AFL Canberra
has welcomed the new North East AFL competition which will provide clubs and
players with national exposure.
AFL Canberra has welcomed the opportunity to join the new
North East Australian Football League (NEAFL) next year which will
significantly enhance the pathway for local players and clubs in the ACT.
The six existing clubs, Belconnen, Queanbeyan, Eastlake, Tuggeranong,
Ainslie and the Sydney Swans reserves all celebrated the announcement today and
the opportunities now available through the new NEAFL competition.
Newly appointed AFL Canberra General Manager Jack Masters
said all clubs and players are looking forward to being involved in the new
competition.
“The NEAFL is truly a watershed moment for AFL Canberra with
the new league promising the long-term stability of the local ACT competition,”
Masters said.
“With GWS signing a partnership yesterday with the ACT Government to play 40
AFL matches over the next ten years in Canberra,
this is certainly an historic time to be involved in the league.
“The NEAFL is a great result for local football with all
players, clubs, coaches, club administrators, umpires and volunteers being
exposed to a new level of competition. All AFL Canberra clubs and players are
looking forward to the new exciting competition and the enhanced talent pathway
now available.
“The new league will provide opportunities for AFL Canberra
clubs to take on the best clubs from AFL Queensland as well as the Sydney
Swans, Team GWS, Gold Coast and the Brisbane Lions. The NEAFL will further
enhance the quality and profile of AFL Canberra at a national level.”
The ACT has produced many stars of the AFL including Craig
Bolton, James Hird, Alex Jesaulenko, Aaron Hamill among many others. The new
NEAFL competition will provide local players with a greater chance of being
drafted with local clubs exposed to three more elite AFL clubs, Team GWS, Gold
Coast and Brisbane Lions as well as the Sydney Swans.
The NEAFL will be split into two conference, the Eastern
Conference (NSW and ACT teams) and the Northern Conference (Qld and NT teams),
where teams will continue to play for awards and premierships within their
conference. The winning team will then take on the top team from AFL Queensland
for the NEAFL Premiership.
AFL Canberra Chairman Gerard Rees said the local league has
never been in a better position.
“This is the best announcement ever for AFL in the ACT,” Rees said.
“Our competition at the moment is at a high standard but the NEAFL competition
will significantly increase the opportunities for players, clubs and sponsors.
“NEAFL will improve the standard of football in the ACT and it is going to draw
young, emerging AFL players to the nation’s capital to take part in the league.
Local players will get the opportunity to play against the Sydney Swans, Team
GWS, Gold Coast and Brisbane Lions. There is no better exposure than this for
aspiring AFL players.
“On the back of GWS’ announcement yesterday, NEAFL will further enhance the
AFL’s presence in the ACT and it is a great way to celebrate the 100th year of
AFL played in the nation’s capital on July 29, 2011.”
Team GWS General Manager ACT/Regional NSW, Garry Buchanan, said the Club is
looking forward to playing in the NEAFL competition.
“The NEAFL now completes another of Team GWS’ promises made to the ACT
community that the club will be playing in Canberra next year,” Buchanan said.
“With GWS playing in the 2011 NAB Challenge series, the club may now play up to
as many as ten times in Canberra next year.
“All supporters are encouraged to come along and see GWS in action next year
prior to the club’s official introduction into the AFL competition in 2012.”
Sydney Swans General Manager of Football, Dean Moore, said the introduction of
the NEAFL would not only be good for the Swans but for the game in the wider
region.
“We’ve had a successful association with Canberra for a number of years now. This
development enables us to maintain those well established links but also allows
us to now compete against other AFL reserve grade teams,” he said.
“Importantly we can supplement our side with players from our
newly formed QBE Sydney Swans Academy which will
provide a wonderful opportunity for those boys to play football at a high
standard and further develop their talents.”
Please click here to view a document outlining
how the NEAFL will be run across ACT, NSW, QLD and NT