World Footy News

Since the end of the 2013 season in Cairns, much has been going on behind the scenes to ensure the further growth of the game in far northern Queensland. The Green light has now been given to new teams for 2014 which will strengthen both the junior and senior ranks playing within the AFL Cairns competition.

At the beginning of 2013, AFL Cape York proudly opened the doors to its first intake of boarding students. These young men came to the new establishment – AFL Cape York House – to live and receive their education through nearby secondary schools. They came from as far afield as the Torres Strait Islands, Cape York Peninsula communities and many other places. Opened in May of this year, most of the boys played Australian Rules football with local clubs North Cairns Tigers and Pyramid Power.

The goals of AFL Cape York House are encapsulated in their mission statement which says their aim is “to provide educational, employment and training opportunities for young Indigenous men from Far North Queensland's remote communities in a culturally appropriate, safe and secure residential environment in Cairns to ensure young men reaches his full potential.”

The aims of the house took a massive step forward at the AFL Cairns Juniors general meeting this week with the Cape York Eagles, a team to be comprised of boarders from AFL Cape York House, being admitted to the junior league for the 2014 season. They will initially field teams in the Under 15 and Under 17 age groups as they build numbers and strength into the future.

As stated by AFL Cairns Juniors, “AFLCY House is very unique in that it offers students from Cape York, the Gulf [communities fringing the Gulf of Carpentaria], Torres Strait and local regions a safe and secure ‘home away from home’ living experience while pursuing success in schooling, cultural endeavours, works experience, training and sports. This facility allows students to be individually case managed while developing career and life pathways.” Having their own junior football club will add to that experience allowing the students to play for their own club and learn the workings of a club from a grass roots level.

Whilst new clubs are always greeted initially with some degree of scepticism, mainly revolving around the impact on player pools, the fact that AFL Cairns Juniors will now boast a ninth team offsets those concerns as it is further evidence of the strong growth of Australian Rules football in the region.

Similarly, Pyramid Power’s own foray into senior football, with the introduction of a permanent team in next season’s senior women’s competition, is further evidence of growth across the region. To date the Gordonvale based club has remained exclusively a junior entity. But the step up next year to a senior team in women’s competition may be a precursor to a senior men’s team in the not too distant future.

This growth, combined with the Cape York Eagles entry to junior ranks, signals another new era for Australian Rules football in Cairns. Clearly the higher profile of the game with the recent Gold Coast Suns and Richmond clashes has helped to generate greater interest. But credit is also due to the people at AFL Cairns Juniors, AFL Cairns, AFL Cape York and the volunteers at local clubs as between them they strive day in and day out to grow the game.

It will be interesting to watch the progress of the Cape York Eagles and the ongoing growth of AFL Cape York House, as well as Pyramid Power’s first adventure with senior football. But one thing is certain. The game is already better for their arrival.