Swan Districts Football Club Set to Enter WAAFL
10 Nov, 2010
The West Australian Amateur Football League (WAAFL), Swan Districts Football Club (SDFC) and the Department of Corrective Services (DCS) have formed a new partnership to pave the way for a Wooroloo Prison team to enter the WAAFL competition in 2011.
This is a positive partnership to assist with the integration of Wooroloo into community football. A key component to this initiative is the connection to the V Swans New Horizons Program, set to be delivered to prisoners by Swan Districts Football Club’s V Swans staff.
This program is expected to benefit prisoners in a variety of ways, including increased levels of community engagement, relevant and supported workplace training and greater cultural awareness.
It will build a greater understanding of how football can provide structure and healthy lifestyle benefits both mentally and physically for all members of our community.
V Swans Development Manager and Former West Coast Eagles Premiership player Peter Matera said the V Swans programs were focussed on developing people and communities.
“We are committed to supporting our New Horizons program participants not only during their prison term but also through the difficult period of transition and re-engagement with the community,” Matera said.
Andrew Krakouer (former V Swans Development Officer, Swan Districts Premiership player, 2010 Sandover Medallist, Simpson Medallist, former Richmand FC player and 2011 Collingwood FC recruit) has already reaped the rewards of being involved with the program.
“Swans provided me the greatest lifeline of all – belief,” Krakouer said.
“I am a great supporter of the V Swans New Horizons program and hope that many more young men benefit from what football can give to the individual and our community. I look forward to being involved as much as I can with this awesome program, for me its personal.”
In a competition first, the Wooroloo Team will play under the name of Swan Districts Football Club and don the uniforms of the 2010 WAFL Premiership winning club.
The bid has been approved by the WAAFL board, which recognises the major positives of the program towards generating community awareness and acceptance.
It also fits with the WAAFL’s strategic goal to develop and support competitions for disadvantaged segments of the community. Participants will receive major benefits through the link with the SDFC New Horizons program including self esteem, workplace skills, nutrition, fitness and level 1 coaching.
General Manager of Senior Metropolitan Community Football Cameron Agnew said the initiative was about more than prisoners wanting to play footy.
“By allowing low-risk, minimum security prisoners to compete in the competition we are encouraging and promoting discipline, professionalism, team work, fitness, working towards a goal, respect for others and improved respect for self,” he said.
“It also provides an important link for reintegration into the community. I would hope many of these blokes would go on to be welcomed by other community teams when they leave prison.”
