Celebrate 150 Years
This year we celebrate 150 Years of Australian Football and we want every community club around Australia to join in the celebrations.
Since 1858 when the first recorded football match was played, our game has expanded to every state and territory to be now played by more than 638,000 participants.
There are more than 2700 community clubs, fielding more than 11,000 teams in 269 leagues across Australia .
Australian Football at any level would not be possible without the remarkable army of volunteers and I want to thank each and every volunteer who has helped make our game what it is. Your support has enabled so many people in so many places across Australia to be able to experience our game.
We want every player, at every club in every league and every NAB AFL Auskick child, parent and volunteer and supporter to join in the celebration of Australian Football 150 Years by forming their own celebrations, particularly around Community Football Weekend.
Our game of Australian Football was built on the back of an "outrageous and courageousÃf¢Ã,ÂÃ, idea by a group of Australians to create a game of their own 150 years ago. And this year we are calling on all Australians to give us their ideas on how we can take the game forward in the next 150 years. We want to hear from you at our ideas forum at 150years.com.au.
Andrew Demetriou CEO Australian Football League
Community Football Weekend presented by Carlton Draught
A highlight of the Australian Football 150 Years calendar is the Community Football Weekend May 9 -11.
No AFL matches are fixtured this weekend, giving suburban and country matches the opportunity to take centre stage and feature during the weekend.
Now is the time to organise your clubÃf¢Ã,ÂTMs celebrations.
The 150years.com.au site and the Community Football Weekend handbook has ideas how your club can participate.
AFL players have been invited to return to grassroots clubs to help celebrate Australian Football with their local community.
With just eight weeks until Community Football Weekend, it is hoped that a record will be set for the largest number of people attending football games in a weekend. An anticipated two million people across Australia will attend local games on this weekend. Make sure your club is a part of the celebrations.
To let people know what is happening at your club, log onto 150years.com.au and fill in your details.
Australian Football Experience
The Australian Football Experience launched in the nationÃf¢Ã,ÂTMs capital on Saturday February 23 in conjunction with the NAB 150 Tour. The tour has since made its way through Sydney and country New South Wales .
AFL ambassadors Kevin Sheedy, Nathan Buckley, Chris Grant, Luke Darcy, Neale Daniher, Jason McCartney, Mark Ricciuto and Robert Ãf¢Ã,Â~DipperÃf¢Ã,ÂTM DiPierdomenico will help bring the Australian Football Experience to communities around the country to celebrate this significant year in Australian Football until the end of September.
Families will have the opportunity to learn about the history of our game in The Big Footy and kids can participate in a series of interactive activities including The Big Kick goal kicking and handball competitions. Families have the opportunity to take their photo with the AFL Premiership Cup and also have the chance to win tickets to the 2008 Toyota AFL Grand Final.
NEXT STOP: Port Macquarie , NSW, Sunday March 23, 11am-4pm, Town Beach Park AFL Ambassador Robert Ãf¢Ã,Â~DipperÃf¢Ã,ÂTM DiPierdomenico will join local music artist Josh Owen to help celebrate Australian Football 150 Years.
150years.com.au launch
150years.com.au is now live. The site has been designed especially to host all Australian Football 150 Years activities and events.
Features include the ability to find your local club on the Community Football Weekend Match Locator and the opportunity to vote for your favourite football moment from the last 150 years. Football enthusiasts can also have their say in one of our exclusive online footy debates.
Hall of Fame Tribute Match - Saturday May 10
Tickets for the greatest football match in 150 years will go on sale on Wednesday, April 2, 2008. The Hall of Fame Tribute match will see Victoria lead by Jonathon Brown take on the Dream Team captained by Andrew McLeod in the best line-up of players ever assembled.
For more information on tickets and game details, visit www.ticketmaster.com.au.
Volunteer Recognition
Neville Ward - A champion on and off the field
Neville Ward, 69, from Merbein is the first volunteer to be recognised in this series of Celebrate 150 Years e-newsletters.
In a career lasting more than 50 years, Neville Ward has made an outstanding contribution to Australian Football, particularly in the Sunraysia League in North-west Victoria .
NevilleÃf¢Ã,ÂTMs love of footy began in 1952 when he joined the Miringur Football Club in the Millewa Football League aged 14. In 1957 he transferred to the Merbein Football Club and during next 11 seasons, won seven best clubman trophies.
Neville started volunteering with the Sunraysia Inter League in 1963 as a boot studder and was quickly promoted to assistant team manager. Forty-four years ago he was appointed team manager, a position he still holds today.
