AFL Cairns staff will hit the road this term as we take NAB AFL Auskick to outlying Schools in the Cairns FNQ Region. Development Officers will travel 190km South of Cairns running Auskick Centres at Cardwell, Tully, Mission Beach, El Arish and Innisfail. Staff will also travel up the ranges and head west to the Tablelands to run AFL Auskick Centres at Atherton, Dimbulah and Mareeba.
Despite these towns being Rugby League breeding grounds, producing star players such as Billy Slater and Ty Williams, development staff have seen an increase in the interest and participation of AFL. Last year was the first time we were involved in the Innisfail District Primary School Sports competition with over 100 students participating in the 6 week program. This year the competition has grown to 10 teams and 150 students participating.
This year has seen a changing of the guard in much of the Tablelands area with AFL Cairns Co-ordinating AFL Auskick Centres previously run by AFL Cape York. So far, AFL Cairns development staff have run AFL Auskick Centres at Julatten, Mt Molloy, Mareeba, Kuranda and Malanda for the first time and staff have been pleased with the response. There is a strong belief that with the continued deliverance of a high quality, high energy program that involves the wider community, AFL Auskick participation and interest in the game will continue to grow throughout the region.
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