AFL returns to the North Coast in a big way this weekend with Round 1 of the Junior competition together with the 2018 Youth Girls Northern Academy Series being staged in Coffs Harbour.
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The Junior competition welcomes the arrival of another new club with the South West Rocks Dockers fielding a team in the Under 11 competition.
This brings the total number of teams in this age group to 12 with matches divided into a northern and southern conference again to minimise the impact of travel on families.
Camden Haven Bombers will be fielding an Under 13 team for the first time in many years, whilst second year club Nambucca Valley Lions are also expanding to include an Under 13 team. This age group now has 10 teams which has given the scope to replicate the highly successful two conference format in this age group for the first time.
Elsewhere, Bellingen Bulldogs are excited to move to their new home at Connell Park right in the heart of town, whilst Coffs Breakers return to Fitzroy Oval following the ground’s re-development.
Full details of the draw for the AFL North Coast competition can be found at http://aflnorthcoast.com.au/fixtures-results/afl-north-coast-juniors/.
2018 Youth Girls Northern Academy Series
The series will involve teams representing the GWS GIANTS, Sydney Swans, Gold Coast Suns, and Brisbane Lions. This is the final hit out for both AFL NSW/ACT and AFL Queensland which will select their respective Under 18 Youth Girls state teams to participate in the National Championships program.
Featuring prominently in the GIANTS and Swans teams are six North Coast locals. Ahlani Eddy (Corindi, Sawtell Toormina Saints), Lilly Doyle (Grafton, Grafton Tigers), Lizzy Dickson (Kempsey, Port Magpies), and Brianna McFarlane (Yamba, Coffs Breakers) will line up for the GIANTS, whilst Cassidy Ronalds (Upper Orara, Coffs Breakers) and Georgia Breward (Lawrence, formerly Grafton Tigers) will don the red and white of the Swans.
All matches are being played at C.ex Coffs International Stadium, with the schedule for the series being:
Friday 6 April
7:00pm GWS GIANTS v Brisbane Lions
8:00pm Sydney Swans v Gold Coast Suns
Saturday 7 April
1:00pm Gold Coast Suns v Brisbane Lions
3:00pm Sydney Swans v GWS GIANTS
Sunday 8 April
9:00am GWS GIANTS v Gold Coast Suns
10:00am Sydney Swans v Brisbane Lions
Anyone interested in playing AFL in the 2018 season should go to www.play.afl to find their local club and register. Matches are played on Sundays and all clubs are Active Kids Endorsed Providers.