Australian Country Football Council

New South Wales - Teamlist

New South Wales are approaching the 2008 Landmark Australian Football Carnival in a positive frame of mind having assembled an experienced coaching panel and strong playing roster. The significance of representing their state in the 150th year of the AFL is not lost on the group and they are looking to improve on their third place finish at the 2006 Championships

We expect that the Division One title will be keenly fought with Victoria the obvious favourite on their home ground. We have a healthy rivalry with the ACT and we will be looking to reverse the result of our last clash in QLD in 2006. West Australia and South Australia will also be forminable opposition.

I would like to thank the coaching staff, medical staff and other officials for the time they have dedicated to their roles and without them this opportunity would not be possible. I would also like to thank the players for their commitment and I hope that they can achieve the success they deserve.

Queensland - Teamlist

The AFL Queensland State Country Representative team has been chosen from an extensive intrastate representative regional program culminating in a combined South East Queensland team, called the Stockman, playing an AFL Cairns representative team. . From this game the State country team has been chosen.

The program commenced in April involving players from the Darling Downs, Mackay, Mt Isa, Townsville, Capricornia, Bundaberg Wide Bay and Gold Coast. Every country player has been afforded the opportunity try out for the State team.

AFL Queensland’s performance in the Australian Country Football Carnival has steadily improved in recent carnivals. It is the ultimate challenge to compete against players from traditional AFL orientated States. In 2008 as in previous years AFL Queensland will provide strong opposition for the Victorian 2 team and the Aboriginal All Stars team in Division 2 of the competition.

The quality coaching staff, headed by Stephen Daniel from Cairns, are well supported by support staff with many collective years experience at the Australian Country Football carnival.

Prevailing conditions in Shepparton will add another dimension to the ability of the Queensland team to achieve success. The team is looking forward to this challenge and aims to further enhance its reputation as a progressive football State.

Victoria 1 - Teamlist

Coach: Terry Daniher

Victoria 1, drawn from the WorkSafe Victorian Country Football League Major Leagues (16 in all), will be looking to put our best foot forward in defending the Division 1 title that we won in extra time on the Gold Coast in 2006.

Coach Terry Daniher (ex Essendon) and his selectors Dean Rice (ex Carlton/St. Kilda/Geelong), Nathan Bower (ex Richmond), Chris Naish (ex Richmond/Port Adelaide) and John Barnes (Geelong/Essendon) have drawn together a strong squad with a blend of experience (Joe McLaren – St. Kilda/North Melbourne/Koroit/Hampden FNL; Troy Makepeace – North Melbourne/Moe/ West Gippsland Latrobe FL; Craig Ednie – Richmond/Yarrawonga/Ovens & Murray FL) and youth (Relton Roberts - Euroa/Goulburn Valley FL; Drew Barnes – Nathalia/Murray FL and Lee Schmidt – Corowa/Rutherglen/Ovens & Murray FL).

The initial squad of (37) has (22) first timers with an average age of (25), with key players from the 2006 Victoria 1 team Matt Pendergast (Lavington/Ovens & Murray FL) and Ricky Clark (Narre Warren/Mornington Peninsula Nepean FL) keen to experience the same level of competition again, while players who performed well in the match against the Victorian Amateurs in 2007 have also been included and amongst them are Goulburn Valley FL excitement machine Saad Saad (Seymour FNC), veteran ball magnet Paul Scanlon (Seymour FNC), giant tap ruckman Tim Little (Sunbury FNC/Ballarat FL) and former Sandringham VFL star midfielder Mark Corrigan (South Barwon/Geelong FL).

We expect stiff opposition from arch rivals ACT, while the return of SA adds to the equation given their strong form in July 2007, when they defeated the WorkSafe VCFL Division 2 team (drawn from District Leagues).

WA and NSW are always formidable opponents and given excellent conditions are to be expected at Deakin Reserve, Shepparton the Division 1 Championship should be keenly fought.

Western Australia - Teamlist

Coach: Rod Williams

West Australian Country Football League State coach Rod Williams has his squad under no illusions about what he wants to achieve at this year’s Landmark Australian Country Football Carnival.

Williams will lead the WA side for the first time at the Carnival to be played in Shepparton, Victoria from July 24-27 and he expects no less than a title win from his team.

“I am expecting a big challenge,” Williams said.

“We have been in the competition 20 years and haven’t come away with a title. I’ve made the players aware of that – I want to go over there to make history.”

The squad currently has 32 members, with that number to be trimmed to 24 for the National Carnival. Final cuts will be made to the squad after the Landmark Country Football Carnival to be played in Perth from Thursday, July 10.

“There will be a fair bit of pressure on the boys to perform well at the Landmark carnival, but the side will pick itself if everyone is up and running,” he said.

“Hopefully everyone is, however Rowan Astbury pulled a hamstring and is expected to be out for 4-5 weeks.

“We will take about 10 midfielders to ensure a steady rotation as players are generally tired by the end of the Carnival.”

