As part of the AFL’s nationwide Community Football Weekend, all Lions players not involved in the Hall of Fame Tribute Match spent part of their first bye weekend getting back to some good old fashioned grassroots footy.
Co-captain Nigel Lappin and small forward Ash McGrath saw Wilston Grange take on Mayne at Hickey Park in Stafford last Friday night while Albert Proud and Cheynee Stiller watched home team Mt Gravatt play Zillmere at Dittmer Park on Saturday afternoon and became involved in the pre-game and half-time promotional activities.
Further afield, Melbourne recruit Travis Johnstone and Lions midfielder Michael Rischitelli were at Kirra on the Gold Coast to see Coolangatta compete with Palm Beach Currumbin at Len Peak Oval while Sunshine Coast local products Josh Drummond and Daniel Dzufer saw Noosa and Maroochy/North Shore go head to head up in Noosaville.
Irish connection Colm Begley and rookie understudy Pearce Hanley experienced Queensland club footy firsthand at the Pomona v Nambour fixture, tall timbers Matthew Leuenberger and Pat Garner saw the Springwood and Western Magpies match at Lowe Oval in Underwood while local export Rhan Hooper travelled back to Limestone Park to see his hometown of Ipswich battle Beenleigh.
One of the matches of the round in Morningside v Southport boasted Scott Harding, Daniel Merrett, Wayde Mills and Scott Clouston amongst the spectators at Jack Esplen Oval in the inner eastern suburb of Hawthorne.
Lions’ midfield star Jed Adcock travelled the furtherest to watch the Bundaberg Eagles take on the Hervey Bay Bombers at Frank Coulthard Oval in Bundaberg on the Saturday afternoon although defender Joel Macdonald and rookie Haydn Kiel came close watching Ballina play Nimbin at Fripp Oval in Ballina.
Even the Redlands Bombers who didn’t have a game last weekend were treated to a junior AFL clinic and autograph session over a barbecue with Lions senior players Mitch Clark, Tim Notting and Anthony Corrie.
Other Vodafone Brisbane Lions Community Football Weekend appearances included:
Jason Roe and rookie Joel Tippett at Surfers Paradise v Burleigh, Sir Bruce Small Oval, Benowa;
Robert Copeland and rookie Phil Smith at Strathpine v Aspley, Bob Akers Reserve, Strathpine;
2006 draftees James Hawksley and Matt Tyler at Jindalee’s Brisbane Juniors Grading Day;
Lachlan Henderson and Chris Schmidt at Yeronga v Caboolture, Leyshon Park, Yeronga;
Justin Sherman and 2007 draftee Bradd Dalziell at Redcliffe v Kedron, Rothwell Park, Redcliffe;
Troy Selwood and 2007 draftee Tom Collier attended Stafford’s Brisbane Juniors Grading Day;
Joel Patfull and 2007 draftee Matt Austin saw the U15 Youth Girls at Calamvale College;
Senior debutante James Polkinghorne viewed Coorparoo v Alexandra Hills at Jack Esplen Oval in Hawthorne and Jared Brennan attended Logan v Robina at Tansey Park in Logan.
The Lions were happily involved in the coin tosses, half-time activities and post-match autograph sessions giving organisers some extremely positive feedback about the major weekend exercise:
“The Strathpine Community Football Weekend function was a huge success. Both Robbie Copeland and Phil Smith were great ambassadors for the sport. They tossed the coin at the start of the game and then mingled with supporters until half-time when they presented Appreciation Awards to the wonderful volunteers who had given their support over many years. The criteria for this award is having served for five or more years as a volunteer. Three of the recipients were reduced to tears. On behalf of Strathpine AFC, I would like to thank all involved with the organisation of this fantastic weekend.”
Kind regards
Gwen Mathews
Finance & Administration Officer
AFL Queensland
“On behalf of the AFL Bundaberg Wide Bay, ATW Bundaberg AFC and the footballing community at large, we would like to sincerely thank you for your kind contributions and organisation of the ‘box of goodies’, certificates, apparel and personnel supplied by your respective organisations for the AFL Community Weekend.
It was a great success and a fantastic promotion for AFL in our local region. We ended up spreading all the gear out amongst the 26 bags, had a half-time kids foot race, and the visiting Jed Adcock handed out six 2008 Volunteer Certificates and a polo shirt to our Club President Kevin Anderson, so it all went off really well! Congratulations to all for a job well done!”
Cheers
Bob Fordham
President AFL BWB
ATW Bundaberg AFC Life Member
“The weekend was a most successful one for the Springwood Club. A big crowd of supporters from both the Western Magpies and Springwood turned out along with some of our juniors and their parents also attending.
Would you please pass on our sincere thanks to the Brisbane Lions players Matt Leuenberger and Pat Garner who were most willing to chat with the boys, join them in the field activities and sign many autographs. They were a credit to themselves and the organisation they represent.
The Club's Junior Development Officer Derek Berry and Under 9s coaches Karen and Scott Pyke organised a handball and kicking competition for the kids with the winners receiving footballs signed by Matt and Pat. They also had a mini game at half-time in the seniors game with the Lions players interacting with the boys on the field.
Topped off by the Vics / Dream Team game, it's been a wonderful celebration of the 150 years of footy and all at AFL, AFLQ and the Brisbane Lions are congratulated on their efforts to also ensure that it was inclusive of the communities and clubs at the grassroots level. Thanks again.”
Regards
Brad Ritchie
Secretary
Springwood Australian Football Club
