Top 10 Logos in Australian Professional Sports 2024

Australian sporting organisations have a storied history at the grassroots level of some amazing logos and mascots but what are the top 10 in the professional arena? 

Here at bets.com.au we have scoured the professional sporting arena to pick out top 10 logos across all Australian sports.

10 - Special mentions

Australian Baseball League and A-Leagues for not even trying to have good logos for any of their clubs.

It is hard to have a top 10 of Aussie logos without there being a Kangaroo and an Emu on a Baggy Green. One of the most recognisable icons of Australian sport and one of the oldest unchanged traditions. It lives and breathes Australia with the Kangaroo and Emu and a sun rising on the top of the shield. Truly iconic!

Ok so not an Australian Professional Sport logo exactly but one of the most iconic sports logos within the Australian sporting landscape. The athlete in a run, now post games reminds me of Cathy Freeman down the main straight. The “smoke trail” from the Olympic torch in the shape of the Opera House (a common theme in this piece), the quintessential boomerangs throughout the motive, uniquely Australian. Lastly the script, legible but easy enough for “a child to draw it in the sand” as the designers remarked.

Now normally I think gender specific logos do more to restrict a franchise than develop it but here the Thunderbirds have done a great job in capturing spirit whilst giving a modern touch. The idea behind the design was to capture the speed and energy of the game which they have done with the flowing locks of the mascot Tori with a Thunderbird helmet. It almost looks like she is going to drive over you with her Studebaker at 100 clicks.

The NRL club from Bondi have managed to make a Rooster as fierce as possible in their most recent edition of their logo. The red, white and blue is iconic for any sports team around the world but starting from the comb on the rooster head we see it modelled after the Sydney Opera House, a nice touch for a Sydney City team. A sharp beak and a hollow eye give the Rooster a sense it can’t be trusted to be kind!

We could make a whole list just with mascots and logos from Semi Pro teams in a range of sports. Teams like Darwin Salties and South West Metro Pirates in NBL1, Sandringham and Frankston Football clubs in the VFL or West Adelaide Bloods in the SANFL. There are just so many awesome ideas and logos!!

The Tiger is standing proud, showing it’s teeth whilst framed seamlessly in a shield with the Richmond colour scheme aligning perfectly. The Tigers AFL logo is sometimes interchanged with an even more detailed Tiger head which has (if possible) a more fierce growl. The detailing there though is not great for printing but the main logo does it’s job well.

Now not technically Australian but they are playing in a competition primarily run in Australia and their logo is fierce! Bringing the fear of the Maori warrior with the headshield design and the colour scheme is simple and aesthetically pleasing. The logo has undergone some colour changes through the years but the typical green and white with a blue accent is where it’s at.

This pick is probably controversial but I like it. There are numerous wind related logos out there but I think the Hobart Big Bash Franchise has nailed it. The H from Hobart is smartly included as a level of the Hurricane whilst the club colours of purple and grey complement the overall feeling of unease for an incoming Hurricane. The text is easily legible but not boring and the logo is well kept within boundaries making it have a clean look.

Unchanged since it’s inception in 99/00 the Cairns Taipans NBL logo delivers in spades. It has a fear factor, it’s colours work and are representative of both the area and the mascot. The Basketball is situated perfectly so as to not detract but make sure the casual observer can relate the sport. The typeface also instills some sort of fear and the fangs hanging over the letters are the cherry on top!