Western Sydney to host AFL match

Campbelltown’s Monarch Oval (Bob Prenter Reserve) will host the Rio Tinto Footy Means Business AFL match between Indigenous players from across Australia on Saturday, October 30.

Fifty up and coming Indigenous players aged 18 to 24 from urban, regional and remote areas across Australia have been selected to attend the week-long camp based at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence at Redfern.

The camp will culminate in the community day match at Monarch Oval where locals can come together to watch first-class Australian football in their own backyard.

With the AFL’s 18th club – Team GWS – set to enter the competition in 2012, there is no better time than Saturday to start supporting AFL and the western Sydney based team.  

Local Indigenous artist Nellie Dargan will be performing and there will be free family activities, including face-painting, AFL clinics and a barbeque, everyone can enjoy.

“The Rio Tinto Footy Means Business AFL match will showcase Indigenous AFL talent from Australia playing a match in the heart of south-west Sydney in Campbelltown,” AFL State Manager – NSW/ACT Development Simon Laughton said.

“There is no better occasion than Saturday’s match for newcomers to the game, and AFL followers, to watch high-quality Australian football.

“All families are encouraged to come along and take part in the activities on the day.”

The 50 Indigenous players are in Sydney this week for the Rio Tinto Footy Means Business AFL camp. The camp forms part of a year-long leadership development program that links young Indigenous men with mainstream employment and education opportunities.

Footy Means Business will provide 18 to 24-year-old Indigenous men with exposure to elite AFL programs and training, along with networking opportunities in corporate environments to strengthen leadership and teamwork skills.

“One aim of the camp is to provide players with the chance to improve their AFL skills, and with it, their chances of making their way onto an AFL list,” AFL National Community Engagement Manager Jason Mifsud said.

“The camp is also intended to provide participants with skill sets to gain meaningful employment. 

“It will be an enjoyable week for the players with many coming to Sydney for the very first time.”

All stakeholders involved in the Footy Means Business program are committed to a 100 per cent success rate for participants to enter into one or more of the NAB AFL Draft, full-time employment or accredited training or education.

Fifty participants for this year’s program have been selected by AFL Regional Development Officers based on football ability, engagement with their communities and their potential to serve as a role model.

About half the participants will be selected from areas near Rio Tinto sites and AFL Partnership Communities.

All participants have been matched with a mentor drawn from Rio Tinto and AFL employees, who will develop their own management skills through training run by the Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre.

Managed by Chris Johnson, the program will also engage Michael O’Loughlin, Larry Kickett (Rio Tinto), Matthew Whelan and Malcolm Lynch as mentors who will also develop their own management skills through training run by the Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre.

When: Saturday, October 30
Time: 10.30am to 2pm
Where: Monarch Oval (Bob Prenter Reserve) Fields Rd, Macquarie Fields
Cost: Free