www.sydneyafl.com.au FROM THE EDITOR It has been 196 days since East Coast Eagles held aloft the Bill Hart Premiership trophy how- ever all that will be forgotten this weekend when the 2011 AFL Sydney competitions com- mence. It has been a hectic pre-season with many new and exciting developments taking place. Luke Turner has taken on the role of Football Operations Co-ordinator for AFL Sydney. Luke comes from Coffs Harbour and we wish him all the best in this position. On-field, UTS have been promoted to the Premier Division after being a dominant force in the lower divisions over a number of years. Given that the club is just 11 years young. There inclusion means that there will be eleven teams in both the Premier Division and the Division One competitions. Overall 79 teams have nominated for the 2011 competitions, this is an increase of eight teams from 2010 and for the first time we will have a Division Five competition which means there will be six senior competitions and two Under 18’s competi- tions. With promotion and relegation taking effect all competitions look as though they will be keenly fought. Highlights of this weekends opening round of matches include East Coast Eagles raising their 2011 Premiership flag prior to the Grand Final replay with Sydney University at Bruce Purser Reserve. UTS will make their Premier Division debut against arch rivals UNSW/ES at historic Trumper Park. Western Suburbs will also make a return to the renovated Picken Oval when they host St George. North Shore are at home to Illawarra (formerly Wollongong) whilst Pennant Hills and Balmain Dockers will do battle under lights at University Oval as part of a Super Saturday. 2011 will also see the commencement of the North Eastern Australian Football League (NEAFL) which will involve teams from Canberra, Queensland and Northern Territory as well as the GWS Giants and the Sydney Swans, Brisbane Lions and Gold Coast Suns reserve grade sides. It is anticipated that in 2012, AFL Sydney will be represented in this competition. The NEAFL has been established to significantly enhance the pathway for players and the opportunities for clubs in the ACT, NSW, QLD and NT. East Coast Eagles will also be representing AFL Sydney in 2011 Foxtel Cup. The Foxtel Cup is a knockout competition involving 16 teams from VFL (3), WAFL (3), SANFL (3), AFLQ (2), NT, TAS, Sydney, Canberra and GWS Giants. All matches will be televised live on Foxtel on a Saturday twilight with most matches to be played as curtain raiser to AFL matches. East Coast Eagles’ round one match will be against SANFL club Port Adelaide at the SCG on Saturday, 14 May. This is a fantastic opportunity and provides great exposure not just for East Coast Eagles but also to AFL Sydney. Representative Football will gain have a major focus in 2011 with the senior representative travelling to Cairns to take on AFL Cairns whilst the Development team will take on Riverina FL at Newcastle. Both games will be played on the June long weekend. A number of clubs have appointed new coaches and we wish them all well in what is a demanding, yet rewarding job. There are also a number of players and umpires who will be taking to an AFL Sydney field for the first time. I would like to welcome you all and wish you and your families an enjoyable time with AFL Sydney. To all existing players and umpires, welcome back and I hope you have a successful and injury free season. Finally to all the volunteers, who without their contribution our competition would not survive, I hope you have a fulfilling season. If you are reading this article and would like to get involved with your club I am certain they would welcome you with open arms. Enjoy the footy. Garry Burkinshaw (Senior Football Operations Manager—AFL Sydney) Officeworks: a trusted partner in the publication of the Football Record. Record Photo’s courtesy of Michael Vettas 1 Round 1— April 2-3, 2011 www.sydneyafl.com.au CLUB CONTACTS AUBURN Ali Faraj 0414 676415 [email protected] BALMAIN Adam Coles 0488 771781 [email protected] CAMDEN Tom Koski 0401 785042 [email protected] CAMPBELLTOWN Terry Neilsen 0404 072025 [email protected] EAST COAST EAGLES Craig Abercrombie 0413 642055 [email protected] HOLROYD PARRAMATTA Clive Sharp 0433 403620 [email protected] ILLAWARRA Doug Sweeney 0412 721154 [email protected] MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY Luke Gemmill 0401 214812 [email protected] MANLY WARRINGAH Richard Wharton 0413 380925 [email protected] MOOREBANK Mark Coles 0424 249078 [email protected] NOR WEST Glenn Whitney 0403 185265 [email protected] NORTH SHORE Steve Watters 0419 875708 [email protected] PENNANT HILLS Ian Parker 0428 261984 [email protected] PENRITH