BDAFL AMBASSADORS
History
In 2015 the BDAFL Board made a decision to anoint seven people with the title of BDAFL Ambassador.
The Ambassadors are people who commenced their football career in the AFL Hunter Coast region and gone on to reach the pinnacle of their field, or have made a significant contribution away from the football field.
The role of the Ambassador is to promote the Black Diamond AFL and also allow the league to promote them as BDAFL Ambassadors.
The Ambassadors were announced at last years medal night.
The ambassadors are
Jarrad McVeigh
Jarrad commenced his football career with Killarney Vale juniors before moving to Pennant Hills Juniors.
He was drafted by the Sydney Swans with pick # 5 in the 2002 National Draft
He made his debut in Rd 1 of 2004 and has played 264 games.
He was appointed co-captain in 2011 and led the club to the 2013 Premiership
Twice Best & Fairest winner (2008 & 2013) and All-Australian in 2013.
In 2010, He was selected on the International Rules squad for the tour to Ireland
Craig Bird
Craig grew up playing football, junior and senior with Nelson Bay
He was drafted to the Swans with the 59th pick in the 2007 AFL Draft after previously being part of the NSW AFL Scholarship Program.
He made his debut in Round 1, 2008 and has gone on to play 137 games.
The highlight of his career is undoubtedly being a member of the Swans 2012 Premiership side.
Mark McVeigh
Mark commenced his football career with Killarney Vale juniors before moving to Pennant Hills.
He was drafted by Essendon in the 1998 National Draft with pick # 9
He made his debut in Round 1, 1999 and when he retired at the end of 2012 he had played 232 games and kicked 107 goals.
He played in Essendon’s 2001 losing Grand Final side against Brisbane
In 2004, He was selected on the International Rules squad for the tour to Ireland.
He currently is the defensive coach for GWS Giants and plays for the Killarney Vale Bombers when coaching commitments permit.
Isaac Heeney
Isaac grew up playing football with Cardiff juniors and progressed through to the senior ranks making his senior debut as a 15 year old.
He finished runner up in the 2013 Elliott Davey Medal polling14 votes from just six matches.
Isaac had an illustrious junior representative career playing for NSW/ACT at Under 16 & Under 18’s level, winning the National Championships Best & Fairest Medal for each age group.
He was also a member of the AFL-AIS Academy squad.
He was selected by the Swans with pick # 18 in the 2014 National Draft.
He made his debut in Round 1 this year and has excelled in his first season in the AFL which has included a Rising Star Nomination.
Troy Luff
Luff moved to Nelson Bay from Victoria, playing junior football with the club.
He made his debut in 1990 however struggled to hold his place in the side until a break out finals series in 1996 which included a near Best on Ground Grand Final performance kicking two goals in a losing side .
In a career spanning 12 years, Luff played 155 games and kicked 85 goals.
Upon retiring Luff continued to play in the AFL Sydney competition winning two league Best & Fairest awards. He is still playing in the Division One competition for Balmain.
Luff commentates for Triple M Sydney's AFL coverage and is a regular on Weekend Sunrise and Fox Sports News
Matt Granland
Matt played junior football for Killarney Vale, representing Central Coast juniors on several occasions.
When 17, he decided playing wasn’t his vocation rather commentating and after doing voluntary work at Coast FM he enrolled in the fulltime radio course at the Australian Radio & Television School at North Ryde
After starting his radio career in Young he made several moves before arriving in Geelong where he commenced calling AFL Football.
He subsequently moved to 3AW and then to SEN where he is now a senior caller of AFL Football.
He has called over 700 games of AFL football, including 12 Grand Finals.
Maurice Goolagong
Maurice needs no introduction to the BDAFL with his goal kicking feats unlikely to be matched.
In total he kicked 1065 goals, winning the leading goalkicker award on seven occasions and passing the century mark in a season on four occasions.
Maurice’s record on the field is well known however he also has a significant presence outside the BDAFL with his indigenous art (he has designed both Terrigal Avoca and Warners Bay Indigenous Jumpers) and also for his work with indigenous youth
Steve Allan
Steve played five seasons of senior football with Killarney Vale from 1999-2004.
He is a successful radio and television presenter for the past 15 years and is a six time winner of the Best Sports Presenter Provincial at Australian Commercial Radio Awards.
He is the current ground announcer for the Canterbury Bulldogs, NSW Swifts netball and GWS Giants whilst also being the NRL announcer and Master of Ceremonies having filled this role for the past 17 Grand Finals and State of Origins in Sydney.
Steve never misses an opportunity to promote the Black Diamond AFL.