Regional wrap: Sydney/Illawarra

As AFL continues to grow across NSW, the Sydney/Illawarra region kicked off the year with a bang, with more than 150 participants at the first ever Auskick season launch and over 20 on the spot registrations.

The region experienced a 10 per cent growth in participation numbers, with strong results in the South and Illawarra regions, to take total player numbers to over 35,000.

There was also some significant ‘firsts’ for the regions with the Maroubra Saints accepted into the under 18s Challenge Cup competition and the introduction of four teams in a Sydney Harbour youth girls competition.

11 teams participated in the inaugural youth AFL 9s knockout competition with 16 teams in the seniors. AFL 9s will continue to be a key sector of growth with over 50 teams involved in the Moore Park competition in Spring 2012.

UNSW were the victors in the AFL Sydney men’s competition while Balmain took out the AFL Sydney women’s Premiership.

AFL NSW/ACT Manager for Sydney/Illawarra Simon Wilson said although the Sydney Swans won the ultimate prize, there were plenty of other winners in the Sydney/Illawarra region.

“The Swans’ Premiership win has capped off a positive year in the Sydney/Illawarra region,” Wilson said.

“The talented players and umpires that continue to come through Sydney and the Illawarra point to sustained growth in the region for years to come.”

Cronulla’s Lloyd Perris, the inaugural member of the Sydney Swans QBE Academy in 2010, was awarded the prestigious Cameron Ling Medal this year.

The medal, named after Geelong’s premiership-winning 2011 captain, was voted on by the under 18 AIS-AFL Academy squad, who were each asked to vote on 30 character traits, and decide who best embodied those traits.

Rob Taylor, an umpire in the AFL GSJ Sydney Harbour competition was named on the AFL boundary umpire list after taking up boundary umpiring five years ago.

The first ever School Combine was also held at Redlands in Cremorne to help develop and identify talented young AFL players from across the region.

In infrastructure news, a partnership was developed with Narrabeen Sports High for a new AFL Sports program as a part of the broader Sports Academy at the school. A combined AFL/Soccer synthetic facility is part of the agreement and will be completed in December.

Goal posts were erected at four additional venues and there will be access to Con O’Keefe Oval in Albion Park for the 2013 season as well as a new venue secured in the Leichhardt LGA.

“We are continually looking for ways to grow and improve the infrastructure in the Sydney/Illawarra region and in 2012 we have made some significant steps for the players in this area to have greater access to AFL facilities,” Wilson said.

As the region strives to embrace diversity, there were a number of key engagement activities within the area. The game of AFL was spread to new areas with six students from the Kogarah Intensive English Centre joining the Ramsgate RSL JAFC and Miranda Bombers JAFC.

The Sydney/Illawarra region also experienced greater integration with the Sydney Swans during season 2012 and there are many exciting opportunities that lie ahead.

Key partnerships are being formed with many of the Universities in the region including increased relationships with Wollongong University and the University of Technology, Sydney.

“AFL in Sydney/ Illawarra region has never been stronger and I would like to thank all the staff and volunteers who have made 2012 one of our most successful seasons yet,” Wilson said.