TEAMS from across Australia are competing in the 2016 AFL National Inclusion Carnival which has commenced in Melbourne today, Wednesday August 10.
The AFL National Inclusion Carnival brings together footballers with an intellectual disability from across the country to take part in a round-robin carnival with teams representing South Australia, NSW/ACT, Queensland, Tasmania, Vic Metro and Vic Country.
Finals will be played on Sunday August 14.
AFL General Manager, Game and Market Development, Mr Simon Lethlean said the carnival is a true indication that the AFL is committed to ensuring that opportunities to play our game are accessible to all.
“The AFL supports and promotes inclusion of our game at all levels and the carnival provides an opportunity for players to play the game they love, socialise with their friends and be a part of a national event playing for their State,” said Mr Lethlean
“To have the opportunity to pull on their State jumpers is a dream for them but the personalities we see on the field and stories we hear outshine the results, which really captures the true spirit of the carnival.”
Players will also have the opportunity to play McDonald’s AFL 9s on Etihad Stadium at half-time of St Kilda v Sydney Swans match on Saturday and will attend the Richmond v Geelong Cats match at the MCG on Sunday.
For many years players with intellectual disabilities from Victoria and South Australia competed in an annual state of origin match.
In 2013 players from NSW/ACT joined the carnival and Victoria was split into two teams (Metro and Country) to form a four-team competition.
Vic Country was victorious in the 2014 carnival which also saw the introduction of teams from Queensland and Tasmania. Western Australia participated in the carnival for the first time in 2015 where Vic Metro claimed the honours.
The participants must be male, over 16 years of age and have an intellectual disability.
2016 AFL National Inclusion Carnival Fixture
Wednesday 10 August – Punt Road Oval
9.30am Vic Metro v SA
10.40am QLD v TAS
11.50am NSWACT v Vic Country
1.00pm SA v QLD
2.10pm Vic Country v Vic Metro
3.20pm NSW/ACT v TAS
Thursday 11 August – Preston City Oval
9.00am QLD v Vic Country
10.10am Vic Metro v NSW/ACT
11.20am TAS v SA
12.30pm Vic Metro v QLD
1.40pm TAS v Vic Country
2.50pm NSWACT v SA
Friday 12 August – Whitten Oval
9.00am SA v Vic Country
10.10am QLD v NSW/ACT
11.20amVic Metro v TAS
12.30pm Vic Metro, TAS to run clinic for school students at Whitten Oval
1pm SA, Vic Country, QLD, NSW/ACT to Southern Special Schools Footy Carnival
Saturday 13 August – Etihad Stadium, Docklands
8.30pm McDonald’s AFL 9s on the ground at Half-time
Sunday 14 August – Preston City Oval
9.10am 6th v 5th
10.20am 4th v 3rd
11.30am 2nd v 1st
12.30pm Post carnival function
Team Best & Fairest Awards
Announcement of All Australian Squad