Neville was also the 1984 VCFL Representative team manager.
In recognition of NevilleÃf¢Ã,ÂTMs football achievements he was awarded a Merbein Football Club Life Membership in 1970 and the VCFL Recognition of Service Award in 1986, which still hangs proudly on his lounge room wall.
In 1989 Neville was elected to the Sunraysia Football League board and was Chief Commissioner in 1999. Neville was made a SFL Life Member in 1993 and is still a SFL board member.
One of NevilleÃf¢Ã,ÂTMs greatest honours was the presentation of the Australian Commemorative Sports Medal in 2000, which is proudly displayed on Neville's league jacket at special functions.
Neville has been supported throughout his football life by his wife Pat, daughters Jenny, Susan, son Ross and their five grandchildren.
Michael Iredale from the Sunraysia Football & Netball League said Neville is one of those special people that makes football happen.
Ãf¢Ã,ÂÃ,ÂFrom boot studder to league president, Neville always goes at 100 percent, even though the Ãf¢Ã,Â~new kneeÃf¢Ã,ÂTM has slowed him up a bit.
Ãf¢Ã,ÂÃ,ÂNeville may not have been a champion footballer but in the eyes of everyone involved in Sunraysia football he was and still is a champion bloke,Ãf¢Ã,ÂÃ, Michael said.
Neville will receive a copy of The Australian Game of Football book signed by 150 Years Ambassador and football legend Kevin Sheedy.
In each edition of Celebrate 150 Years a volunteer will be recognised from a community league or club. If you would like to nominate a volunteer for their contribution to your local league/club, please email their details along with why you believe they should be recognised to 150years@afl.com.au.
Footy Quiz
(10 footy questions from the last 150 Years)
1. Where was the first recorded Australian Football match played?
2. Name two of the Australian Football 150 Ambassadors.
3. Who are the captains of Victoria and the Dream Team that are playing in the Hall of Fame Tribute match?
4. What day is Kick Around the World?
5. List two countries that are competing in the International Cup being played between August 27 and September 6.
6. Which renowned Australian artist is producing the 150 Moments painting?
7. Who was named the best player of all time on Mike SheahanÃf¢Ã,ÂTMs best ever player in The Australian Game of Football publication?
Hint: for clues visit 150years.com.au
Email your answers to 150years@afl.com.au for your chance to win Australian Football 150 Years merchandise.
Calendar of Events
February 22 - Australian Football Experience commenced
March 9 - Launch of Australian Football 150 Years including The Australian Game of Football book launch
May 8 - Australian Football Hall of Fame Induction and Dinner 9-11 - Community Football Weekend 10 - Hall of Fame Tribute Match (MCG)
July 24-27 - Australian Country Football Carnival (Shepparton)
August 7- Kick Around The World 7 - Melbourne International Film Festival Ãf¢Ã,Â" Footy Shorts Film Evening 8-10 - Round 19: Tom Wills Round including Melbourne v Geelong , MCG Aug 25 Ãf¢Ã,Â"Sep 7 - International Cup and Dinner
September 1 - Unveiling of the Australian Football 150 Years painting Australian Football Experience concludes
November Australian Football Industry Conference
Melbourne International Film Festival Footy Shorts
This yearÃf¢Ã,ÂTMs Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) will feature an evening dedicated to showcasing the best 10 short films about Australian Football. The football community are encouraged to create a short film focusing on "what Australian Football means to me or my community".
Entries close Friday, May 30, 2008, with $10,000 in prizes awarded to the top three films.
The event will be held at ACMI in Melbourne on the evening of August 7, followed by public screening of the best 10 films in Federation Square .
For more information visit 150years.com.au
The Australian Game of Football official publication
The Australian Game of Football publication was launched on Sunday March 9 in Yarra Park - the site where the first Australian Football match was played 150 years ago.
As part of the Australian Football 150 Year celebrations, Geoff Slattery Publishing, on behalf of the AFL, has published The Australian Game of Football, a definitive resource on the complete history of the worldÃf¢Ã,ÂTMs oldest codified game of football. It is more than 400 pages and includes contributions from 23 authors including some of Australia Ãf¢Ã,ÂTMs leading historians, academics and writers.
The book reflects on five themes- the beginning, the game, the passion, the business and the decades. The book can be purchased from all good bookstores (Angus and Robertson, Dymocks, Borders, Collins, AFL Stores and independents) for $89.95.
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