AFL Sydney Senior Representative Football Update – Tuesday, April 9
AFL Sydney Senior Representative Football Update
Sydney are pleased to advise the following key updates ahead of the much-anticipated re-commencement of Senior Men’s and Senior Women’s representative football to be played between AFL Sydney and AFL Canberra on Saturday, May 18 at Manuka Oval, Canberra.
Importantly, the matches will also act as selection matches for the combined AFL Sydney & AFL Canberra Men’s and Women’s teams to face Tasmania at UTAS Stadium (York Park) in Launceston on Saturday, July 20.
On both dates Saturday, May 18 and Saturday, July 20 no AFL Sydney matches in Men’s Premier Division, Women’s Premier Division or Under 19.5 Division One will be played, including a full competition week off (excluding rescheduled wet weather matches) on both dates.
See below for key updates and information on the representative programs;
Senior Representative Match Schedule:
Manuka Oval, Canberra (Saturday, May 18)
AFL Canberra vs. AFL Sydney – Senior Women @ (12:00pm)
AFL Canberra vs. AFL Sydney – Senior Men @ (2:00pm)
Coaching Appointments – Senior Women’s Program:
Head Coach – Kristie Whittard (Sydney Swans Academy)
Development Coach – Kellie Nolan (UTS AFC Bats Women’s Division One Head Coach, 2023 BHP Community Coach of the Year)
Development Coach – Eleanor Rugg (Parramatta Goannas Women’s Premier Division Playing Assistant Coach, Swans Academy)
Development Coach and Program Support: Chloe Davis (Parramatta Goannas Women’s Premier Division Player).
Program Mentors: Katherine Smith (Current GWS GIANTS AFLW Player) and Llyod Perris (North Shore Bombers Men’s Premier Division Player, Former AFLW Senior Assistant Coach, VFL & AFL Development Coach – GWS GIANTS)
Coaching Appointments – Senior Men’s Program:
Head Coach – Ben Roberts (Pennant Hills Demons Men’s Premier Division Head Coach, 2023 AFL Sydney Premier Division Coach of the Year)
Senior Assistant – Kevin Dyson (UTS AFC Bats Men’s Premier Division Head Coach, 2019 Under 19 Division One Premiership Coach)
Program Mentors: Mark McVeigh (Sydney Swans AFL Assistant Coach) and Ryan O’Keefe (AFL NSW/ACT – Coaching and Education Lead)
Player Selection Criteria:
In order to be eligible to represent AFL Sydney in the upcoming representative fixtures vs. AFL Canberra players must have;
1. An active registration with an AFL Sydney Club for the 2024 season
2. Participated in a minimum of one match in the 2024 AFL Sydney season up to and including Round Six (May 11, 2024)
Note: VFL Primary and Development listed players, along with GIANTS and Swans Academy players will be eligible for selection provided they meet the above selection criteria.
Selection Committee and Process:
The Selection Committee for the Senior Men’s and Senior Women’s teams will be those listed above (coaches and mentors) for the respective programs along with Sam Zikman (Community Football Regional Manager – Greater Sydney), Bronte Mannering (AFL Sydney, Community Football and Competition Manager) and David Redden (AFL Sydney – Lead Commentator).
The Selection Committee will initially invite 30 male players and 30 female players, along with additional development players (Under 22) to join the squads. Following acceptances, the Selection Committee may opt to invite further players to join the squads.
The finalised squads for both representative teams will be published via media release the week commencing Monday, April 29.
The squads will then train twice prior to the matches vs. AFL Canberra with the final team selected and published by Thursday, May 16.
Live Coverage – Streaming:
For those who cannot make it to Manuka Oval in Canberra on Saturday, May 18 both representative matches will be live streamed with commentary via AFL Sydney streaming partner Streamer.
Click Here to access to the Streamer AFL Sydney landing page which also includes links to all live streamed matches in AFL Sydney during season 2024.
