School is (finally) back, and that mean’s the return of school footy!
Kicking into its 6th year and shaping up to be its biggest and best yet, the Associated of Independent Colleges (AIC) AFL competition officially* begins this tonight with a 40% increase in participants.
Program and Participation Manager – Schools and Diversity, Damien Mitchelmore, said more than 1,400 boys from the eight AIC member schools who will also be playing fixtures against Ambrose Treacy College in 2022.
“It’s the first year since 2020 that all members school are taking part and it’s great to see St Edmunds back fielding teams,” he said.
“We’ve expanded the competition this year to allow more kids to play footy; restructuring the secondary divisions and adding in a C grade to the primary age groups. This will see a 40% growth in player numbers, which is a fantastic result for schoolboy footy.”
With intense school rivalries on the line, the First XVIII competition will once again be hotly contested.
In Friday night footy tonight, defending champs St Laurence’s College meet Padua College at Hickey Park, while St Peter’s Lutheran College face off against Villanova College at Giffin Park, Marist College and Ambrose Tracey College go head to head at Sherwood Oval and Iona host St Patrick’s College at home.
In the primary ranks, 2021 StreetSmarts QSchools Cup Primary Male Champions Villanova College will be looking to start that title defence with a win in the AIC competition.
“With the growth of the competition as a whole, it’s great to have the support of community footy clubs to host the fixtures – so a huge thank you to Yeronga, Wilston Grange, Coorparoo, Sherwood, Everton and Sandgate,” said Mr Mitchelmore.
“Iona College is the first AIC school to have their own footy field on school grounds and this is now a fixtured venue.”
Construction on the field at Lindum finished last year is the only school facility in Queensland to replicate the size of the MCG.
AIC Divisions as follows:
- Opens (First XVIII competition)
- Grade 9/10
- Grade 8A
- Grade 7A
- Grade 7B
- Grade 6A
- Grade 6B
- Grade 6C
- Grade 5A
- Grade 5B
- Grade 5C
