Across the next fortnight, the Western Bulldogs will take the first steps to establishing their AFL Next Generation Academies, with ‘come and try’ days to be held in four key locations across Victoria’s West.
These sessions will be open to all boys and girls aged between 11 and 16 years that reside in Footscray, Ballarat, Horsham and Warrnambool, and their surrounding areas.
The ‘come and try’ sessions will involve both on-field and skills session, as well as off-field sessions around leadership and well-being.
All four sessions are free, however participants are requested to register online at afl.com.au/bulldogsacademy if they plan to attend.
The first Next Generation Academy Launch Day session will be held in Horsham (Monday, 27 June) before sessions in Warrnambool, Footscray and Ballarat.
Further details can be found below.
Western Bulldogs Next Generation Launch Days
NB: Parents/guardians are expected to be in attendance as there will be a parent/guardian engagement session held from 4:00pm at each of the venues.
Horsham
Date: Monday 27 June 2016
Time: 2.30pm–5pm (registration from 2pm)
Wenue: Horsham City Oval, Horsham
Wear: Appropriate clothing/football gear for both on field and off field sessions.
Warrnambool
DATE: Monday 4 July 2016
TIME: 2.30pm–5pm (registration from 2pm)
VENUE: Reid Oval, Warrnambool
Wear: Appropriate clothing/football gear for both on field and off field sessions.
Footscray
Date: Wednesday 6 July 2016
Time: 9.30am–12pm (registration from 9am)
Venue: Victoria University Whitten Oval, Footscray
Wear: Appropriate clothing/football gear for both on field and off field sessions.
Ballarat
Date: Thursday 7 July 2016
Time: 2.30pm–5pm (registration from 2pm)
Venue: St Patrick’s College, Sturt St, Ballarat
Wear: Appropriate clothing/football gear for both on field and off field sessions.
For further details about these four sessions, please contact Western Bulldogs Next Generation Academy Coordinator David Newton at d.newton@wrfl.asn.au or call (03) 9680 6100.
Background: AFL Next Generation Academy
In February this year, the AFL announced that each Victorian club would be allocated funds to establish academies across the state to attract boys and girls currently not playing football or that are underrepresented at AFL level.
The Bulldogs were granted a large area in Melbourne’s west to set up a ‘Next Generation’ AFL Academy, an area that encompasses Western Melbourne, the Wimmera, the Mallee, South West Victoria and Ballarat, areas aligned with the current TAC Cup talent regions of the North Ballarat Rebels and Western Jets.
AFL General Manager of Operations Mark Evans at the time said that the academies will provide Clubs with an opportunity to nurture the talent in their specific regions in 2016 with the objective of expanding the program into 2017 and beyond.
“The academies will look to build strong links between local communities, grassroots football and the elite level, to ensure our game is representative, inclusive and embraces gender and cultural diversity,” Mr Evans said.
“For Australian Football to prosper in the future we must invest in new and emerging communities, and reinforce the pathways for indigenous Australians.
“The Academies will enable AFL clubs to be actively involved in introducing kids of all backgrounds to the game and provide aspirational pathways for coaches, umpires and administrators.”
