World Footy News

The tropical North Queensland city of Cairns will play host to this year’s Kickstart Championships and All Nations Cup this weekend, which together comprise the AFL Diversity Cup. Last year’s event was held in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales. The North Queensland city of Townsville held the event in 2013.

The event presents the opportunity for Cairns to further establish its credentials as a regional venue for high calibre AFL events, following on from hosting AFL Premierships matches and other key national events such as the Women’s Championships in 2013.

According to the press release from AFL Queensland:

“AFL Cairns will host the 2015 Kickstart Championships and All Nations Cup (AFL Diversity Cup) at Cazalys Stadium from Friday 10th to Wednesday 15th April. The U15 Kickstart Championships is in its 5th year and the structure has been developed to provide a supported, talented player pathway that compliments the National U16 Championships. It aims to expose indigenous and multicultural players, coaches and umpires to an elite AFL program environment.”

“The carnival is the first stage for players to be involved in a high performance environment and will provide players with an opportunity to test themselves against the best emerging Indigenous and Multicultural players from across the country.


AFL Queensland North Queensland Development Manager, Graeme Pratt, who spearheaded the initiative to get the championships to Cairns said, “These Championships are significant to both AFL and the national sporting community. They recognise upcoming talent from our indigenous and multicultural communities, as well show the participants a pathway to elite opportunities.”

AFL Cairns President, Gary Young, said, “The announcement of Cairns as host for these important national championships is an exact fit with the significant push our city and region has nurtured to attract sports tourism.”

“These championships in Cairns serve three main goals. We want to give some kids from a specific part of the community a great new opportunity, we want to recognise AFL as a terrific sport and to highlight and show off the city, region and State as a great place to compete in no matter what sport it is that comes our way.”

Mayor Bob Manning said Cairns Regional Council had offered its full support to the event.

“This tournament encourages greater participation in AFL and is a great stepping stone for young players looking for a future in the game,” Cr Manning said. “We welcome the Kickstart Championships to Cairns and look forward to hosting visiting players and officials.”

Key features of the Championships include;

KICKSTART CHAMPIONSHIPS
• 22 players per team
• Players need to be born in the year 2000 (u15)
• Head Coach required to be Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander

ALL NATIONS CUP
• 12 players per team
• Players need to be born in the year 2000 (u15)
• Players born overseas from non-English speaking countries
• Players from emerging communities that have a parent born overseas from Asia and Africa.
• Head Coach required to be from Multicultural background

UMPIRES
This year in line with the new Diversity Umpiring strategy each State will be required to bring 2 umpires (boundary, goal or field) and they will become part of the Diversity Umpiring program. National AFL Umpiring department will manage education and mentoring program at the Championships.

Further details about the event will be released closer to the event date. Interested people can either contact World Footy News for further information, or contact Graeme Pratt by email at AFLQ at: Graeme.Pratt@aflq.com.au