AFL Queensland to manage the AFL Wide Bay competition

From Season 2022 the AFL Wide Bay competition will be managed by AFL Queensland, the official state body for the AFL in the Sunshine State.

Up until now the local competition, which spans clubs from Maryborough, Hervey Bay and Bundaberg, has been voluntary run and managed by the local AFL Wide Bay League Board. 

AFL Queensland Community Football Manager, Barry Gibson, thanked those who’d volunteered their time to manage the competition.

“We congratulate and thank everyone at the AFL Wide Bay League Board, past and present, who’ve worked tirelessly to ensure there was an opportunity for participants of all ages in the Wide Bay region to play community football,” he said.

“Over the years we have seen continual growth in football participation in the area, bolstered by the introduction of the senior women’s competition in 2018.

“AFL Queensland has been working with the AFL Wide Bay League Board on a planned approach to get to this point, and we look forward to working closely with the clubs to ensure the long-term health and sustainability of the competition.

Kieron Hyndman, who grow up in the region and has worked with the AFL since 2016, assumes a new role today as Participation, Programs and Competition Lead – Wide Bay and will manage the competition.

“With more and more juniors picking up a Sherrin and getting involved in our game, over the coming seasons we will be working hard to ensure there is a clear participation pathway in the region from NAB AFL Auskick right through to senior men’s and women’s,” Hyndman said.

“This year we started out Youth Girls Development program for girls aged 15 to 17 which was hugely successful. This program will no doubt assist significantly in the development of the female pathway.”