Regional wrap: South Coast

In a region encompassing five local government areas, 100 schools and three football leagues, where it takes six hours to drive from the most northern point to most southern point, AFL has had to find its place on the South Coast.

Amongst popular leisure activates such as fishing, swimming, boating, surfing and other coastal sports, AFL is taking hold with great growth in lower junior age groups, under 12s and at an Auskick level.

Six percent of the total population have had AFL experience at some stage and John Dyball, AFL NSW/ACT Regional Coordinator – South Coast, said football is continuing its development in the area that covers Gerringong Creek to the Victorian border.

“That six per cent of people have interacted with AFL in some way is pretty impressive seeing that leisure sports are a high priority for most coastal people,” Dyball said.

“The clubs within the region welcome the growth and look forward to new and innovative ideas to continue our progression.”

The region contains three football leagues; the Shoalhaven Juniors, South Coast Seniors and Sapphire Coast AFL.

A four league Junior Representative Carnival with Central West, Sapphire Coast, Shoalhaven Juniors and Illawarra Juniors was a great success with 280 participants and more than 2500 spectators over the two days.

Currently there is interest for a youth women’s competition on the coast and the popularity of the move was proven when more 300 people watched the Albatross Angels and Batemans Bay Hawketts battle it out in an exhibition game at the Representative Carnival in Nowra.

There has also been great support for AFL at a school level with all schools in the region AFL friendly and taking on AFL programs when offered.

The key to recruitment in the area has been highly enjoyable AFL gala days which introduce the sport to the community and then feeding local information to participants.

AFL9’s has proved a success at Pambula with nine teams playing a formalised competition and the Shoalhaven has commenced a set of ‘Come and try’ days with a competition starting on the November 13.

“The South Coast development team, with five school coordinators and a regional coordinator, are enthusiastic, professional and well respected by all their shareholders,” Dyball said.

“I congratulate everyone on the South Coast on a successful year of AFL football in the region and we look forward to bigger and better things in 2013.”