Editorial- Tom Harley

As another football season draws to a close, the big day has arrived for AFL Sydney with Premier Division Finals here at Blacktown International Sports Park.

Six clubs will compete for the four premierships on offer, capping off AFL Sydney’s strongest season to date. The number of teams playing each week is increasing year on year and this year we welcomed two new clubs to the ranks, Blacktown and Gosford – with NorWest and Saints AFC boosting the under-18s competition with the inclusion of their sides.

The Penrith Ramettes joined the AFL Sydney Women’s competition, which now boasts 11 sides, a fantastic result for female football in Sydney.

This year we saw three sides go undefeated right throughout the regular season. Congratulations to Manly Warringah in Division 1, the Sydney Hills Eagles in Under 18 Division One and the Balmain Dockers women’s team on this outstanding record.

The talent in this competition has again showed its class with St George’s Lloyd Perris named in AIS-AFL Academy and UNSW/ES Bulldog and Phelan medallist Dane Rampe named All-Australian at this year’s Australian Country Football Championships where AFL Sydney Umpire, Dean Garroway was named as All-Australian Umpire.

We also had some significant Milestones this year when Scott Uglow played his 400^th match with Macquarie University during the year and Umpire Frank Kalayzich also brought up 450 Senior Premier Division Games. Significant milestones in any sport!

It’s been an exciting year of football for everyone, and well done to those who were remaining at the business end of the season.

Congratulations to Sydney University (Division Five), Penrith (Division Four), UTS (Division Three) and St George (Division Two) who claimed titles over UTS, Gosford, Blacktown and UNSW/ES respectively.

Two powerhouse clubs, the UNSW-ES Bulldogs and Balmain Dockers, are vying for the Premier Division title in the final game of the day. Prior to that, Southern Power and Manly will meet in both the Division One and Under 18 Division Two deciders and the Sydney Hills Eagles will meet Illawarra in the Under 18 Division One Grand Final.

A very exciting day of football is ahead of us and I look forward to watching all the action from the stands.

Thank you and farewell to our AFL Sydney Operations Manager Garry Burkinshaw who is moving on after six seasons running AFL Sydney. He’s done a wonderful job growing the game in Sydney and we will certainly miss his enthusiasm and dedication to the league.

Thank you also to everyone who has played a role in making this season a success - players, supporters, club sponsors and the countless volunteers that go into running a club. Your contributions are vital to the health and success of our wonderful game.

Last Modified on 20/09/2012 14:56

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Editorial- Tom Harley

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