Troy G
29th January 2003, 06:37 PM
AFL Canberra launched the 2003 fixture yesterday announcing that the Sydney Swans reserves will take on the Ainslie Football Club in their historic first match in the AFL Canberra competition.
Round One of the AFL Canberra competition is scheduled for April 18-20 with the Swans versus Ainslie match to be played on Sunday, April 20 at Manuka Oval.
The launch was attended by Sydney Swans coach Paul Roos, Chief Executive Officer Colin Seery and Director of Football Andrew Ireland.
The Swans reserves will play nine matches in Sydney. Seven matches will be played at the SCG prior to AFL Premiership matches involving the Swans, while the remaining two will be played as curtain-raisers at Stadium Australia (now Telstra Stadium) prior to the blockbuster AFL Premiership matches under lights.
The Ainslie FC will take on the Swans at Telstra Stadium on June 7 prior to the Essendon v Swans match played annually for the Marn Grook trophy, while the Wagga Tigers will play the Swans prior to the Sydney versus Collingwood blockbuster at the Stadium on August 23. This match is played annually and marks the anniversary of the Kokoda campaign by Australian Forces in Papua New Guinea.
Tuggeranong will play the Swans reserves in a curtain raiser prior to the AFL Premiership between Sydney and the Kangaroos at Manuka Oval on May 25.
Another highlight in the Swans program is the two matches scheduled against the Wagga Tigers at Robertson oval in Wagga Wagga on May 3 and June 29.
In early December the AFL Canberra Board and the seven clubs supported the Sydney Swans proposal to enter their Reserves side in the AFL Canberra competition.
Swans reserves players had previously played in the VFL with Port Melbourne, with some players also playing with the Sydney Redbacks in the Sydney AFL.
Director of Football Andrew Ireland believes the Swans inclusion in the AFL Canberra competition is a win win situation for both the club and supporters.
?It is far more beneficial for the development of our young players to be playing together as a team week in week out,? Mr Ireland said.
?It is also a tremendous opportunity to further lift the Swans profile and level of activity in the Canberra region which has lengthy historical ties with our Club.
?We have a significant supporter base in the ACT and Riverina regions and now those supporters will have more opportunities to watch the young players.
?It?s also important that our supporters in Sydney will now be able to watch the players as they develop with the Swans reserves now playing prior to the seniors.?
The AFL (NSW/ACT) Commission also announced today that Garry Buchanan, who has held the position of Regional Manager for Southern NSW since March 1999, will be adding the role of Regional Manager for Canberra to his portfolio effective immediately.
Allan McKinnon, who held the role of Regional Manager for Canberra since 1999, has moved to Sydney to continue in his new role as Chief Operating Officer.
Garry Buchanan said the inclusion of the Wagga Tigers into the AFL Canberra competition last year and the Swans Reserves this year adds a new dimension to the competition.
?It certainly augers well for the development of football in Southern NSW and Canberra,? Mr Buchanan said.
Round One of the AFL Canberra competition is scheduled for April 18-20 with the Swans versus Ainslie match to be played on Sunday, April 20 at Manuka Oval.
The launch was attended by Sydney Swans coach Paul Roos, Chief Executive Officer Colin Seery and Director of Football Andrew Ireland.
The Swans reserves will play nine matches in Sydney. Seven matches will be played at the SCG prior to AFL Premiership matches involving the Swans, while the remaining two will be played as curtain-raisers at Stadium Australia (now Telstra Stadium) prior to the blockbuster AFL Premiership matches under lights.
The Ainslie FC will take on the Swans at Telstra Stadium on June 7 prior to the Essendon v Swans match played annually for the Marn Grook trophy, while the Wagga Tigers will play the Swans prior to the Sydney versus Collingwood blockbuster at the Stadium on August 23. This match is played annually and marks the anniversary of the Kokoda campaign by Australian Forces in Papua New Guinea.
Tuggeranong will play the Swans reserves in a curtain raiser prior to the AFL Premiership between Sydney and the Kangaroos at Manuka Oval on May 25.
Another highlight in the Swans program is the two matches scheduled against the Wagga Tigers at Robertson oval in Wagga Wagga on May 3 and June 29.
In early December the AFL Canberra Board and the seven clubs supported the Sydney Swans proposal to enter their Reserves side in the AFL Canberra competition.
Swans reserves players had previously played in the VFL with Port Melbourne, with some players also playing with the Sydney Redbacks in the Sydney AFL.
Director of Football Andrew Ireland believes the Swans inclusion in the AFL Canberra competition is a win win situation for both the club and supporters.
?It is far more beneficial for the development of our young players to be playing together as a team week in week out,? Mr Ireland said.
?It is also a tremendous opportunity to further lift the Swans profile and level of activity in the Canberra region which has lengthy historical ties with our Club.
?We have a significant supporter base in the ACT and Riverina regions and now those supporters will have more opportunities to watch the young players.
?It?s also important that our supporters in Sydney will now be able to watch the players as they develop with the Swans reserves now playing prior to the seniors.?
The AFL (NSW/ACT) Commission also announced today that Garry Buchanan, who has held the position of Regional Manager for Southern NSW since March 1999, will be adding the role of Regional Manager for Canberra to his portfolio effective immediately.
Allan McKinnon, who held the role of Regional Manager for Canberra since 1999, has moved to Sydney to continue in his new role as Chief Operating Officer.
Garry Buchanan said the inclusion of the Wagga Tigers into the AFL Canberra competition last year and the Swans Reserves this year adds a new dimension to the competition.
?It certainly augers well for the development of football in Southern NSW and Canberra,? Mr Buchanan said.