FREMANTLE will once again host a national AFL competition for mature-aged footy players when the 41st AFL Masters National Carnival kicks off this weekend.
The carnival is an annual footy competition held at different locations every year, and is an opportunity for people over the age of 35 to play AFL in a national competition.
Starting on Sunday September 29 and spanning a week-long competition, over 1400 footballers and 400 coaches and officials will be competing for the AFL Masters National Championship.
The competition comprises 70 state and territory-based men’s and women’s teams, with seven age brackets, and is essentially a mature-aged State of Origin,
AFL Masters president Steve Eurell says Freo is “primed” to host the carnival, which will feature a “complete” range of teams from differing age brackets and demographics for the first time in 21 years.
“We have come a long way in a relatively short space of time, catering to demand for new markets including over 300 women, an over-70s demonstration match on Monday and two Indigenous showcase matches next Friday night at Fremantle Oval,” Mr Eurell said.
“It’s a different world back to when we were last here in 2003 [when we had] just 32 teams in five male age groups to 50s.”
AFL Masters communications officer and player Emma Kirkham says the carnival offers a chance for more people to play footy, including women, and retired AFL and AFLW players.
“Especially for women who have grown up with footy, but never had the opportunity to play, because when we were younger [the AFLW competition] wasn’t a thing.
“There are also a lot of women that this is their first season of even playing football ever, so there’ll be quite a few women that have never attended a national carnival before too.”
Given the number of people descending on Freo this weekend, Ms Kirkham says the carnival is a massive tourism event as well as just a footy competition, with a $6 million economic impact on the city expected over the week.
“Each year [the Masters] goes a different state, so it brings with it a lot of people and tourism.
“A lot of people bring their families because it’s during their school holidays as well, so a lot of people make it their annual family holiday. It’s a great opportunity for people in Fremantle and surrounds that might want to come down, and all of the matches are free to watch too.”
The AFL Masters National Carnival will be played between September 29 and October 3, at Fremantle, East Fremantle, and Dick Lawrence Oval, as well as Fremantle Park and Tom Perrot Reserve.
More information is available at the AFL Masters website.
by KATHERINE KRAAYVANGER