AFLQ chief executive Richard Griffiths announced today that Velocity Sports would be the major sponsor of the AFLQ Division One competition for the next three years.
“It is always terrific for a grass roots sporting organisation to secure a major sponsorship for a considerable period, but this is extra special because of who is involved,” Griffiths said.
Lynch is general manager and Voss is a director of Velocity Sports, a sports management, marketing and research company that has a growing list of sportspeople and projects on its books.
Lynch booted 633 goals in 306 games for the Brisbane Lions and played in three premiership sides alongside his five-time club champion and 289-game Brownlow Medal winning skipper Voss.
“It is a fantastic show of support and faith in our State League competition, which has developed enormously in recent years,” Griffiths said. “Michael and Alastair are two of the greats of the game, and we are delighted that they are keen to put something back into football at this level.
“Not only is the monetary value welcome, but so too is the fact that they will be around to support our competition.”
Griffiths said the eight-team State League Division One competition had become a real success story and was now firmly on the map for any footballer in Australia outside the AFL.
“For young men aspiring to play at the highest level, the State League Division One is a genuine stepping stone to the big time, as evidenced by last year’s national draft,” he said. “And for those more mature players who haven’t quite made it, or still hope to, it is the equal of any competition in the other mainstream football states.”
A total of 17 young Queenslanders are playing at the elite AFL level this season after being drafted or rookie listed late last year, and all contributed to one of the closest State League premiership seasons on record in 2006.
“Our development programs are producing very good results, so it is imperative that we have a strong, vibrant senior competition for all the talent coming through,” Griffiths said. “The new sponsorship agreement will enhance all the good work that is being done.”
Lynch said his company was committed to being a ‘quality citizen’ in the sporting community.
“We obviously do a lot of work with elite athletes across many sports, but obviously we have a strong connection to football and are acutely aware of how important sport is at the community level,” he said.
“Football has been very good to Vossy and myself, and we are keen to support AFL Queensland in this way.”
The sponsorship takes Voss back to the days of his AFLQ debut as a 16-year-old with Morningside in 1991.
“As much as anyone I’m aware of the importance of a strong domestic competition, and it’s great to be able to put a little something back and to support the up-and-coming AFL players of tomorrow,” he said.
“AFL Queensland has done a fantastic job building the quality of the local competition, as was evidenced by the incredible draft results of last year, but to make sure we continue to develop quality young players we need a strong domestic competition.”
