Surf Coast Carnival to showcase masters potential

MASTERS Aussie rules football is on its way to the Surf Coast, featuring some of the best local footballers over 35 years of age in the state and some local faces as well.

AFL Masters Vic Country, in partnership with AFL Victoria, will host the first Surf Coast Showcase carnival at Spring Creek and Ellimatta Reserve from August 18-20.

The three-day carnival is the brainchild of Bellbrae resident and AFL Masters Vic Country player and coach David O’Brien, highlighting the benefits of masters football on the Surf Coast.

“I’m a believer in participation-level football, meaning having a go at football at all ages of life,” Mr O’Brien said.

“The work of the Surf Coast Active Men’s Club putting together its AFL 9’s squad for the past six years has shown a successful non-contact form of football is possible here in the region.

“The primary hope for AFL Masters Vic Country from the carnival is that we can possibly establish a new side here on the Surf Coast to join the organisation’s 15-team regional competition.”

The carnival has garnered the support of local clubs, businesses, and Surf Coast Shire Council.

Anglesea Football Club and Torquay Football Club will kick off the carnival proceedings on Friday, August 18 at 7.30pm with a curtain-raiser non-contact masters game at Ellimatta Reserve.

Torquay Tigers will host action on Saturday, August 19 with an AFL Masters Women’s Game and a Vic Country contact match between Western Victoria and Gippsland.

On Sunday, August 20, AFL Masters will host a training session featuring Vic Country’s 2023 AFL Masters National Carnival team.

The team is competing on the Sunshine Coast from October 1-7.

AFL Masters Vic Country representative Brent Ali said the community response has been extremely strong.

“We’ve had tremendous support from AFL Barwon, Torquay Football Club and of course Anglesea Football Club. Businesses such as Bells Beach Brewing and Blackman’s Brewing have also jumped on board too,” Ali said.

“Our game is quite unknown in some parts of the state, so we’re really excited to showcase what we have to offer in a new, growing region where we feel we can support masters football.

“Our competition wants to be the net that catches older footballers that fall out of community footy and want to continue playing in the game we all love.”

To find out more information about the showcase, contact Brent on 0414 521 438.