Greg Corless 0412 579061 [email protected] RIVERVIEW Richard Hawtin 0404 827420 [email protected] SAINTS afc Andrew Blakemore 0407 012155 [email protected] SOUTHERN POWER Matt Graham 0416 007131 [email protected] ST GEORGE Brendan Donohue 0419 405546 [email protected] SYDNEY UNIVERSITY Brett Pettersen 0416 095042 [email protected] UNSW/ES Steve Ray 0411 408654 [email protected] UTS Anthony Leach 0412 856996 [email protected] WESTERN SUBURBS Andrew Taylor 0411 859834 [email protected] NSWAF UMPIRES Angus Heritage 0408 651855 [email protected] AFL SYDNEY PHOTO’S Quality action photos of selected AFL Sydney games can be viewed at: www.saflphotos.com.au/info/ Enquiries: Michael Vettas on 0414 899 515 2 Round 1— April 2-3, 2011 www.sydneyafl.com.au FIXTURES—ROUNDS 1 & 2 FIXTURES 2—3 APRIL FIXTURES 8—10 APRIL Premier Division Premier Division Saturday, April 2 Friday, April 8 North Shore v Illawarra @ Gore Hill Oval @ 2.10pm Balmain v UTS @ Henson Park @ 7pm UTS v UNSW/ES @ Trumper Park @ 2.30pm Saturday, April 9 Western Suburbs v St George @ Picken Oval @ 2..30pm Campbelltown vs UNSW/ES @ Monarch Oval @ 2.10pm East Coast Eagles v Sydney University @ Bruce Purser @ 6.30pm St George v East Coast Eagles @ Olds Park @ 2.10pm Pennant Hills v Balmain @ University Oval @ 6.40pm Western Suburbs vs North Shore @ Picken Oval @ 2.30pm Campbelltown—Bye Illawarra vs Pennant Hills @ North Dalton Park @ 6.10pm Division One Sydney University—Bye Saturday, April 2 Division One Western Suburbs v Southern Power @ Picken Oval @10..30am Saturday, April 9 North Shore v Illawarra @ Gore Hill Oval @ 12.00pm Western Suburbs vs North Shore @ Picken Oval @ 12.30pm UTS v UNSW/ES @ Trumper Park @ 12.30pm Southern Power vs East Coast Eagles @ Gwawley Oval @ 2.30pm East Coast Eagles v Sydney University @ Bruce Purser @ 4.00pm Illawarra vs Pennant Hills @ North Dalton Park @ 4pm Pennant Hills v Macquarie Uni @ University Oval @ 4.30pm Manly Warringah vs UNSW/ES @ Henson Park @ 4.10pm Manly Warringah—Bye Macquarie University v UTS @ University Oval @ 6.30pm Division Two Sydney University—Bye Saturday, April 2 Division Two Auburn v St George @ Mahoney Park @ 2.10pm Saturday, April 9 Camden v Manly Warringah @ Harrington Park @ 2.30pm St George v Moorebank @ Olds Park @ 12pm Nor West v Sydney University @ Bensons Lane @ 2.10pm Manly Warringah v Auburn @ Henson Park @ 2pm Penrith v Moorebank @ Monarch Oval @ 2.10pm Balmain v Camden @ Drummoyne Oval @ 2.10pm Holroyd Parramatta v Balmain @ Gipps Rd @ 2.30pm Nor West v Holroyd Parramatta @ Bensons Lane @ 2.10pm Division Three Sydney University v Penrith @ St Pauls Oval @ 12pm Saturday, April 2 Division Three Western Suburbs v Southern Power @ Picken Oval @ 8.30am Saturday, April 9 UTS v UNSW/ES @ Trumper Park @ 10.30am Western Suburbs vs North Shore @ Picken Oval @ 10.30am Macquarie Uni v Campbelltown @ University Oval @ 2.30pm Campbelltown vs UNSW/ES @ Monarch Oval @ 12pm East Coast Eagles v Sydney University @ Bruce Purser @ 2.00pm Southern Power vs East Coast Eagles @ Gwawley Oval @ 12pm North Shore —Bye Macquarie University v UTS @ University Oval @ 4.30pm Division Four Sydney University—Bye Saturday, April 2 Division Four UTS v Saints afc @ Trumper Park @ 8.30am Saturday, April 9 Auburn v Manly Warringah @ Mahoney Park @ 12.00pm Nor West v Holroyd Parramatta @ Bensons Lane @ 12pm Nor West v UNSW/ES @ Bensons Lane @ 12.00pm Manly Warringah v Saints afc @ Henson Park @ 12pm Penrith v Moorebank @ Monarch Oval @ 12.00pm Auburn v Moorebank @ Mona Park @ 2pm Holroyd Parramatta v Macquarie Uni @ Gipps Rd @ 12.30pm Macquarie University v UTS @ University Oval @ 2.30pm Division Five Sunday, April 10 Saturday, April 2 Penrith v UNSW/ES @ DukesOval @ 12pm Holroyd Parramatta v Saints afc @ Gipps Rd @ 10.30am Division Five Camden v Manly Warringah @ Harrington Park @ 12.15pm Saturday, April 9 Sunday, April 3 Southern Power v Moorebank @ Gwawley Oval @ 8.30am Macquarie Uni v Moorebank @ University Oval @ 12.00pm Manly Warringah v Saints afc @ Henson Park @ 10am Southern Power v Sydney Uni @ Gwawley Oval @ 12.30pm Sydney University v Camden @ St Pauls Oval @ 10am U18 Premier Cup Macquarie Uni v Holroyd Parramatta @ Uni Oval @ 12.30pm Saturday, April 2 U18 Premier Cup St Ignatius, Riverview v UNSW/ES @ Riverview @ 10.00am Saturday, April 9 North Shore v Illawarra @ Gore Hill Oval @ 10.00am Western Suburbs v UNSW/ES @ Picken Oval @ 8.30am East Coast Eagles v Sydney University @ Bruce Purser @ 12.00pm St Ignatius, Riverview v Sydney University @ Riverview @ 10am Western Suburbs v St George @ Picken Oval @ 12..30pm St George v East Coast Eagles @ Olds Park @ 10am Pennant Hills v Penrith @ University Oval @ 12.30pm Illawarra vs Pennant Hills @ North