In the competition's inaugural season, the side contested an "all student" grand final against the University of New South Wales, but despite managing the same number of scoring shots as the opposition, they went under by 25 points.
The club was to take bigger strides in 2008, just missing out on a finals berth on the last day of the season after a loss to North Shore.
Again, the Students fell agonisingly short of a finals berth after a string of close losses throughout the season, however there was success at an individual level for two players with Tom Young winning the Sydney AFL Rising Star award and Brydon Coles taking home the coveted Phelan Medal for the Best & Fairest player in the Sydney AFL Premier Division.
In 2010 the Students showed they belonged amongst the elite clubs in the Sydney AFL, taking out the minor premiership following a 14-game winning streak to end the home and away rounds.
The club qualified for its maiden Sydney AFL Premier Division Grand Final since re-entry into the top flight with a hard-fought win against Western Suburbs.
2011 saw Uni consolidate on their performances of the previous year, with the Senior team falling one game short of qualifying for a second consecutive Grand Final.
Another highlight for the year was former Uni star Tom Young being selected to make his debut for Collingwood, thereby becoming the first Sydney University player to reach the AFL.
Roger Moten, appointed as the inaugural NEAFL Senior Coach in 2012, played a vital role in refining the club’s football program.
Men's Program: NSWANFL (1948–57 & 1962–68); SFA (1971–87); SFL (1988–94); SFA (1995–2006); SFL (2007–2008); AFL Sydney (2009-present); NEAFL (2012-2019) Women's Program: SWAFL (2000-2008); AFL Sydney (2009-present) First Grade Men's Premierships:[3] AFL Sydney (2020); SFL (1992); SFA (1981, 1986, 1987, 1997, 2003, 2005) First Grade Women's Premierships:[4] AFL Sydney (2013, 2014); SWAFL (2001, 2007) Phelan Medallists:[5] Geoff Davidson (1953); Michael Davis (1990); Brydon Coles (2009); Alex Lee (2010); Jake Bartholomaeus (2020) Mostyn Medallists:[6] Stephanie Walker (2014); Nicola Barr (2016); Maryanne Harley (2023) Rod Podbury Medallists:[7] Matthew Lloyd (1992); Timothy Barton (2020) Deborah Rogers Memorial Trophy Winners: Jennifer Lew (2013); Rachael Stack (2014) Snow Medallists:[8] Peter Sadler (1971); Peter Moggarch (1979); Tim Driscoll (1987); Tim Air (2010); Ryan Kennedy (2017); Matthew Powys (2022) AFL Sydney Men's Rising Star Award:[9] Tom Young (2009); Harry Dobson (2014); Sam Gilfedder (2018) AFL Sydney Women's Rising Star Award:[10] Stephanie Walker (2013); Nicola Barr (2015) NEAFL MVP:[11] Tom Young (2015); Jake Bartholomaeus (2019) AFL Draftees:[12] Tom Young (2010); Jarrod Witts (2011); Michael Hartley (2011); Craig Moller (2012); Jack Hiscox (2014); Caiden Cleary (2023) AFLW Draftees:[13][circular reference] Nicola Barr (2016); Erin McKinnon (2016); Stephanie Walker (2016); Isabella Rudolph (2016)