Page 34 - AFL QUEENSLAND 2012 YEAR IN REVIEW

AFL DRAFT ON THE GOLD COAST
The NAB AFL Draft returned to the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre in November, offering a superb backdrop to the second biggest media event in the AFL’s calendar.
With over 100 top young athletes from Australia vying for selection at AFL Clubs, the NAB AFL Draft is always an exciting event.
Following a very busy trade period, and the entry of both the Gold Coast SUNS and the GWS Giants into the AFL competition, the 2012 Draft saw a return to a more traditional event with all Clubs looking to secure amazing young talent.
Around 1,550 people attended the Draft which was broadcast live across radio and television networks.
AFL Queensland staged a full week’s program of activities surrounding the Draft, including:
AFLQ AFFILIATES CONFERENCE
Forty-seven attendees from across all AFL Queensland regions came together to collectively embrace some of the challenges in the areas of game development, competition management, policy development, governance and financial management.
Sessions included the future of AFL in Queensland, Footyweb upgrade, website/social media guidelines and development, insurance, reports and tribunals, umpire and coach development, competition management, preferred suppliers/branding and facility development.
AFLQ VOLUNTEERS AWARDS DINNER
Eighty people attended the annual awards which celebrates the outstanding contributions to the game by volunteers and coaches of junior and senior clubs, and the leagues across Queensland and Northern New South Wales.
Awards: Junior, Youth, Senior and Female Coach of the Year
Junior and Senior Club Volunteer of the Year
Junior and Senior League Volunteer of the Year
AFL Merit Awards ( 2 awarded every year, 1 regional/ 1 metro)
AFLQ Volunteer of the Year
AFLQ STAFF CONFERENCE – DEVELOPING THE BUSINESS ATHLETE
Full-time AFL Queensland staff from Cape York to Ballina came together for two days of training and program development.
A number of high-profile presenters attended including Mark Darra (Acting Chairman of Australia Post), Gary Pert (CEO Collingwood AFC), Ian Robson (CEO, Essendon AFC) and Travis Auld (CEO
Gold Coast SUNS) as well as a number of AFL employees in Jan Cooper (Female Programs Manager), Josh Vanderloo (Community Participation Manager) and Jeff Gieschen (Umpires Manager).
Staff participated in sessions around branding, leadership, community engagement and relationship building.
U12 FUTURE STARS
The Future Stars program is designed for students who have
been identified through school competitions or programs, and
who don’t play registered club AFL. The program offers additional skills training and athlete development to assist their chances of competing at a higher level or simply having the confidence to join their local AFL club.
Newly signed Gold Coast SUN Jaeger O’Meara and the Brisbane Lion’s Jed Adcock took the young players through skills and drills sessions along with academy coaches
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2012 Year in Review