New age groups + new staff = huge 2023 ahead!

BUILDING on the ever-growing interest in the sport, the AFL North West is introducing new junior age groups in 2023 for kids to enjoy.

The upcoming footy season will see the introduction of both an Under 10 and Under 12 age group as well as a Youth Girls 17s age group to continue the focus on growing female participation in the youth demographic.

It’s not just a case of build it and they will come, as AFL NSW/ACT has also appointed the first ever full time Development Co-ordinator within the region to drive recruitment and ensure the new age groups are a success.

Khobi Devine has started in the full-time role this week and will be responsible for running schools programs, inter-school competitions, and come and try sessions throughout the region. Khobi will be assisted in delivering these programs by a network of casual Development Officers who are based throughout the region.

Matt Crawley, the AFL Development Lead for Northern NSW, said the new age groups and appoint of Khobi herald an exciting new era for AFL in the North West.

“The new age groups are needed due to the enormous interest kids of that age are showing in our great game and the new age groups gives them an opportunity to get involved in playing structured football earlier,” Crawley said.

“Prior to this year there was a gap between Auskick aged kids and the younger members of the Under-14 age group. So players were waiting a year or two before being able to play. Now they can graduate from Auskick into organised matches much sooner.

“Khobi has excelled with us as a casual Development Officer over the past twelve months and already has the runs on the board to prove that she’ll be a great asset to the code in the region. She’s lived in the North West her entire life, was one of the inaugural members of the Gunnedah Bulldogs Women’s side, and has a passion for creating opportunities for people of both genders and all ages to get involved with AFL.”

Khobi Devine said she can’t wait to sink her teeth into the new job and broaden the participation numbers in schools.

“I’m looking forward to building further interest in our game through school programs and other promotional activities,” Devine said.

“Increasing player and participation numbers in the junior space on the back of that will help to make the new age groups a success.”

While the Under 14 mixed, Under 17 boys and Youth Girls 17 competitions will be played each week in 2023 in a traditional home & away season, the new younger age groups will be played in a gala day format each fortnight at rotating venues around the North West.

The Under 10 age group will be a non-competitive format with modified tackling.

To find the contacts for your local AFL club, please click here.

To learn more about the role of a casual Development Officer, and to find the contacts to express an interest, please click here.