Regional wrap: Hunter/Central Coast
The AFL season may be done and dusted, but there’s still plenty of AFL happening on the Hunter/Central Coast.
With the Sydney Swans winning the 2012 AFL Premiership, home grown Swans Jarrad McVeigh, from Killarney Vale, and Craig Bird, from Nelsons Bay, have been celebrated by the region.
Simon Smyth, AFL NSW/ACT Manager for Hunter/Coast, said the pair’s achievements were a testament to football in the area.
“The media in our region have embraced the premiership winning Sydney Swans, and we are extremely proud of our local heroes,” he said.
“The local communities are looking forward to seeing these stars during their time away from football.”
The Swans’ win came after another successful AFL season locally and congratulations go to all the 2012 Premiership teams, including:
Black Diamond Premier Division – Terrigal-Avoca
Black Diamond First Division – Singelton
Black Diamond Second Division – Warners Bay
Black Diamond under 18s – Warners Bay
Central Coast under 16s – Gosford
Central Coast under 14s – Gosford
Central Coast under 12s – Gosford
Newcastle under 16s – Nelson Bay
Newcastle under 14s – Cardiff
Newcastle under 12s – Newcastle City
Newcastle teenager and Swans Academy player Isaac Heeney also became one of just 11 juniors Australia-wide to win the inaugural Jim Stynes Scholarship.
“We are extremely fortunate to have young, talented footballers in our region and none more so than Isaac,” Smyth said.
“This Scholarship is worth up to $20,000 over two years, and aims to support young footballers with football, travel and education expenses.”
It has been another successful for the Hunter/Central Coast region but there’s no stopping now, as they kick off school programs in Term 4 and look to give boys and girls a taste of AFL in anticipation for their 2013 recruitment drive at the 16 community Auskick centres.
AFL 9’s is already in full swing, with six teams coming to the end of the Bateau Bay tournament and 11 teams starting the new season at Lake Macquarie.
“The excitement around this new brand of our sport has been overwhelming in the Hunter and Central Coast,” Smyth said.
“Our Development Team are also excited about continuing to work closely with the government-run Active After-school Communities, to deliver ‘hub’ programs, aimed at supporting recruitment for our junior clubs, through geographically run programs.”
AFL NSW/ACT would like to congratulate all players and staff across the region on another successful season and extend special thanks to the development team of Craig Golledge, Sam Ellis and Sam Shergold, as well as the 22 Development Officers, for spreading AFL to the people of the Hunter and Central Coast.
