NAIDOC Cup 2024 wrap

The 15th annual NAIDOC Cup, hosted at Blacktown International Sports Park, was held on 8 August, with more than 100 school students involved in the day.

It was the first time AFL NSW/ACT invited primary school students as well as secondary students to connect to culture and give Australian rules football a try.

Matches were contested in mixed teams on small fields, with four games played at once on Blacktown Oval. Modified rules, similar to Nines were in place to ensure everyone could get involved in the game, regardless of their previous footy experience.

Five high schools from western and south western Sydney attended the event, along with six primary schools, coming from greater Sydney, Wollongong and the Central Coast.

On a perfect winter’s day, footy was secondary to fun, with many of the competitors playing for the first time.

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Senior champions

James Meehan High School was one of the day’s best dressed teams, with its First Nations themed jumper looking resplendent on Blacktown Oval’s elite surface.

However, it was Rooty Hill Public School which proved too strong, firing some booming goals early on.

The Rooty Hill locals led 3.4.22 at 0.1.1 at half time.

Spectators saw James Meehan rally in the second half, with some strong ball movement through the midfield. However, Rooty Hill proved too big and strong, with the school sharing the ball among its team ably to run out 34-point winners.

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Rooty Hill High School 5.7.37 def James Meehan High School 0.0.3

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Primary champions

When the ball was bounced to start the grand final, only one school was going to win the inaugural primary schools NAIDOC Cup, Brooke Avenue Public School from Killarney Vale.

So dominant was this Central Coast school, its two teams qualified to go head-to-head in the final match.

There was no love lost between the “bibs” and the “uniforms” though, with each team going hard and putting their well developed skills to the test.

Boys and girls finished the day with a smile on their face and, despite the fatigue from a massive day, a raucous bus trip back to the Central Coast.

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Final score was 5.3.33 def 3.5.23. Well done to both sides.

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Other winners

Some fun was had in the lunch time break with a running race of around 80 metres contested between anyone who wanted to have a run. Congratulations to the speedy boys and girls in the junior and senior competition.

There was also a longest kick competition, where the big booted players of the day could shine!

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Thank you

Thank you to all the schools who recognised the value and importance of AFL NSW/ACT’s NAIDOC Cup.

We hope students enjoyed the day on the field and had fun engaging in cultural activities and food throughout the day.

Thank you too to Yangkay Cultural Connect for its engaging activities off the field, dancing and smoking ceremony.

See you next year!

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