Inverell takes a shine to AFL9s

The Inverell Auskick Centre, with the support of the Inverell Saints Football Club, and McDonalds Inverell, hosted the first ever Inverell AFL 9’s Gala Day earlier this month, with the day proving to be a huge success.

The Gala Day, which was held at the Inverell Sports Complex in the state’s far north, saw 28 teams from the town’s local public schools take part, with approximately 340 individual participants.

Each team competed to become the inaugural, “McDonalds Inverell AFL 9’s champions,” across two divisions – Junior Primary (years three and four), and Senior Primary (years five and six).

Each local school who competed in the Gala Day received an AFL resource pack containing a high quality NAB Auskick trolley bag, a set of hurdles, agility ladders, agility poles, a set of portable goal posts, tag belts and a set of AFL Footballs, thanks to the support of McDonalds Inverell.

Schools competing on the day included Gum Flat, Gilgai, Tingha, Glenn Ines, Inverell Public, Ross Hill and Holy Trinity, with Holy Trinity Blue claiming victory in both divisions.

The event’s organiser, Jon Cox, outlined the overall results of the Gala Day.
“Holy Trinity Blue ended up winning both divisions, this was expected in the senior division as this team contained at least 5 of our most talented Auskick participants,” said Cox.

“Gilgai ran second in the senior division, so they will be receiving the other set of jumpers. This is great to see a set going to one of the smaller schools.”

Holy Trinity were presented with a set of AFL guernseys donated by AFL NSW/ACT, with Gilgai also presented a set of jumpers as a runners-up prize, in the hope of garnering further interest in other competitions organised by the AFL, such as the state-wide Paul Kelly Cup.

Cox praised all those involved, and was ecstatic with the day as a whole.

 “In one word, it was brilliant,” said Cox.

“The weather was fantastic, the skill level was great and everything ran like clockwork.
 “I must send a big thank you to [everyone] for all of his help on the day, it was greatly appreciated.

“Thanks [AFL NSW/ACT] for the loan of the gear and thanks for arranging the new footies, they certainly looked great on the day.”

Cox also outlined the success of the day, promising that similar events are here to stay in the Inverell region.

“I have received feedback from most of the schools claiming that this was the most professionally run sporting event that they have ever attended and they will be returning with more kids next year,” said Cox.

“All schools have verbally committed to implementing AFL 9’s into their sports curriculums in the future.

“This has been a massive undertaking, but I think the dividends will be worth it in the future.”