M E D I A R E L E A S E
Victorian football at a new high
Census data released this week revealed record growth in football participation in this state.
AFL Victoria CEO Peter Schwab said that these results reflect the popularity of our own indigenous game. He went on to comment that this growth was in spite of the drought related issue of reduced access to venues.
Schwab said “Footy is a sport that involves whole communities, from NAB AFL Auskick to Veterans to Recreational football, its part and parcel of our culture. “
“We have seen record growth in female football and record numbers in NAB AFL Auskick which reached its highest participation level ever this year recording over 49,000 registered participants.”
Almost one hundred (100) new teams were formed in Victoria in 2009. (Ninety seven (97) new teams across the state.) Schwab commented “While this growth is great for our sport, and the general health of the community, it will necessitate ourselves and the AFL to work even more closely with State and Local Governments, as well as developers, to ensure that there are venues available in developed areas, and sufficient open space planned for new growth areas, to cater for the anticipated continued growth in our game.”
“This growth would have been higher but for a number of our clubs being unable to field new teams as a result of the lack of available venues.”
Schwab concluded “Increased participation is a result of the popularity of our game, the popularity of the AFL competition and the result of a lot of hard work by our community football leagues, clubs and the army of volunteers in continuously improving their welcoming, healthy and inclusive club environments.”
MEDIA INQUIRES:
Peter Harley. P: 03 8663 3001 M: 0407 227 977
Last Modified on 27/04/2010 12:48