Nominate now for Blue Heelers program
Do you want to be the region’s next Sam Naismith or Alice Mitchell and play in the AFL or AFLW? Or do you just want to improve your AFL skills and knowledge to perform better in club footy? If you answered yes to either question, the AFL North West Blue Heelers program is for you!
The Blue Heelers program is supported by the QBE Sydney Swans Academy and is for club registered males and females born between 2006 and 2012. The program exists to further develop players’ skills, game sense, and footy IQ, and to take part in the Northern NSW representative carnival that will be held in Coffs Harbour from Saturday 8 to Monday 10 July.
Stu Goldfinch, Coaching Co-ordinator of the program, said that the focus of the program is on player development.
“The Blue Heelers program is the first step in the Sydney Swans Academy talent pathway, but isn’t just for players with dreams of making it to the elite level. The focus of the Blue Heelers program is on helping each individual to improve their skills, improve their game sense, and build their footy IQ, whether they’re an experienced representative player who wants to take that next step, or are starting out and are keen to improve,” Goldfinch said.
The Blue Heelers program will be conducted across the following dates:
- Sunday 14 May in Inverell from 1:30pm to 3:00pm
- Sunday 28 May in Armidale from 1:30pm to 3:00pm
- Sunday 25 June in Tamworth from 1:30pm to 3:00pm
“Those dates have been selected as they fall in the weeks between the gala days for the Under 12 age group, so they’re a great chance for players to get more exposure to AFL. The venues have been selected to align with matches in the Under 14 competition to allow the players in that age group to join in with sessions after their matches,” said Goldfinch.
Blue Heelers representative clothing will be ordered following the first session in Inverell (14 May) so all players who are keen to be involved in the program are strongly encouraged to attend that session.
Anyone that is unable to attend the first session but still wants to be considered should contact Emily Sutherland on emily.sutherland@afl.com.au.
To express an interest in being involved in the Blue Heelers program in 2023 please complete the online form here.
