Harley welcomes representative players

AFL NSW/ACT has over 30,000 club football participants who turn out each weekend across all corners of the state and territory to play for the love of the game.

Grass-roots football is the life blood of the indigenous code and I acknowledge the commitment and skill of the players who have made the trip to Sydney to participate. Your selection in the side to represent your league is a testament to the dedication you have shown to your club, your local community and the game.

In a slight change from previous formats, this year we see our strongest community football leagues from NSW, ACT and Victoria face off against each other in a series of competitive, full length matches. These matches will no doubt raise the competitive juices of players and officials alike as we seek to determine the pecking order of football across the state and territory.
The quality of football on show today will be outstanding and it is appropriate that the event is played at the premier venue for community football in NSW, Blacktown International Sportspark.

We are also pleased to have both men’s and women’s representative matches being played concurrently at the same venue in NSW for the first time. AFL NSW/ACT is working hard to ensure that men’s and women’s football is fully integrated.

Such integration has been demonstrated this year with the amalgamation of both Sydney Women’s AFL and AFL Canberra Women’s leagues into the AFL NSW/ACT structure for the first time and we welcome our female counterparts into the fold. The women’s match being played today, between NSW and ACT, is the second of a three match series where state pride is on the line.

In the men’s fixtures, top billing is reserved for the biennial fixture between AFL Sydney and the V.A.F.A. and we welcome the Big V back to the Harbour City for the first time in four years. The Ammos will be looking to repeat their previous effort when they travelled to Sydney and stole the game from their hosts by less than a kick at Henson Park. This year, I’m tipping AFL Sydney to reverse the trend and win by a small margin.

For our men, players have travelled from across NSW and ACT to not only to win bragging rights for their respective leagues, but to also fight for the honour of representing NSW/ACT at the upcoming Australian Country Football Championships, to be held in Wagga Wagga on 19-22 July. This year will see NSW and ACT enter a combined team into the Championships and the players who are selected to play under coach Jason McPherson will have the added thrill of playing in front of their home crowd.

In the early games, the young colts of the AFL Sydney Development side will tackle the pride of the Farrer league, whilst AFL Canberra will take on the talented NAIAFA Indigenous team. The midday mens’ fixture will feature Black Diamond AFL taking on the might of Riverina. Both teams will be con-fident after winning their respective representative games last year. I have the feeling that the boys from Southern NSW may shade their northern foes.

For team lists please click here.