Page 39 - AFL QUEENSLAND 2013 YEAR IN REVIEW

2013 NAB AFL DRAFT
The Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre again provided the perfect backdrop to the Draft with 1,290 AFL fans in attendance.
The event was supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland as part of a growing calendar of sporting, cultural and regional events throughout the state.
AFL Queensland staged a full week’s program of events including:
LEVEL 2 COACHING COURSE
Sixty-eight coaches attended the two-day
Level 2 coaching course designed for senior, representative, development and youth coaches with an aptitude and genuine interest in improving their coaching skills.
Speakers included 2001 Norm Smith Medallist and Gold Coast SUNS Development Coach, Shaun Hart and Brisbane Lions Development Coach, Gary O’Donnell.
The workshops across the weekend covered a variety of subjects, from building a game plan to establishing positive relationships between coaches and umpires.
MORETON BAY CENTRAL SPORTS COMPLEX, BURPENGARY
The AFL Commission and members of the AFL Executive visited the Moreton Bay Central Sports Complex.
The $13.5 million complex will be home to the Caboolture Lions from 2014, and has also been flagged as a possible venue for NEAFL and pre- season AFL matches.
AFL Queensland worked with the Moreton Bay Regional Council to develop the facility, and Fitzpatrick paid tribute to the local government for its dedication to the project.
AFL FUTURE STARS
The AFL’s next generation of stars was on show at the Future Stars Combine.
Twelve and 13 year-old boys from the Gold Coast, with a mix of experience levels in footy, were put through their paces at the combine.
The group of aspiring footballers completed the vertical jump, 20m sprint, kicking and handball tests on Metricon Stadium.
The Future Stars is the beginning of the talent pathway, which leads into the Academy programs and ultimately through to draft day.
Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games Jann Stuckey and AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou joined the boys for a media call while Gold Coast SUNS players, Tom Nicholls and Rory Thompson, were on hand to give the boys advice on their football journey.
AFL QUEENSLAND COMBINE
The AFL Combine is program is designed
to provide athletes from non-AFL and AFL backgrounds with the opportunity to participate in and learn about our elite player pathways.
Around 130 school attendees were given a 37 chance to show off their skills in combine specific
tests such as vertical jump, 20m sprint, handball
and kicking
BYRON REGIONAL SPORTS COMPLEX LAUNCH
AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou, AFL Queensland CEO Michael Conlan, Byron Shire Mayor Simon Richardson and Byron Bay identity Delvene Delaney officially launched the Cornell Family AFL field at the Byron Regional Sporting Complex.
Demetriou, joined by Byron Shire Mayor, Simon Richardson and Delaney, said the venue could potentially become a venue for AFL community camps or NAB Regional Challenge matches.
“I guarantee there’ll be a queue to come to the Byron Bay complex,” he said.
Delaney said she and husband John, lifelong footy fans, were honoured to have their names associated with a local footy field, which will be the home ground for the Byron Bay Magpies.
“My big sister and I used to sit on top of our chook paddock to support our local team, and there began my love of Aussie Rules football,” she recalled.
“To this day that thread of passion for Aussie Rules between us has never been broken.”
AFL DRAFT ON THE GOLD COAST