High-flying
LAC Leigh Yates goes for the screamer during training at
Hawthorn’s Glenferrie Oval. Also shown are, from left,
FSGT Phil Davenport and LACs Andrew Lightfoot and Brett
Cameron.
Photo by SGT Dave Grant
THE
national champion service title is up for grabs in this year’s
ADF Australian Football National ISS Championships to be played
at Canberra’s Manuka Oval from April 16-20.
The competition starts with Navy playing Air Force. As with the
recent league carnival, they will be keen to end Army’s 17-year
domination of the championships.
Anyone expecting three days of intense Aussie Rules fireworks and
quality play will not leave disappointed.
History will also be made as the women turn out for the first time
in an ISS Rules competition.
Air Force veterans are quietly confident of a win in the championships
after a hard but satisfactory training camp. Fifty-five hopefuls
turned out at the start of the camp under the tough coaching and
ever-watchful eyes of team president Flight Lieutenant Stu Munro
and coach Corporal Paul James.
Team captain Flight Sergeant Mark Cooper said, “This is the
best side we have assembled for a number of years and we have a
real chance of winning this year’s championships.”
The runners-up of Friday’s match will take on Army as the curtain
raiser to the Sydney Swans versus the North Melbourne Kangaroos
game on Sunday.
CDF General Peter Cosgrove will present the champion men’s
and women’s teams with their trophies on completion of the
final games on April 20.
The carnival will also select the players for the ADF’s combined
services teams in the AFL’s annual national men’s and
women’s competitions. The men’s team is scheduled to play
the NSW combined emergency service team for the
AFL Services Challenge Cup at the Telstra Stadium at Homebush in
Sydney. This match is the precursor to the Sydney Swans versus Melbourne
Demons match and will feature the ADF’s Aussie Rules finest.
For more details call Operations Manager Major Peter Crabbe on (02)
9600 1536 or email peter.crabbe2@defence.gov.au.
