Junior AFL is marking itself as one of the fastest growing sports in Port Macquarie.
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In fact, Port Macquarie Magpies are entering a second team in the under-11 age group.
The sport has recorded a 42 percent increase in the number of teams ahead of the 2017 season across the North Coast.
This exciting growth is highlighted with Nambucca Valley Lions re-joining the competition after a long break with an under-11 team, Bellingen Bulldogs adding an under-15 and a half team to their existing two younger teams and Manning Valley Mustangs marking their second year in the competition by adding an under-13 team.
This year’s introduction of a four team Youth Girls competition (under-13 to under-17) is also driving the numbers up significantly.
This new competition will feature a Coffs Harbour Breakers outfit that had an incredible 22 players attend the first training run of the season.
Paul Taylor, Operations Co-ordinator for AFL North Coast, said that junior AFL is in a really exciting growth phase.
“AFL is growing in popularity year on year. Off the back of the recent visit to the region by the Sydney Swans and the introduction of the AFL Women’s competition we’re seeing boys and girls of all ages wanting to join clubs and play the game,” he said.