Sydney Swans’ AFLW squad take Community Camp to Newcastle

The Sydney Swans’ AFLW squad is heading to Newcastle as part of the first-ever league wide AFLW Community Camp program on 6-7 July.

With fewer than two months to go until its third NAB AFLW campaign, the Swans’ players will use the visit to inspire new fans and garner more support in NSW’s second most populated city. The Swans host Collingwood in a blockbuster Friday night clash at North Sydney Oval on Friday, 30 August to kick off the AFLW season.

Women and girls will be front and centre at the Swans’ Community Camp with two sessions specifically relating to girls keen to play footy. An All Girls Super Clinic will be followed by an U9 girls gala day, providing fantastic opportunities for participants to meet elite players and have a kick.

In an action-packed weekend, there will also be sessions for selected women and girls involved in youth and senior football including a leadership forum, an umpiring information session and a coaching masterclass featuring players and coaches from the Sydney Swans.

Participation and Programs Project Manager, AFL NSW/ACT, Simon Smyth, said of the Sydney Swans’ visit to Newcastle: “It’s a great time to be a girl playing footy and we’re grateful the Sydney Swans have chosen Newcastle for the team’s first official AFLW Community Camp.

“This area has a strong connection to footy with AFL Hunter Central Coast one of the country’s oldest-running sports leagues. We’ve seen many Australian rules football legends come out of this area and we hope the Community Camp will inspire some stars of the future.

“I encourage all girls to attend Saturday’s clinic and any under-nine girl with an interest in team sport to try the gala day on Sunday. The Community Camp is also a great time for youth girls and senior women coaches, umpires and players to mingle with elite players and receive a few tips.”

Lord Mayor, Nuatali Nelmes, said City of Newcastle’s ongoing investment in No.1 Sportsground continues to pay dividends for local athletes. “We’re delighted to welcome the Sydney Swans AFLW squad to Newcastle for this highly anticipated Community Camp,” Cr Nelmes said.

“Through City of Newcastle’s 10-year Strategic Sports Plan we’re providing facilities that support universal access and allow for greater female participation in sport. Our $8 million investment into improving and expanding the playing surface and installing new floodlights at No.1 Sportsground was just the beginning of upgrades that are designed to deliver a facility capable of hosting elite-level AFL and AFLW matches.”

All Girls Super Clinic
A great way to mingle with the Sydney Swans AFLW players and play footy-based games. No previous Australian rules football experience needed.

• Date: Saturday, 6 July
• Time: 1:30-2:30pm
• Location: No. 1 Sportsground, Newcastle
• Ages: 5-12
• Register: Here

U9 Girls Gala Day
An opportunity for girls under nine years to try Australian rules football in a fun environment with modified rules, including no tackle. Sydney Swans AFLW players will offer support and provide some basic coaching.

• Date: Sunday, 7 July
• Time: 11:30am-1:00pm
• Location: Pasterfield Sports Complex, Cameron Park
• Ages: 5-8 years
• Register: Here

Swans AFLW Coach Masterclass
Be a part of the Swans AFLW Coach Masterclass, exclusively available for women and girls looking to gain invaluable insights from the experts.

• Date: Saturday, 6 July
• Time: 2:30PM
• Location: No. 1 Sportsground, Newcastle
• Register: Coaches will be invited to register via email

U9 Girls competition 2025
For the first time, AFL Hunter Central Coast will offer an U9 Girls competition in season 2025. Girls currently play mixed teams in U9s, with standalone girls sides competing from U11.

NAB AFL Auskick Burst in Newcastle
Participants inspired by the Sydney Swans will have an opportunity to join the fun weekly, with NAB AFL Auskick re-opening in Newcastle from 21 July, offering participants half a season of the Auskick experience and the beloved Auskick pack.

We call it Auskick Burst, with participants bursting on the footy scene and having a great time. Auskick Burst will be offered at a greatly reduced price, which will be revealed before the Sydney Swans’ AFLW Community Camp.

For more sports news, click here.

Exciting New Location for the 2024 Australian Longboard Titles

Major Shakeup to the 2024 Australian Surf Championships

The Australian Longboard Titles will be held as a stand-alone event for the first time, with the Tweed Coast offering a variety of waves suited to the longboarding style of surfing.

Event Dates: September 12th – 17th, 2024
Location: Tweed Coast, NSW

CASUARINA, NSW (June 21, 2024) – Surfing Australia is thrilled to announce a new location for the 2024 Australian Longboard Titles. This year, for the first time, the longboard divisions of the 2024 Australian Surf Championships will run as a stand-alone event on Bundjalung Country on the Tweed Coast in northern New South Wales.

The event will span six days, from Thursday, September 12, 2024, to Tuesday, September 17, 2024. Potential event locations include Cabarita Beach, Hastings Point, Kingscliff Beach, Fingal Beach, and Duranbah Beach.

