ACT SSSA Australian Football Trials and Attendance

Players interested in trying out for the ACT SSSA Australian Football Team to compete at the School Sport National Championships in Canberra 23rd-30th July this year, should note the information below.

Dates: Tuesday May 17th 2011: Hughes- 4.30pm – 6.00pm

Tuesday May 24th 2011: Hughes- 4.30pm – 6.00pm

(Please be prompt for a 4.30 start)

Additional information:

• If you intend to attend either trial, please email your name, contact number and TWO preferred playing positions to Paul Campbell – paul.campbell@ed.act.edu.au by Monday 16th May (after having indicated this intention to your MAFC Team Coach in the first instance).
• Players are required to bring an Australian Football playing guernsey with a number, mouthguard and appropriate playing boots.
• If any player is unable to attend either of the trials and wishes to be considered for selection, please contact either official listed below.
• Players are also need to print off and complete the following two forms; consent to trial and trial nomination. Both can be obtained from this ACT School Sport website: www.schoolsportact.asn.au.

MAFC – Wine and cheese night 2011

The Marist Australian Football Clubs annual Wine and Cheese night is to be held for parents, sponsors and supporters of the Club on Thursday the 19th May 2011.

This is a great casual social opportunity to meet and mingle with parents from all teams, club sponsors, committee, life members and supporters.

RSVP to your team manager for catering purposes by 10th May.

Wines supplied by Z4 Marketing.

Any enquiries please contact Marg Flaherty, MAFC Social Coordinator on mobile 0412 681651, or home 6286 2205.

Date: Thursday 19th May, 2011
Time: 630 pm to 830 pm
Venue: Hellenic club, Matilda Street, Woden

Cost: $20 per head hot and cold nibbles and wine tasting supplied
Dress: Neat Casual
Payment to be paid on the night at the door

Pink Footy Day

As with past season's the day is about raising funds and awareness for Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA). BCNA works to ensure that women diagnosed with breast cancer, and their families, receive the very best information, treatment, care and support possible, no matter where they live.

Further information on BCNA is available at www.bcna.org.au.

Packs will be available for Pink Footy Day and include posters, pink lady cut outs, pink balloons and donation tins for patrons to support this very worthy cause which MAFC has in the past.

Pink Footy Day will be hosted by Canberra AFL Clubs on 8th May with the Committee advising Team administration, players and patrons by email when this event will be hosted by MAFC to coincide with home games at Lindwall Oval to make the event a success.

NEAFL to enhance talent pathway

The AFL today launched the new North East Australian Football League Eastern Conference, bringing teams together from the ACT, NSW, Queensland and Northern Territory into one competition.

In a landmark occasion for the AFL, the new Eastern Conference will provide local AFL Canberra players with national exposure. Games will be played in the ACT, NSW, NT and Queensland and will include the Sydney Swans, GWS GIANTS, Brisbane Lions and Gold Coast Suns reserves sides as well as AFL Queensland clubs.

The new NEAFL competition will further enhance the quality and profile of second tier football in the ACT to rival the stronger state leagues like the VFL, WAFL and SANFL. The competition will also provide more opportunities for businesses and fans to get involved in the game.

Manager – AFL Canberra Jack Masters told a large crowd at the season launch in Canberra of the importance of the new NEAFL competition.

"This truly is a watershed moment for AFL in the ACT," Masters said.

"Not only are we celebrating a centenary of football this year in the nation's capital but we now have a competition that will give local players every opportunity to be drafted by an AFL club.

"This is a chance to add to the great history of the AFL Canberra competition.

"We hope to make second tier football stronger, we hope in time, the NEAFL, over the next five or so years, becomes in comparative terms equal to the WAFL, VFL and SANFL.

"There has never been a better time to be playing or supporting AFL in Canberra especially with the establishment of the GWS GIANTS Academy and the club playing 40 matches in Canberra over the next ten years."

AFL NSW/ACT Planning and Operations Manager and former Geelong captain Tom Harley attended the season launch held at the Hellenic Club in Woden.

Harley, who progressed through South Australia's SANFL football system, said the NEAFL competition now provides a defined pathway for players.

"There is a genuine energy and excitement for the opportunity that lies ahead for the five AFL Canberra based clubs as well as the Sydney Swans and GWS GIANTS," Harley said.

"To have the opportunity and game experience of travelling up to Queensland and the Northern Territory, it's invaluable.

"NEAFL, and the new GIANTS Academy based in Canberra, gives footballers a clear pathway and now enhances their prospects of being drafted."

ACT Minister for Sport, Andrew Barr, said NEAFL is the perfect way to celebrate a centenary of football in the ACT.

"With AFL in Canberra turning 100 this year, it is fitting that the sport embark on the next 100 years in such a great position and with a unique partnership unlike any other that currently exists in the AFL," Barr said.

"The NEAFL promises local players an even higher standard of competition and increased opportunities to display their abilities against AFL-listed players and in front of AFL recruiters."

MAFC AFL Tipping - Season 2011

Pass the word around the MAFC Tipping Comp is up and running again this year.

The Competition is FREE TO JOIN this year and there will be a weekly $10 "Best Tips" and an Annual Prizes including GWS merchandise and vouches from the AFL Merchandise shop for 1st, 2nd and 3rd best tipster for the home and away season as well and the perpetual "Best Tipster" trophy.

To win the $10 weekly prize you need to

• Select all 8 winners
• Have the lowest margin if there are 2 or more tippers with 8 correct selections
• If there are no tippers with 8 correct selections the $10 weekly prize will jackpot

Just follow the link to the AFL Tipping - http://tipping.afl.com.au

Register with the Comp by entering last year's UserName and Password or click on lost Username/Password.

If new to Tipping then follow the prompts to Register a new UserName and Password.
If you are registering for the first time and wish to use an Alias Name enter it in the user name field.

When you have completed the registration form you will be automatically entered in the main AFL Tipping competition, Remember this is NOT the MAFC comp.

To enter the MAFC Competition you click "Join an existing competition..." MAFC2011 enter the following competition Key: WDYG2YUJ4C

MAFC2011 should now appear in the Competition Box on the top of the screen.

Competition 1 = AFL Tipping Comp, Competition 2 = MAFC2011

The same tips enter you into both comps. IF you are good enough you can win both COMPS!

Any questions please Email MAFC Comp Administrator - raurky@tpg.com.au

AFL National Policy - Accredited Coaches

With the AFL National Policy stating that all coaches need to be currently accredited to coach at any level, AFL (NSW/ACT) will conduct the following courses throughout 2011.

The types of coach accreditation are as follows:
Level 1 Junior (Auskick – Under 12)
Level 1 Youth (13-17)
Level 1 Senior (18+)
Level 2 (must have held Level 1 accreditation for greater than 12 months)

Please contact JuniorOps@mafc.com.au if you are considering becoming an MAFC Coach for 2011.