31 October 2024
More than 350 soldiers took part in the Australian Army Football Championships on Duncan Oval at Gallipoli Barracks, Brisbane, in October.
The competition expanded to 17 teams in 2024, including a representative team from the Timor-Leste Defence Force (F-FDTL), which returned for the second year running, and teams from 2nd (Australian) Division for the first time.
The sporting event is Army’s biggest, and Director of Regional Football for Australian Army Football Major Ian Rainbow said the rise in quality in recent years was obvious.
“It’s highly competitive and personnel who have been once always want to come back,” Major Rainbow said.
“The standard of football was very high and what we see is teams struggling in their first few years starting to take big strides forward.
“A good example is 16th Brigade who joined the competition four years ago and finished towards the bottom, now coming within two games of winning the women’s and overall title.”
Major Rainbow said the sport was growing quickly, with about 20 per cent of participants this year taking part for the first time.
He said the addition of 2nd Division teams was a big step forward in integrating permanent and reservist forces, which would add to the growth of Army football.
'The girls that played last year knew that this year had to be it as we didn’t want to feel the way we did after last year again.'
For the 7th Brigade women, victory was sweet after falling just short in last year’s final.
Despite having pressure on them from the beginning of the tournament, they remained motivated and took home the trophy, beating 16th Brigade 9-0 in the final, using a hard-pressing style of football in a 4-3-3 formation.
The side’s captain, Private Brieanna Watt, said it was an incredible feeling and there was an excellent team spirit.
“The girls that played last year knew that this year had to be it as we didn’t want to feel the way we did after last year again,” she said.
“To relive that moment and be able to come out on top this year was one of the best feelings.
“The opportunity to take part in sport within Defence is utterly amazing. What other job gives you time off work to play the game you love.”
In the men’s draw, 1st Brigade took the trophy home to Darwin after going through undefeated.
Despite being his first year in the competition, Lieutenant Patrick Carstens captained his side to victory.
“It was an awesome feeling to come down with the lads and to win undefeated,” he said.
“We believed we were the team to beat. We knew it was a tough competition but were confident we could go all the way.”
He said the championships were great to be part of, not just because of the football, but also the atmosphere and people involved.
“It’s super important to meet people and get away from your regular job, and to create relationships with those you normally wouldn’t get the opportunity to talk to,” he said.
1st Brigade lined up with a 4-3-3 formation, sitting their centre defensive midfield deep and allowing the two fullbacks to switch into wing backs with the team in possession; while also using a false nine up top and pressing hard in central areas.
