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The University of Sydney is on the ball

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In a landmark day for AFL Europe we can announce our inaugural Ball Sponsorship Partner as The University of Sydney. The partnership will see our two internationally growing organisations join forces to take Australia’s national game to schools and universities across the UK and Europe.  There are already a number of exciting joint initiatives in the pipeline and 2014 will also see the University of Sydney having a visual presence on all balls sold and distributed from AFL Europe.

“Having an iconic Australian higher education institution sign up like The University of Sydney is a real vote of confidence that we are heading in the right direction and shows that a world renowned establishment has seen the value of partnering with our vibrant and growing organisation” Ben MacCormack – AFL Europe CEO said.

“We are looking forward to developing some unique concepts to further grow both of our brands in Europe and in particular within high schools and universities. This provides both our members and the wider public the opportunity to discover more about living and studying in an amazing country and city whilst also learning more about our most Australian of sports” MacCormack continued.

The partnership will see ex state league footballer and The University of Sydney’s representative Jack Lawson travel around European schools promoting the university with a football in hand. There will also be a number of joint gala days showcasing the best of the University and AFL Europe.

“The University of Sydney is really excited about this partnership with AFL Europe.  As Australia’s oldest and largest University we pride ourselves on our international student body so it is exciting to team up with an exciting, international organisation that is taking our indigenous game to the world,” Jack Lawson – Recruitment Assistant (Europe) at The University of Sydney explained. “Together we feel we can use our respective strengths and networks to spread the word about the best sport in the world and Higher Education in Australia”, he added, showing no bias whatsoever.

“The synergies between what we are both looking to achieve in Europe were too great to ignore and we couldn’t be happier to have The University of Sydney on board” MacCormack concluded.

Regular joint promotions will be seen throughout 2014.

If you are a teacher or connected to a school and would like your students to experience Australian Football please contact us at john.lawson@sydney.edu.au or tia.bool@afleurope.org

Australian Football helps teens turn their lives around

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The Students at Rastrick High School in West Yorkshire have won the Sky Sports Living for Sport Awards for Project of the Year with their Aussie Rules Football program. The students were awarded the honour by Sky ambassadors and Football superstar David Beckham and Olympic champion Jessica Ennis- Hill. The idea of the program is to use sports to transform the lives of young people in terms of behaviour, social skills and education.

Rastrick High School teacher and leading force of the program Dean Watson said “I was keen to choose a sport which the students would have no/little knowledge of, so that they did not approach the project with any preconceived ideas about the sport.”

As well as winning the award with their program the school also found the students behaviour and concentration improved across the student body.

Dean Watson also noted that with the program now in completion “some of the students have continued with their Aussie Rules, training with a local Aussie Rules Club the Huddersfield Rams.”

A great result for the development of the Australian Rules Football.

Here is the link to the video and article about the program.

If you would like to get involved in being an Aussie Rules Ambassador at your school please contact Tia at tia.bool@afleurope.org