ACT will host two matches in 2011

The ACT Government and the Australian Football League (AFL) today announced they had reached agreement for Manuka Oval to host two matches as part of the 2011 season, and continue the AFL’s involvement with the Canberra community.

The AFL has just begun its process to construct next year’s fixture, but it has been confirmed that Manuka Oval will host a premiership season match between the Western Bulldogs and the Sydney Swans in May next year, as well as a match in either February or March as part of the pre-season period.

“I’m very pleased we’ve reached a further agreement with the AFL which will see games played at Manuka in 2011,” Mr Barr said. “AFL is an important part of the sporting, cultural and tourism life of Canberra.

It’s something we want to see grow in the years to come. These 2011 games and the ongoing community involvement by AFL are important in helping to set the scene for what I hope will be a strong partnership between the ACT Government, the AFL and the ACT4GWS project.”

AFL Chief Operating Officer Gillon McLachlan said the AFL was delighted that the ACT government had continued to support matches in the nation’s capital.

“We are very grateful to Minister Barr and the ACT Government for their ongoing support of Australian football.

“The AFL is the only sporting competition in Australia with a regular-season presence in every state and territory in the country, and this agreement will see a premiership match between the Bulldogs and the Swans in May, as well as a pre-season match as part of either the NAB Cup or the NAB Regional Challenge, to ensure we retain our national footprint,” he said.

The AFL fixture for the 2011 Toyota AFL Premiership Season will be released in October.