Each year some players from outside the squad have outstanding Championships and push for inclusion in the final 24 that will travel to Shepparton and with 15 senior teams playing at Landmark this year the State Selectors will be monitoring all games closely.

Mott is a former AFL and WAFL ruckman, while McRae is another of the many former WAFL players in the current squad. Other former AFL and WAFL players include Simon Duckworth, Clint Ernst, Rhys McFarland, Matt Kennewell, Rowan Astbury, Nathan Elari, Jesse Gribble, Mark Gilholme, Brett Claudius, Bryan Hardie, Damien Casson and Brad Hardingham.

Australian Capital Territory - Teamlist

The ACT side will be full of talent, enthusiasm and pride. The selection process has been rigorous and the preparation of the side outstanding for an assault on the coveted title of Australian Country Champions in the 150^th year of our code. The AFL Canberra competition is particularly fierce so every player has experienced high pressure games week in, week out prior to the carnival. The intense nature of our competition also ensures the best players are always challenged so the squad representing the ACT are the result of genuinely contested positions in the team. The coach, Mark Armstrong, has extraordinary credentials and has experienced great success, as a player, in the championships previously. He is determined to have a committed team that plays at a high quality and are supremely competitive for every moment of the carnival.

We look forward to being part of an excellent event and are most appreciative for the huge hours of work that many people have committed to creating this event. We are also thankful for the generous support of the sponsors and in particular Landmark.

May the team that deserves to win be holding the prize at the end.

Aboriginal All Stars - Teamlist

The Victorian Aboriginal Youth Sport & Recreation Cooperative (VAYSAR) is very proud to be involved in the 2008 Landmark Australian Football Carnival as managers of the Aboriginal All Stars team.

VAYSAR along with the South Australian Aboriginal Sport Recreation Association (SAASRA) had been instrumental in promoting the resurgence of the Dr Charles Perkins Memorial National Indigenous Football Netball Carnival. Uncle Vince Copley the Chair of the Dr Charles Perkins Memorial and the former ACFC Chair Mr John Lussick were instrumental in establishing the Aboriginal All Stars team. It is our responsibility to ensure that the vision and foresight of these two gentlemen is carried through with dignity and respect.

The Aboriginal All Stars team is selected from participating State & Territory teams from the annual Dr. Charles Perkins National Indigenous Football Netball Carnival. VAYSAR have undertaken the management and coordination role for the All Stars in 2006. During this time VAYSAR have work with the Victorian Country Football League to provide junior development opportunities for our under 15 boys to participate in the V/LINE U/15 Cup and over the next ten years we will see them representing the All Stars as well.

Mr. Eddie Hocking will Coach the AAS for the second consecutive year. Our goal is to repeat the efforts of the 2002 when we took out the National Division 2 Championships.

Victoria 2 - Teamlist

Coach: Ron Thomas

The VCFL Division 2 team is keen to retain its title gained at the last Australian Country Football Carnival held on the Gold Coast in 2006. The squad has come together well with coaching staff and selectors traveling many miles to get a first hand look at potential players across District Leagues in Victoria. The team in 2008 is very different to previous teams with only 1 player from the squad who represented the VCFL at the 2006 carnival.

The team will be coached by former Richmond player Ron Thomas. This is Ron’s second year with the Division 2 side and the coaches and selectors have gone for a squad that contains representation from 12 district leagues from all over country Victoria. With a balanced blend of youth & experience along with a heavy focus on an even contribution from all team members the squad is determined to put in a good showing.

This year the team has been able to play one practice match against the C-D Division of the VAFA and they performed very well in wining this match. Several changes have taken place since this game through injury and unavailability, however this has given other players the chance to step up and all those associated with the Division 2 team are looking forward to a successful carnival in Shepparton in 2008.

South Australia - Teamlist

This year South Australia re-enters the Landmark Australian Country Football Carnival for the first time since 2002. The SANFL and its affiliates have worked hard since then to rebuild and return to competition at this level; we’re eagerly looking forward to competing in the carnival and look forward to the challenge of testing ourselves on the national stage.

Our team comprises players from several of our 28 Country Leagues. The squad includes a mix of young players eager to make their mark in their State debut and a couple of experienced leaders with SANFL Club experience. Our players come from all areas of the State and bring a variety of experience both on and off the field; all players however share a common desire to represent their State, their League and their home Club and are committed to provide an attaching and entertaining style of play.

Leigh Kruger from the Loxton FC in the Riverland Football League will lead the squad. Leigh’s selection as captain is a reflection of his strong leadership both on and off the field; expect to see him playing a role across half back and through the midfield.

Other players to watch in the squad are midfielders Josh Vick and Marcus Burdett. Both are hard running and skilful players who we expect to have a big impact at the stoppages and around the ground.

We would like to thank our State Coach, Tony Fielke and his selection team for their commitment to this Carnival and also our major sponsor SA Brewing for their continued support of the SAB State Country Team and football generally in South Australia.

Finally, I would like to thank the ACFC, VCFL and all of the Carnival Sponsors for the hours of hard work they have contributed to provide this opportunity for each State to compete at this level.