Cadbury Super Teams a hit!
By Alison Zell
For the second year in a row, a resident of western Sydney won the chance to play AFL 9s against two AFL Super Teams, captained by dual Brownlow medallist Adam Goodes and Collingwood superstar Dale Thomas.
Colleen Klingberg, President of the Quakers Hills Bombers Junior AFL Club, won the competition by buying $5 worth of Cadbury products from her local Coles.
“There’s fantastic talent here, 20 of the best AFL players going around in the competition, and it doesn’t happen without Cadbury and Coles, working together with the AFL to come out here and play AFL 9s,” Goodes said.
“What a fantastic reward for anyone to win; to have 20 AFL players come to your local community to play AFL 9s footy against them, to run a super clinic and have a great day like we are having out here.”
The day kicked off with an exhibition match between the two sides with Team Goodes featuring Dean Cox, Andrew Swallow, Kieren Jack, Jobe Watson, Karmichael Hunt, Daniel Giansiracusa, Harry Taylor, Sam Mitchell and Jack Riewoldt.
With Thomas on the sidelines injured, his side was led by David Zaharakis, Patrick Dangerfield, Tom Scully, Callan Ward, Jonathon Brown, Lenny Hayes, Luke McPharlin, Trent Cotchin and Josh Gibson.
“I’m obviously just on light duties today so I took on the coaching role [although] I’m probably much better suited to playing,” Thomas said.
“It’s fantastic; obviously Cadbury bringing the Super Team back up here, the ultimate fan event, and to have it out here again in the greater western of Sydney, to see another great turn out, it’s fantastic.”
There were plenty of flashy skills on display, though the players took it easy on each other, as Team Goodes came away one-point winners after a late behind.
The players spent time signing autographs and posing for photos with fans young and old before conducting a super clinic for the thousands of budding AFL stars in attendance.
The main event came when competition winner Colleen led 20 of her family and friends through a purple Cadbury banner and onto the Skoda Stadium turf to match up against some of the game’s best.
Split into two teams of 10, each of Colleen’s teams played Team Goodes and Team Thomas in two ten-minute halves.
“It was great,” Colleen said.
“We couldn’t sleep for the last couple of nights, there was a bit of a lack of sleep making sure everything was right for the day.
“The players are all so nice, I had lunch with them and they asked me questions about how my club was going so it’s been really good.”
Goodes said the event was a unique opportunity for AFL stars and fans alike to come together.
“It’s great for the game, the lucky winners Coleen and Anthony (Colleen’s husband) today, it’s fantastic for them,” Goodes said.
“They’re Bombers supporters so they’re just pumped Jobe (Watson) was able to come, obviously reigning Brownlow Medallist, it’s just awesome for them just to meet him.
“For them to have it in their backyard, their family and friends to be actually play AFL 9s footy against our teams, is a huge reward.
“Don’t be sold short, this is fair dinkum this game.
“AFL 9s is fair dinkum competition and anyone out there that wants to play AFL 9s, it’s a fantastic way to play and learn the skills of AFL football in a very social manner.”
