Western Sydney goal post initiative

Local school students in western Sydney are kicking goals this month with 12 new sets of goal posts installed in a two-day initiative.

For the first time ever, there are now 58 venues in western Sydney which schools can access before, during and after classroom hours.

The goal post blitz was made possible by Pila Group for providing the posts and Green Options for installing them.

General Manager – AFL NSW/ACT Tom Harley said he’s excited to see one of the AFL’s priorities come to fruition.

“The installation of the 12 new sets of AFL goal posts is part of our vision to provide students in Sydney and NSW/ACT with an opportunity to play AFL,” Harley said.

“The AFL is aiming to have 207,562 participants in five years time (125,322 in 2010) and we hope a large proportion of this number will be made up of school players.”

Originally from Adelaide, Harley knows firsthand how important it is to create a strong competition through the school system.

Currently in NSW/ACT, there are a number of primary and secondary school competitions – most notably the Paul Kelly Cup (primary) and SportsReady Cup (secondary) – which have the potential to grow significantly in the coming years.

“When I was growing up in South Australia, there was nothing more enjoyable than running out in your school’s team colours to play AFL against other schools,” he said.

“School footy is the best introduction people get to the game and demonstrates all of the passion, camaraderie, fun and enjoyment that is AFL football.

“In the future we hope the existing inter-school and intra-school competitions will grow bigger and the installation of these new goals posts, and others going forward, assists immensely to this becoming a reality soon. 

“With more access to AFL facilities at schools, students won’t have to travel large distances to play the game and those new to the sport will also be able to give AFL a go. 

“The benefits of playing sport are widespread from health, social and character development. For kids and students it is even more important that they get active and have fun and there’s no better sport to play than AFL.”

For the majority of participants in NSW/ACT, the first time they come in contact with AFL is through their school – either through programs, inter-and-intra-school competitions, Auskick or player visits.

This year, there were a record 60,000 school participants who played AFL across the state and territory including the 950 teams and 15,000 students who took part in the Paul Kelly Cup.

With new programs established in the coming years including Kinderkick, AFL 9s and Youth Girls, students will have more opportunities to play AFL than ever before.

Together with improving and establishing new facilities, the AFL will run a number of coach education sessions for teachers new to the sport or those wanting to refine their coaching skills.

The 12 new sets of goal posts were installed at Rooty Hill High School, Plumpton Public School, Windsor High School, John Palmer Public School, Seven Hills North Public School, Toongabbie West Public School, Beresford Road Public School, Merrylands High School, Holsworthy Public School, Middleton Grange Public School, Campbelltown North Public School and Glenmore Park Public School.

Schools can apply for new AFL goal posts by contacting Mark Ayers at mark.ayers@afl.com.au.