Teams from across Australia are competing in the 2017 AFL National Inclusion Carnival which has commenced on the Gold Coast today, Monday July 24.
The AFL National Inclusion Carnival brings together footballers with an intellectual disability from across the country to take part in a round-robin carnival with teams representing the Northern Territory, NSW/ACT, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria Country, Victoria Metro, and Western Australia,
Throughout the week players will compete in a round robin competition, participate in education sessions with the Gold Coast SUNS, deliver football clinics to students at Special Schools and attend an AFL match at Metricon Stadium.
Finals will be played on Saturday July 29 at Ord Minnett Oval in Broadbeach.
AFL General Manager Inclusion and Social Policy, Tanya Hosch, said the carnival is a true indication the AFL is committed to ensuring opportunities to play our game are accessible to all.
“The AFL supports and promotes inclusion of our game at all levels and the AFL National Inclusion Carnival provides an opportunity for players to play the game they love, socialise with their friends and be a part of a national event playing for their State or Territory,” Ms. Hosch said.
“The carnival not only gives some of Australia’s most talented footballers the chance to represent their State/Territory but is also an opportunity to showcase the significant abilities of footballers with an intellectual disability to the broader community.
“To have the opportunity to pull on their State or Territory jumpers may be a dream for all of these footballers but the personalities we see on the field and the great stories we hear is what really captures the true spirit of the carnival.”
For many years players with intellectual disabilities from Victoria and South Australia competed in an annual state of origin match. In 2013, players from NSW/ACT joined the carnival and Victoria was split into two teams (Metro and Country) to form a four-team competition.
Victoria Country was victorious in the 2014 carnival which also saw the introduction of teams from Queensland and Tasmania. Western Australia participated in the carnival for the first time in 2015 where Victoria Metro claimed the honours. In 2016, Victoria Metro went back-to-back, defeating South Australia in Melbourne.
Each participant must be male, over 16 years of age and have an intellectual disability.
2017 AFL National Inclusion Carnival Itinerary
Tuesday July 25 – Lightning Carnival at Southport
| Oval 1 | Oval 2 | |||
| Home | Away | Home | Away | |
| 9.00am | Vic Metro | NSW/ACT | NT | SA |
| 9.25am | Vic Country | WA | TAS | QLD |
| 9.50am | SA | Vic Metro | WA | NSW/ACT |
| 10.15am | QLD | NT | TAS | Vic Country |
| 10.40am | Vic Metro | WA | SA | QLD |
| 11.05am | NSW/ACT | TAS | NT | Vic Country |
| 11.30am | QLD | Vic Metro | TAS | WA |
| 11.55am | Vic Country | SA | NT | NSW/ACT |
| 12.20pm | Vic Metro | TAS | QLD | Vic Country |
| 12.45pm | WA | NT | SA | NSW/ACT |
| 1.10pm | Vic Country | Vic Metro | NT | TAS |
| 1.35pm | NSW/ACT | QLD | SA | WA |
| 2.00pm | Vic Metro | NT | Vic Country | NSW/ACT |
| 2.25pm | TAS | SA | QLD | WA |
Wednesday July 26
– Education sessions at Gold Coast SUNS and Metricon Stadium visit
– Round 1 pool matches at Broadbeach under lights
Thursday July 27
– Special school visits
– Round 2 pool matches at Surfers Paradise
Friday July 28
– Surf club visit
– Round 3 pool matches at Palm Beach
Saturday July 29
– Finals at Broadbeach
– Team Best & Fairest Awards
– Announcement of All Australian Squad
– Attend Gold Coast SUNS v Richmond at Metricon Stadium
