateur Football League (Norther Division) that had folded in 1995. It applied in 1996 to use the NTFA name (that had been dormant for 10 years), but was rejected, and as a result the Tasmanian Amateur Football League ran the competition as Northern Amateurs that season.

Formed in 1996 from the old Huon Football Association and the Tasmanian Amateur Football League (Southern Division), it became known as the Southern Tasmanian Football League.

Its member clubs in 1996 that moved from the Tasmanian Amateur Football Association, were Lauderdale, Mangalore, Claremont, Lindisfarne, Lachlan, and Sorell. Clubs that joined from the Huon Football Association were, Kingston and Channel.

Footscray name change to Western Bulldogs Football Club.