Feast of Aussie Rules

Navy’s representative sides for the ADF Australian Rules Football championships gather at Canberra’s Manuka Oval. Photo: Louise Butcher

Navy fielded strong sides in the ADF Australian Rules Football championships in Canberra last week in both the male and female competitions at Manuka Oval.

It was the first time the women’s team has taken part in an inter-service competition.

The Navy team also squeezed in a visit to Canberra Hospital to deliver a range of toys to sick children.

But it was a big ask for the Navy teams as they sought to break the Army’s 17-year stranglehold on the championship.

A three-day orgy of class footy began on Friday, April 16, with further games on Sunday, April 18 and the finals on Tuesday, April 20.

On Sunday, the loser of the Navy-Air Force game played Army in the curtain-raiser to the Sydney Swans-North Melbourne Kangaroos League match.

In addition, the national male side will travel to Melbourne in June to play Victoria Police.

The game venue is still being negotiated with the AFL, but it is hoped to play the curtain-raiser to the St Kilda v Hawthorn Round 13 clash at Telstra Dome.

The side for the police game will be made up from national players, with any shortfall coming from those who attended the training camp.

The carnival also acted as selection trials for the ADF sides, again men’s and women’s, to take part in the AFL national competitions.

The men’s national team is booked to play in the lead-up to the big Sydney versus Melbourne match under lights at Telstra Stadium, Homebush in Sydney, on Saturday.

The clash, against the NSW combined emergency services, is for the AFL Services Challenge Cup.

RANAFA continually looks to put the best possible Navy sides on the paddock. For more information contact senior coach POCIS Jamie McGinley on 0418 463 880, or via the RANAFA web site www.navyfooty.com.

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