The NAB AFL Auskick Program was rolled out in the Cooktown Community in term 1 of school. AFL Cape York received a successful response with 35 participants signing up and ready to play some footy. The program kicked off well despite the Wet Seasons weather bringing heavy rain to make it wet Auskick sessions but this didn’t stop the Cooktown Auskickers getting their hands on the ball. The great part about the program is that parents were down supporting their children and even some participating in some of the activities. Two Cooktown dads Sean Gillen and Cameron Ford helped AFL Cape York staff coordinate the activities during the sessions and bringing enthusiasm and laughter to the Auskickers. In the last week of school AFL Cape York coordinated a parents verse Auskickers game which turned out to be a fantastic hour spent on a Tuesday afternoon. The heavy showers before the session made the ground very sloppy but didn’t deter the Auskickers footy skills and speed. Well done to the Cooktown Auskickers, a great Auskick centre with great Auskickers.

Bloomfield Auskick
The NAB AFL Auskick Program was made a permanent subject for the students of Bloomfield State School in term 2010. Wednesday afternoons was the highlight for students of Bloomfield where the Auskick Program ran in school time as apart of their sports afternoon program. Students would wait patiently in class for the bell to ring at 1:30pm and then ACTION TIME. AFL Cape York staffs were mobbed each week with students racing out of their classrooms and onto the school field. With only a small oval to run activities, the Bloomfield students made every bit count when it came to learning the skills and drills of the AFL game. AFL Cape York staff were amazed at the level of skill and agility the Bloomfield students have, but the most rewarding was their attitude and team work. Principal Lorne Willadson made comment that the students would look forward to Wednesday afternoons and that the program was excellent for their school. Well done to Bloomfield State School in being apart of a successful NAB AFL Auskick Program in 2010.

Hopevale Auskick
The NAB AFL Auskick Program was rolled out in the Hopevale Community in term 1 of school. The final session of Auskick was held on Monday 29th March. In wet weather and a muddy oval 35 keen players aged between 6 and 13 played a game of AFL. The boys and girls put on the footy jumpers and were keen to put into practice the skills they had learnt over the course of the program.
After the game, the players enjoyed a BBQ provided by John Harris from Crime Stoppers with the new Crime Stoppers BBQ Trailer.

The Auskick Program was a real success and AFL Cape York is keen to run a second round of Auskick for the Hopevale area in Term 2. Well done to all the Auskickers for being involved and we encourage you to participate again in Term 2.
Cooktown Auskick

Auskick Exchange 2009

The first weekend of the school holidays was one to remember for year 4 and 6 Thursday Island students Robert Gibuma, Bradley Nixon, Kubby Takai, Floyd Sailor, Nathan Geno and Solomona Nona who travelled to Melbourne to participate in the South Melbourne Junior Football Auskick clinic.

The Channel Seven AFL commentary team made a special community visit to give the youngsters a taste of life as AFL stars. AFL legend Leigh Matthews and Brownlow medallist Nathan Buckley took the coaching reins of the two Auskick teams; Lethal's Lot and Buck's Brigade respectively. Veteran broadcasters Bruce McAvaney and Dennis Cometti added to the spectacle by calling all the action from the stands, with Tim Watson on special comments.

The trip included two trips to the MCG. On Friday night they saw Essendon play Carlton in front of 83 000 people. Saturday was a bit more special with the kids playing on the hallowed ground at half time in the Collingwood/Freemantle game.

Earlier in the year, the South Melbourne Junior AFL club decided to raise money for a cultural exchange for their AUSKICK program. They managed to collect more than $25 000. The exchange will include a return trip by the club to T.I in October accompanied by another AFL legend and face of Auskick Rober "Dipper" DiPierdomenico.

Many thanks should go to South Melbourne footy club (and particularly Auskick co-ordinator Scott Carter) for masterminding and funding this exchange as well as organising billets.

While some may raise an eyebrow at the money AFL spends, it should be noted that this trip was paid for only through fundraising in Melbourne with a contribution by the families of the kids who attended. It is hoped that the exchange between South Melbourne and Thursday Island becomes an annual event.