AFL NSW/ACT is pleased to announce the Manly-Warringah Wolves have been promoted to AFL Sydney’s Premier Division beginning in the upcoming 2013 season.
The club enjoyed outstanding success in 2012 in which they won the Division 1 Premiership for the second consecutive year. The Division 1 team has the remarkable record of losing just two games over the past two years, including an undefeated 2012 season with an average winning margin of 101 points.
The team have been finalists for the past eight years in this division and has previously enjoyed Premiership honours in 2007.
AFL Sydney promoted the Wolves on the basis of their successful application addressing a number of criteria; on-field results, financial position, club admin and player pool.
Matthew Graham, AFL Sydney Football Operations Manager said the club was deserving of the promotion following their consistent excellence on and off the field.
"The Wolves’ recent success both on and off the field proves that they will be a vital part of AFL in Sydney for many years to come," Graham said.
"The promotion is a just reward for years of hard work and lobbying by the club."
Club President Russell Clack said the Manly-Warringah Wolves are proud of this achievement and looking forward to a successful 2013 season.
"As a club we’re tremendously excited and feel that we’re ready to take the next step," Clack said.
"We’ve been putting our case forward for a couple of years now and we believe we can make a difference to the AFL Sydney competition.
"From our point of view, we just want to be competitive and hopefully surprise a few of the stronger clubs next year."
The Wolves have demonstrated sustainable competitiveness through a young and improving home grown list, high player retention and strong pathway connections.
Under Senior Coach Leigh Brain, the club has a strong and experienced coaching team and a well-developed youth pipeline with the under 18s side Division Two Grand Finalists for the past two years.
A major $4 million re-development of the club’s home base at Weldon Oval has produced a new, high standard playing surface, night-game standard lighting and a re-development of the clubroom facilities, with the Wolves now boasting one of the best regional facilities in the Sydney AFL.
The Northern Beaches and North Shore region has a group of successful junior clubs that underpin the senior side’s promotion and a partnership with the junior competition’s second largest club, the Manly Bombers, puts the future of the club in a strong position.
"It’s about having the opportunity to play against the top clubs in the AFL Sydney League and we just want to show what we’re made of and be competitive," Clack said.
"We see this as a step in the process and we just want to keep building."
AFL Sydney’s 2013 Premier Division competition contains 12 teams who will compete over 18 rounds, with the season commencing in early April.
Last Modified on 16/11/2012 15:55
