AFL 9s Classic set to hit the Harbour City

The second annual AFL 9s Classic will kick off today in Queens Park, Sydney with over 1,000 participants from across Australia set to take the field during the three-day event 24 – 26 November 2017.

The Classic is an exciting national tournament that brings together over 120 teams to compete for cash prizes in the AFL’s official modified, non-contact version of AFL. The fun, fast, free-flowing football is played with nine players per side on a smaller ground.

The Corporate and Schools divisions will take the field today, whilst the weekend’s action will feature Advanced Open Men’s and Women’s divisions as well as Over 35’s and Mixed divisions competing in a round-robin tournament.

Highlighting the weekend’s action will be an invitational All Stars match from 4pm Saturday, where AFL 9s Ambassador and former Sydney Swan Jude Bolton will lead a host of big names including Premiership teammates, Rhyce Shaw and Tadhg Kennelly to battle it out against AFL greats such as Lenny Hayes, Mark McVeigh and Kane Cornes.

AFL NSW/ACT CEO Sam Graham is excited to play host to such a large participatory event that showcases the fun, social non-contact version of AFL.

“Sydney is home to the largest AFL 9s competition in the country and we are excited to see team entries in the Classic increase 50% this year highlighting the popularity of the fun, non-contact version of our game at both the social and elite levels” Graham said.

“It’s a big weekend for AFL in Sydney with $55,000 in cash prizes up for grabs in the Classic and the all-important NAB AFL Draft being held Friday night at the Showgrounds at Sydney Olympic Park. I encourage AFL fans in Sydney to get out and support these two major events in the AFL calendar.”

The AFL 9s Classic is free to the public to attend with food stalls, a pop-up bar, music and loads of entertainment on offer this year’s Classic promises to be another exciting event for all players and spectators.

The 2017 AFL 9s Classic 24 – 26 November 2017 is supported by the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.

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