![](https://images.bigfootymedia.com/icons/mobile-bullets/western_sydney.png)
Determinant
Moderator
- Jan 9, 2012
- 7,454
- 6,807
- AFL Club
- GWS
- Other Teams
- St Kilda
- Moderator
- #26
Great to see footy getting a run in the local papers
Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk
Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
Great to see footy getting a run in the local papers
Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk
Bump.
Thought I might share some positive news for the state of the game in country NSW.
Recently a 2nd AFL field has been set up in my town of Orange. I believe an AFL9's comp is going to start soon.
The ground is in a really prominent spot too, right next to a road that gets alot of traffic.
Great news.Bump.
Thought I might share some positive news for the state of the game in country NSW.
Recently a 2nd AFL field has been set up in my town of Orange. I believe an AFL9's comp is going to start soon.
The ground is in a really prominent spot too, right next to a road that gets alot of traffic.
Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk
Just poll Wayne Schwass 100 times, and you'll get 100% #failure #windthemup. That's scientific.You know, I really wish we had some way to tell if having an AFL team in Western Sydney was helping to grow the game.
The North Shore times, 14.6.18, has an article, headlined (digital version) "AFL has recorded a massive growth in junior players across Sydney, as rugby launches a program to win back hearts and minds of youngsters".
It is behind a paywall. Can anyone list the article? Did it mention growth also specifically in western Sydney?
I find it quite ironic that a game supposedly so inextricably linked to Victoria was founded by two New South Welshmen.I have heard that The Kings School (Anglican), founded 1831, in Parramatta -RU bastion and, previously, fiercely opposed to introducing AF- has now, or will very shortly, convert one of its many fields to AF; and provide its boys the choice of playing AF. TKS is in the GPS comp, now c.1700 boys enrolled, many sport stars alumni.
Can anyone confirm/provide more detailed information? What/how/who/when did AF get the entree?
H C Harrison, who played Melb. Rules from 1859, a brilliant player and also champion sprinter, and AF's greatest 19th century administrator (called "Father Of The Australian Game"), was born in Parramatta.
The very athletic Harrison, many assume, also played in the very first Melb. Rules games in Yarra Park in 1858 -he was Tom Wills' first cousin, married Wills' sister, and was always a close friend of Wills.
By coincidence, Australia's first game of soccer was probably played at Parramatta about 1870.
If correct, probably leaves St Augustine's (IAS school, c.1200 boys) in Brookvale (opposite Manly NRL ground) as one of the last Sydney anti-AF RU hold-outs. Does also not permit RL.
St Joseph's, Hunters Hill, RU bastion, only allows AF for years 11-12.
Both are Catholic. Club GR Auskick & AF has a strong niche following in both areas. Catholic schools in Sydney also have their own MCS AF comp.
Great post!They rattled off some figures at young master’s end of year presentation day - can’t remember them all but the figure of 230% growth in numbers at the club since the start of the 2015 season stuck in my mind - as did the stage absolutely packed with auskickers - so many they were running a Sunday morning and a Friday evening session because they couldn’t cope with them all together (and that’s not counting the Kickability kids who do their Auskick on a Thursday - kickability is for kids with learning disabilities/autism etc)
Two years ago there were maybe 3 girls at the club. This year we had an u12 and u15 team - next year they’re hoping to get three teams up.
But hey, no interest in AFL in Western Sydney![]()
Great post!
For clarification, have your combined Auskick & Club comp. players tripled+ since the start 2015? Wow! Approx. total nos. now?
Can you tell us more about "Kickability Clinics"? Who organises these, & when did they start?? What age groups? Any idea on total nos. involved in Sydney?
Why are they scheduled apart from Auskick?
(As a generalisation, there is a principle that ALL players are a part-& a valued part-of the ONE club/clinic)
When I was involved in Auskick, we had some Downs/etc. kids -some we were able to keep in their usual age group; others required more individual assistance, &, by necessity, were thus separated from the "normal" age groups.
Also, changing topic, may I ask if you could provide an approximate % of your Auskick /Club comp. players who would be from a non-Anglo/Celtic background?
At other WS clubs, do you believe the % of non- Anglo/Celtic kids are significantly growing?
For males at your Club, what is the main other winter sporting background of most ie RL, soccer, basketball or RU; & females?