AFL Sydney claims the 2010 Regional Championships

Lachlan Pryor capped off a superb tournament claiming the Player of the Championships award for division one while NAIAFA’s Chris Cooper and Adam Jennings won the award for division two.

AFL Sydney U23’s produced a hard running brand of football that couldn’t be matched by Black Diamond AFL in the grand final.

Black Diamond AFL was the surprise packet of the tournament, knocking out the Riverina fancied leagues but couldn’t replicate their form today.

AFL Sydney U23’s were simply too good winning by 50 points and will carry the title of the state’s best league for the next two years.

NSW-ACT Indigenous Australian Football Association (NAIAFA) was dominant in division two all weekend, winning their opening three matches and racing into the grand final.

The side didn’t stop there as they played fluent football often running the ball out of defence and linking up with their forwards further up the ground.

The 40-point result was a true measure of the skilful side and they did their chances of playing in division one in future competitions no harm.

The battle of the Riverina saw Farrer FL get one up on their rivals, defeating Riverina FL by 33 points in front of a lively crowd. Riverina FL came into the match with a depleted side and as a result they struggled to find any targets up forward.

After a promising start to yesterday’s opening match where Farrer FL defeated AFL Sydney U23’s, the team’s inconsistency cost them a place in the grand final but they will be happy to finish the event in third and a victory against their rivals.

In the other division two match, Northern Riverina FL took out third place at the Championships after defeating Central West AFL by 20 points.

Irwin Burbage was the best for the winning team while Kim Reid booted two goals in a classy display in the forward line.

Carnival organiser Paul Habel said the event was a huge success and he is looking forward to the possibility of future Championships being held in Wagga Wagga.

“It’s just been a great carnival. The weekend flowed superbly and there was a high standard of football in both divisions,” Habel said.

“The teams playing in the grand finals deserved to be there. The venues have both been fantastic and the weather was a contributing factor for this event to be a success.