AFL Canberra welcomes new competition

AFL Canberra has welcomed the opportunity to join the new North East Australian Football League (NEAFL) next year which will significantly enhance the pathway for local players and clubs in the ACT.

Please click here to view a document outlining how the NEAFL will be run across ACT, NSW, QLD and NT.

The six existing clubs, Belconnen, Queanbeyan, Eastlake, Tuggeranong, Ainslie and the Sydney Swans reserves all celebrated the announcement today and the opportunities now available through the new NEAFL competition.

Newly appointed AFL Canberra General Manager Jack Masters said all clubs and players are looking forward to being involved in the new competition.

“The NEAFL is truly a watershed moment for AFL Canberra with the new league promising the long-term stability of the local ACT competition,” Masters said.

“With GWS signing a partnership yesterday with the ACT Government to play 40 AFL matches over the next ten years in Canberra, this is certainly an historic time to be involved in the league.

“The NEAFL is a great result for local football with all players, clubs, coaches, club administrators, umpires and volunteers being exposed to a new level of competition. All AFL Canberra clubs and players are looking forward to the new exciting competition and the enhanced talent pathway now available.

“The new league will provide opportunities for AFL Canberra clubs to take on the best clubs from AFL Queensland as well as the Sydney Swans, Team GWS, Gold Coast and the Brisbane Lions. The NEAFL will further enhance the quality and profile of AFL Canberra at a national level.”

The ACT has produced many stars of the AFL including Craig Bolton, James Hird, Alex Jesaulenko, Aaron Hamill among many others. The new NEAFL competition will provide local players with a greater chance of being drafted with local clubs exposed to three more elite AFL clubs, Team GWS, Gold Coast and Brisbane Lions as well as the Sydney Swans.

The NEAFL will be split into two conference, the Eastern Conference (NSW and ACT teams) and the Northern Conference (Qld and NT teams), where teams will continue to play for awards and premierships within their conference. The winning team will then take on the top team from AFL Queensland for the NEAFL Premiership.

AFL Canberra Chairman Gerard Rees said the local league has never been in a better position.

“This is one of the the best announcement ever for AFL in the ACT,” Rees said.

“Our competition at the moment is at a high standard but the NEAFL competition will significantly increase the opportunities for players, clubs and sponsors.

“NEAFL will improve the standard of football in the ACT and it is going to draw young, emerging AFL players to the nation’s capital to take part in the league.

Local players will get the opportunity to play against the Sydney Swans, Team GWS, Gold Coast and Brisbane Lions. There is no better exposure than this for aspiring AFL players.

“On the back of GWS’ announcement yesterday, NEAFL will further enhance the AFL’s presence in the ACT and it is a great way to celebrate the 100th year of AFL played in the nation’s capital on July 29, 2011.”

Team GWS General Manager ACT/Regional NSW, Garry Buchanan, said the Club is looking forward to playing in the NEAFL competition.

“The NEAFL now completes another of Team GWS’ promises made to the ACT community that the club will be playing in Canberra next year,” Buchanan said.

“With GWS playing in the 2011 NAB Challenge series, the club may now play up to as many as ten times in Canberra next year.

“All supporters are encouraged to come along and see GWS in action next year prior to the club’s official introduction into the AFL competition in 2012.”

Sydney Swans General Manager of Football, Dean Moore, said the introduction of the NEAFL would not only be good for the Swans but for the game in the wider region.

“We’ve had a successful association with Canberra for a number of years now. This development enables us to maintain those well established links but also allows us to now compete against other AFL reserve grade teams,” he said.

“Importantly we can supplement our side with players from our newly formed QBE Sydney Swans Academy which will provide a wonderful opportunity for those boys to play football at a high standard and further develop their talents.”