Community Football Weekend a winner

West Australians embraced the heritage and tradition of Australian Football with an

estimated 239,000 people attending junior and senior community, country and WAFL football last weekend.

From the Kimberley region to the Goldfields, down through the Great Southern and throughout metropolitan Perth, West Australian Football Commission Director of Football Grant Dorrington said it was pleasing to see so many people show their support for grass-roots football.

“Football is such an integral part of our community that it was wonderful to see the general public as well as our AFL stars support the weekend,” Dorrington said.

“It is important that our AFL clubs and players take the time to support the hard-working volunteers at community football clubs. The WAFC congratulates the AFL’s commitment to making the players available to attend games and ensuring that they regularly engage with the local community.”

Across Australia, 1.6million passionate football followers returned to grass-roots football to celebrate Community Football Weekend.

Community football is the heart and soul of our game. In 2007 more than 600,000 people played Australian Football and many more coached, umpired, officiated, volunteered and supported our game at all levels.

More than 300 AFL players were able to attend grass-roots games across the country as there were no AFL matches last weekend because of the Community Weekend which was a focus of this year’s 150 Years of Australian Football celebrations.

Fremantle’s Ryan Crowley made a call to Brentwood-Booragoon president Rhys Jenkins on the morning before heading to the Brentwood/Booragoon versus Ellenbrook in A D-Grade West Australian Amateur Football League game at Karoonda Park.

Crowley called Jenkins to ask if he could bring a friend – that friend was fellow Docker Garrick Ibbotson.

“Ryan was really impressed at the set-up of the club,” Jenkins said.

“He enjoyed the way the coaches talked to the players and the ground. It was a bit of an

eye opener for Ryan because he was surprised at the quality of the football.”

Fremantle forward Chris Tarrant tossed the coin at the B-Grade amateurs game between Willetton and Wanneroo.

“He also mingled with the crowd and poured some drinks for the ladies,” said Willetton president Jim Grace.

“We had a very good day and it was well-attended by the ladies. About 50 of them were treated to a special day and overall we had about 500 people come through.”

At the Swan Valley versus East Fremantle game at Swan Valley Sporting Club, Eagles defender Adam Selwood mingled and chatted with the crowd.

“Adam signed the match ball and we gave him a club shirt and hat to wear during the day and to keep,” said Swan Valley president Dave Stephens.

“We had a very successful day with about 300 people attending the game. And we had a win in both grades which made it even better.”