Their best playing days might be behind them, but that wont stop middle-aged men with a passion for Australian Football giving the Cairns economy a $4.5 million free kick.
Almost 1000 players with an average age of 45, about 600 officals plus their travelling families, are in Cairns this week for the 27th annual AFL Masters National Carnival.
The week-long event, which started last Thursday and is jointly held at Cazalys and Watsons Oval, is tipped to generate almost $4.5 million for the local economy.
The "middle-weights" are also expected to stay an extra week in the region, kicking goals for struggling businesses and tourism groups.
The carnival has built on last year's turn-out in Darwin, with almost double the number of players, officials and families.
AFL Masters general manager Neil King said the "self sufficient" age group was the ideal recession-buster.
He also said the carnival, the biggest in its history, was so successful because families would combine their one holiday for the year into their Masters trip.
Last Modified on 06/10/2009 12:43