This announcement follows Surfing Australia’s decision to host the Australian Shortboard Titles, the Australian Para Surfing Titles, and the Australian Bodyboard Titles in Port Macquarie, NSW (July 31st – August 8th), and the Australian SUP Titles on Phillip Island in Victoria (October 22nd – October 26th).

Surfing Australia Event Director Rohan Fell stated, “We’re looking forward to seeing the longboard divisions of the Australian Surf Championships at a new location that is suited to their style of surfing. The Tweed Coast offers a range of point breaks and back beaches that are not only ideal for longboarding but are also close to the Hyundai Surfing Australia High Performance Centre. This centre offers world-class training facilities, function rooms, accommodation, and support services such as coaching and physio that will be available to athletes during the event window.”

Multiple-Australian Champion Landen Smales (Noosa Heads, QLD), who won his first Australian Logger Title at 12 years old when the Australian Titles were held on the Tweed Coast in 2019, expressed his enthusiasm for the event’s return to the region.

“I’m really looking forward to the Aussie Longboard Titles. It’s great to have the event moving to the Tweed Coast, Bundjalung Country this year. There are so many different breaks to choose from. Last year, I won the Junior and Open Men’s Logger, and I’m keen to compete in the new longboard division with the criteria change this year. The changes suit my surfing, and I’ll be trying to lock in a spot in Team Australia to compete at Worlds later in the year,” Smales said.

Australian Longboard Titles – Divisions:

• Under 18 Junior Men
• Under 18 Junior Women
• Open Men
• Open Women
• Grand Masters Women O40
• Grand Masters Men O40
• Kahunas Men O45
• Grand Kahunas Men O50
• Women O50
• Dukes Men O55
• Grand Dukes O60
• O60 Women
• Legends Men O65
• Grand Legends Men O70
• O70 Women

For the most up-to-date longboard criteria, please refer to the 2024 Surfing Australia Rule Book.

Schedule:

Opening Ceremony:
Date: Thursday, September 12, 2024

Competition Windows:
Window 1: Friday, September 13, 2024 – Saturday, September 14, 2024
Divisions: Open Men & Women, U18 Junior Men & Women
Presentation: To be held after competition on Saturday, September 14, 2024

Window 2: Saturday, September 14, 2024 – Tuesday, September 17, 2024
Divisions: Over 40 Men & Women, Over 45 Men & Over 50 Men & Women, Over 55 Men, Over 60 Men & Women, Over 65 Men & Over 70 Men & Women
Presentation: To be held after the competition on Tuesday, September 17, 2024

For more information, please visit Australian Surf Championships.

For more sports news, click here.

Rebels hit rock bottom

By Tim Howard

The South Grafton Rebels have slipped to the bottom of the Group 2 Rugby League table after a disappointing loss to the Coffs Harbour Comets.

The Rebels had fought back to lead the Comets 12-8 at half time, but fell away in the second half to succumb 26-12.

It’s the club’s seventh loss of the season, with the only win coming back in April against the Comets at McKittrick Park.

It was particularly disappointing for the Rebels who just a week earlier had been pipped at the post by competition leaders Nambucca 22-20.

The only good news for the struggling club is they play the rest of the season at their McKittrick Park fortress, beginning with Sunday’s clash against Macksville.

The 2024 season has been a tough one for the club, seemingly perpetually rebuilding even while enjoying success on the field.

Premiers in 2022 and grand finalists last season, each year the club has dealt with an exodus of players but with shrewd recruiting and a steady supply of talented juniors coming through the ranks South Grafton has been able to get results.

While the results have not come so far this season, the team remains competitive, with a number of close losses, by 2, 4, 6 and 8 points the difference between a poor season and a good one.

Club officials privately have said the draw, which has allowed them only two home games so far this season, has not done them any favours.

At half time on Sunday Rebels supporters were waiting for their team to kick away as they did in the game against the Comets in round 2.

Richard Roberts and Nick McGrady had scored tries, which McGrady converted.

Instead the game plan went out the window in attack and defence with dropped passes and missed tackles gifting the Comets points.

They capitalised scoring three converted tries and shut the Rebels out for 40 minutes to run away with the game.

Comets halfback Jett McCarthy had a whale of a game, scoring two tries as well as kicking three goals.

The Rebels face another tough afternoon on Sunday against a tough, uncompromising Macksville outfit who love to get on top through their forward pack.

Macksville came out on top on a bitterly cold and wet afternoon at Macksville in April, but Rebels fans will look to make it hot and uncomfortable for the visitors at home this weekend.

The Grafton Ghost had the bye at the weekend after putting together their best game of the season against Macksville the week before.

On Saturday the Ghosts host Sawtell in a crucial game for both teams.

When they two clubs last met in April the result was a 12-12 draw.

The Panthers have been impressive for most of the season, sitting in second spot on the ladder two points ahead of the Ghosts.

A win on Saturday for the Ghosts could see some changes in the top four, depending on other results.

For more sports news, click here.