Blue Heelers playing in 2025
REPRESENTATIVE footy for both the men’s and women’s competitions will be played in 2025.
In an exciting step for AFL in the North West region, the Blue Heelers will be playing matches at the end of June on home soil.
This is big news for the men in particular as they haven’t played a representative match since before the COVID pandemic. The women returned to the representative fray last year when they recorded a 19-point victory over the AFL North Coast.
The North Coast Force will be be the opponent that the men will face. The women will be playing in a tri-series playing a pair of half-matches against both the Force and the women from the AFL Central West.
The Community Football & Competition Manager for AFL Northern NSW, Brad Greenshields, said these matches will provide a further boost to the AFL North West.
“After the women played a representative math in 2024 the feedback from the men was that they wanted to be part of the representative action as well. Now they will be,” Greenshields said.
“And for both the men and women to be able to test their skill, ability and teamwork against stronger opposition than they’d face from week-to-week is always an exciting prospect.”
The fact the Blue Heelers have been able to play in 2025 is due to the financial support provided by an enthusiastic sponsor. The details of this new partnership agreement and who the generous supporter is will be officially announced on Monday.
For the younger players in the region, hopes are also high that a Blue Heelers Under 13 boys team will be able to play in the Northern NSW junior carnival to be played in Coffs Harbour during the July school holidays.
“A survey was sent out to the parents of players in that age group who’ve played over the past two years asking if their son would be interested in playing,” Greenshields added.
“So far the responses received have been overwhelmingly positive.
“The past two years have seen the AFL North West’s junior competition expanded to include Under 10s and Under 12s to complement the existing Under 14 age group. To have this turn into a junior representative team in 2025 will be an exciting step.”
