Play by the rules
Corporal Simone Liebelt talks to Air Force Football Club senior coach Corporal Paul James about where Air Force Australian rules has come from and where it’s going.

By Andrew Stackpool

LAC Aaron Clayden gets the ball away with Navy in hot pursuit at the ADF championships earlier this year.

Photos by AB Kade Rogers

Members of the Air Force women’s team chase down a Navy player.

LAC Glenn Noye goes after the ball.

AFTER 20 years of competition and hundreds of participants, only 11 people have yet reached “legend status” at the Air Force Football Club (AFFC).

Many competitors strive for such an honour in their field of sport, but very few reach it.

One of the club’s legends is senior coach Corporal Paul James, who was awarded the prestigious title last year after more than 15 years representing the AFFC.

He joins other legends, such as Squadron Leader Geoff Olsen, who was President of the club from 1978 to 1994, and Corporal Milan Kutija, who has been the longest serving player on the team.

To become a legend, players must have represented the club at a national level on at least five occasions and be nominated and approved by the committee, which, according to Corporal James, is quite a personal achievement.

While the status was only introduced last year after the club was formally named, it recognises the commitment and loyalty of its past members, and also signifies the bright future ahead for the club with the arrival of new members.

“The AFFC is yet to have won [the ADF football] competition, but it has continually improved to a level that it is competitive and has every chance of being the champion team in the future,” Corporal James says.

“The club has moved forward in leaps and bounds over the past three years. It is more professional and more competitive, we have a women’s team that is competitive, we are more financially stable and our levels of sponsorship have consistently doubled over this period.

“We believe the improvements have come from the dedicated staff and the increased professionalism of the club, and the rise in the level of commitment and attitude expected of the players.

“The profile of the club has also been lifted dramatically, thanks in no small part to the efforts of the committee, having the CAF as a patron, and becoming affiliated with the AFL Hawthorn Football Club last year.”

He says the past two years’ men’s teams have produced some outstanding footballers, and the women’s team will continue to improve, but there is always room for new players. He recommended those interested in playing come along to selection trials.

“During the week of trials, members are put through a series of fitness and skills tests in order to select the best 27 players to represent the club,” he says.

“The focus is then shifted to skills training and pattern of play training in order to get the team to gel in the short period available. A great deal of time is also spent on team bonding activities, to create great team cohesion. By the end of the carnival, the team is more like a family unit.”

A tour of New Zealand is planned for this October to play the NZ national team, and the club is preparing to play Navy in an AFL curtain raiser at the MCG next season.

“The club will continue to gain a greater profile throughout the ADF and civilian community through our sponsorships, affiliations, promotion at community events by AFFC representatives, and by keeping previous Air Force and AFFC members involved in the club,” Corporal James says.

“We encourage those that follow Australian football to become involved; membership is free and open to all Air Force personnel.

“And for those that AFL may not be their code, come and support their Service in this area of sport.”

 

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