Townsville’s Murray Sports Complex will host a footy bonanza this Tuesday and Wednesday, with 23 primary and secondary schools from Cairns, Mackay, Capricornia and Townsville descending upon the region to play in the StreetSmarts AFLQ Schools Cup North Queensland Championships.
The competition is presented by AFL Queensland and Townsville Enterprise Limited and will see the best of the best in school footy do battle.
This year’s competition saw 161 teams and more than 3,000 students compete in the StreetSmarts AFLQ Schools Cup regional gala days across North Queensland this year, with the winners progressing through to next week’s North Queensland Championships.
From here, the winners from each of the six divisions will book themselves a spot in the premier Queensland finals to be played on the Sunshine Coast in October.
The primary school competition will be played on Tuesday 9 August, with one team from each North Queensland region (Capricornia, Mackay, Townsville and Cairns), with the secondary competition to take place the following day.
In 2022, the StreetSmarts AFLQ Schools Cup is celebrating a record year for the number of schools competing, with 612 school teams from Cairns to Coolangatta battling it out in their quest for state glory.
Head of AFL Queensland, Trisha Squires, said the competition is getting bigger and better each year.
“The StreetSmarts AFLQ Schools Cup is one of the largest school sport competition in the country and in 2022, we saw more than 12,000 students participate,” she said.
“It is fantastic to see a record number of schools participating this year, provided the challenges they have been presented with.”
“At AFL Queensland we are grateful for everyone’s understanding and flexibility in creating opportunities for their students to participate in 2022.
“Good luck to everyone competing in this week’s North Queensland Championships, supported by Townsville Enterprise Limited.”
Townsville Enterprise Director – Visitor Economy and Marketing Lisa Woolfe said that major schools events are a big boost to the regional economy, but offered a lot more for students and families in the regions.
“An event of this type and size will generate around half a million dollars in additional economic activity in our region, and it promotes Townsville North Queensland as a destination for families to come back to and visit down the track,” Ms Woolfe said.
“They also provide another opportunity for students to perform and operate at a high level here in North Queensland, without having to make the trek to the south-east corner to participate competitively in big tournaments.
“We fully support regional events like the StreetSmarts AFLQ Schools Cup North Queensland Championships, and we know our community embraces the opportunity to host events like this too.”
The North Queensland Championships will be livestreamed across the Townsville Bulletin, Cairns Post and Courier Mail on both days of the carnival.
StreetSmarts AFLQ Schools Cup – North Queensland Championships details:
Competing schools:
Tuesday 9 August at Murray Sports Complex – Primary School Competition 8 Teams (4 Primary Male and 4 Primary Female)
One team from each North Queensland region (Capricornia, Mackay, Townsville, Cairns)
Preliminary Finals into Grand Finals and 3rd Place playoffs
Wednesday 10 August at Murray Sports Complex – Secondary School Competition 16 Teams (4 each in Junior Male, Junior Female, Senior Male, Senior Female)
One team from each North Queensland Region (Capricornia, Mackay, Townsville, Cairns)
Preliminary Finals into Grand Finals and 3rd Place playoffs
Primary Male
Cairns – Holy Cross*
Townsville – Ryan Catholic College
Mackay – Moranbah State School
Capricornia – Tannum Sands State School
Primary Female
Cairns – St Andrews Catholic College
Townsville – Ryan Catholic College
Mackay – Moranbah State School
Capricornia – St John’s
Junior Male
Cairns – St Augustine’s College
Townsville – Kirwan State High School
Mackay – Mercy College
Capricornia – St Brendan’s College
Junior Female
Cairns – St Andrews Catholic College
Townsville – Kirwan State High School
Mackay – Moranbah State High School
Capricornia – The Cathedral College
Senior Male
Cairns – St Augustine’s College
Townsville – Ignatius Park College
Mackay – Moranbah State High School
Capricornia – St Brendan’s College
Senior Female
Cairns – St Andrew’s Catholic College
Townsville – Ryan Catholic College
Mackay – St Patrick’s College
Capricornia – St Ursula’s
