MEDIA RELEASE - AFL (NSW/ACT)

Wednesday, April 2

Henson Park to host five Sydney AFL matches this Saturday

With the celebrations for 150 years of Australian Football underway, Sydney AFL will be creating some history of its own this weekend, with an entire round of senior football scheduled over one day at for the season opener.

This Saturday, footy fans will be treated to over 12 hours of Australian Football action, with all five Round One matches of the Sydney AFL taking place at the newly renovated facility.

Henson Park, home of the , has recently undergone a $250,000 upgrade, and this will be the first opportunity for Sydney AFL to take centre stage at the refurbished ground.

Garry Burkinshaw, Senior Football Operations Coordinator for AFL (NSW/ACT) said that this was an exciting milestone for the Sydney AFL competition and signaled the leagues continued development as a premier sporting competition.

“This is an important year for Australian Football across all levels of competition and Sydney AFL is no exception. As a competition the standard and support is growing rapidly and being able to provide fans with an entire day and night of Australian Football is a fantastic opportunity.

“It is also the perfect platform to showcase some of the emerging talent coming through. Fans will be able to see the next generation of AFL stars in action with many of the NSW Rams players taking part in matches, along with some of the AFL Scholarship holders,” said Burkinshaw.

The Sydney AFL competition has developed some true champions over the years with no less than 13 players currently on AFL lists. Some of the stars to have come through the competition include, (St Kilda) and brothers Jarrad () and Mark McVeigh (Essendon), all of whom came from Sydney AFL club Pennant Hills whilst Sydney Swans stars and Lewis Roberts- Thompson started their careers with St George and North Shore respectively.

More recently, some of the young guns coming through Sydney AFL have included, Keiran Jack, who made his debut with the Swans in 2007 after playing for Pennant Hills and Malcolm Lynch who was drafted by the from St Ignatius College in 2006 (see full list of players below).

Also celebrating milestones this year are Sydney AFL clubs St George and Western Suburbs. St George is marking 80 years as a club whilst Western Suburbs are commemorating 60 years of operation.

The Sydney AFL competition was established in 1880. In that year, the first local game was between East Sydney and Sydney at what is now the . This was the first game of any football played on the ground.

Football fans and members of the community are all encouraged to come along to this historic event and get behind your local club. Tickets will be available at the gate. The first match starts at 9:00am (see below for ticket and draw details).

Draw for the day: 9:00am Sydney Uni vs Balmain Dockers 11:40am Western Suburbs vs Wollongong 2:20pm Pennant Hills vs Campbelltown 5:00 pm vs UNSW/ES 7:40pm St George vs North Shore

Tickets: $5.00 for Adults, Children Under 16 - Free

NSW Rams Players playing Mitchell Frail Western Suburbs Chris Ogle UNSW/ES Scott Reed Pennant Hills Joshua Duncan Pennant Hills Ranga Ediriwickrama Pennant Hills Bart Mill Pennant Hills Lachlan Pryor North Shore Ted Strudwick North Shore Max Wilson North Shore

AFL players that played with the Sydney AFL Dylan Addison – Western Bulldogs (Sydney AFL Club - St George) Was drafted as the 27 th pick in the 2005 . Made debut in Round 20, 2006. Has played 13 matches. – Sydney Swans (Sydney AFL Club - Western Suburbs) Was elevated from the in 2004. Was a NAB Rising Star Nomination in 2004 and a Swans Premiership player in 2005. Has played 64 matches. Nick Davis – Sydney Swans (Sydney AFL Club - St George) Was drafted by Collingwood in the 1998 draft as a father-son selection at pick 19. In 2002 he was traded by Collingwood to the Sydney Swans. AFL Rising Star Nomination in 1999, Sydney Swans Premiership player in 2005 and represented in 2005, 2006. Has played 164 matches and kicked 230 goals. Ryan Davis – (Sydney AFL Club – North Shore) Rookie listed in 2008 as part of the NSW ACT Scholarship Program. Khan Hareteku – St Kilda (Sydney AFL Club – UNSW/Eastern Suburbs) Rookie listed in 2008 as part of the NSW ACT Scholarship Program. Lenny Hayes – St Kilda (Sydney AFL Club – Pennant Hills) Draft as pick No 11 in the 1998 Draft. Made debut in 1999. Club B&F winner in 2003. All Australian in 2003 & 2005. Represented Australia in 2003. Club captain in 2004. Has played 187 games Keiran Jack – Sydney Swans (Sydney AFL Club – Pennant Hills) Rookie listed in 2006 and elevated to senior list in 2007 and formally drafted in 2008. Made senior debut in 2007 and has played 2 matches. Malcolm Lynch – Western Bulldogs (Sydney AFL Club – St Ignatius College) Was drafted as the 66 th pick in 2006 Draft. Made debut in 2007. Has played 2 matches. Jarrad McVeigh – Sydney Swans (Sydney AFL Club – Pennant Hills) Drafted as pick No 5 in 2002 Draft. Made debut in 2004. Has played 69 matches. Mark McVeigh – Essendon (Sydney AFL Club – Pennant Hills) Drafted as pick 9 in the 1998 Draft. Made debut in 1999. 2001 Rising Star nominee. Represented Australia in 2004. Has played 141 games and kicked 66 goals. Henry Playfair – Sydney Swans (Sydney AFL Club – North Shore) Drafted by Geelong as pick No 41 in 2001 draft. Made debut in 2003. Traded to Sydney Swans in 2008. Has played 52 matches. Lewis Roberts-Thompson – Sydney Swans (Sydney AFL Club – North Shore) Drafted as pick No 29 in 2001 Draft. Made debut in 2003. 2005 Premiership player with the Swans, 2003 Rising Star Nominee. Has played 73 matches James Wilsen – Kangaroos (Sydney AFL Club - St George) Rookie listed in 2008 as part of the NSW ACT Scholarship Program.