AFL Sydney fixture released

By Alison Zell

In an exciting first for the competition, an AFL Sydney fixture will be played as a curtain-raiser to the GWS GIANTS and Essendon match at Skoda Stadium on July 20.

The Macarthur Giants, the newly formed under AFL Sydney Under-18s side, will play against Western Suburbs, with the match kicking off at 11am, before the main fixture at 2.10pm.

Matthew Graham, Football Operations Manager – AFL Sydney, said the scheduling of the game is a great outcome for AFL Sydney.

“This is a great opportunity to showcase the talent of AFL Sydney in front of what we hope will be a good crowd,” Graham said.

“It will be an amazing experience for these players to play at an AFL-quality stadium before an important game for the GWS GIANTS.”

GWS GIANTS Chief Executive Dave Matthews said the game is a chance for fans to see the future of AFL in Sydney.

“At the GIANTS we welcome the opportunity to connect with community football and we see this as a great opportunity to showcase this connection and provide the experience of playing on SKODA Stadium.”

Highlights for the 2013 AFL Sydney season

A blockbuster opening round of Premier Division including:

– Manly Warringah making their Premier Division debut against Balmain at Henson Park on the Sunday
– St George returning to Olds Park to host 2012 Premiers UNSW/ES
– Pennant Hills hosting North Shore in a rematch of last years semi final
– Sydney Hills Eagles hosting Sydney University as one of the curtain raisers for the two clubs NEAFL clash

AFL Sydney women’s Division One opening round matchup of last years Grand Finalists Balmain and Sydney University while all women’s Division Two matches will be played at Pioneers Park as the Randwick City Angels make their debut.

The return of a number of local derbies including:

– Manly hosting North Shore in Premier Division for the first time in the final round of the season
– St George and Southern Power doing battle in Division One and Under-18s in Rounds 7 and 17

Campbelltown and Camden hosting a home round together at Blacktown International Sportspark

Western Suburbs hosting Balmain in their annual ANZAC Day Premier Division clash at Picken Oval

All 2013 fixtures can now be located on the AFL Sydney website