Back for a second straight season in 2023, Narrabri Auskick officials and coaches could never have predicted the overwhelmingly positive response from keen junior Australian rules footballers this season.
After starting up again in 2022 and off the back of a successful holiday clinic in April, more than 80 children between 5-12 years of age have signed up for the new season.
Local Narrabri Auskick coordinator Ebonnie Whan told The Courier that the game was growing.
“We had our holiday clinic in April, which saw 50 kids in attendance, and numbers have just kept growing. This is the most we’ve ever had by far,” she said.
Starting with 39 keen junior players last year, Auskick is now one of the largest social sports programs in town and Narrabri has already become the biggest Auskick centre in the north west.
Now, into week three of the official 10-week program, it seems that there could still be more to join.
Although a love of the game is what drives Mrs Whan, she reckons it’s the culture of the sport that makes it so infectious.
“Aussie rules is a great sport to be involved with,” she said.
“There’s an excellent culture.
“It’s family-focused and it enhances children’s skills and fitness.”
“The parents get involved too.
“Families come down to support the kids and they get out there on the field and help out.
“We’re all about families on the field together, having fun learning, bonding and celebrating those footy firsts with their Auskickers.”
To manage the resounding response from Narrabri’s future sportsmen and women, Mrs Whan has recruited four new coaches to help this season.
“We’ve got Todd Dunn and Duncan Vennell from the Narrabri Eagles, who are happy to be involved, and I recruited my husband, Peter Whan, because he’s married to the coordinator,” said Mrs Whan.
“We’re also very lucky to have Alister McClenaghan, the president of the Narrabri Eagles, who aren’t running at the moment because unfortunately they just don’t have enough players.
“The Narrabri Eagles also offered us their enclosed trailer to keep all the equipment in, which is very exciting, so I don’t need to jam-pack my car with everything anymore.”
The program has received a lot of community support and sponsorship as well.
AFL Northwest also held the first of a fortnightly gala day on Sunday, which will bring together centres covering Tamworth, Armidale, Gunnedah, Glen Innes, Inverell, and Narrabri.
“From May 7, each fortnight on a Sunday the kids from around the North West will have the opportunity to play a game, see if they like it, and see if we can grow the league a bit,” said Mrs Whan.
Mrs Whan who is also an assistant principal at Wee Waa Public School, has facilitated the program from its inception, to drive more opportunities in Australian rules football in the area for her children.
“I was born into an AFL-loving family, and married into a heavy rugby-union-loving family, so it looked like our son was going to play that, but I thought, well if there’s no Auskick for the kids to get involved in, then I’ll have to create it,” said Mrs Whan.
“So, I talked to the AFL. I thought I’d really have to do everything from scratch, but they’re really an incredible organisation and very supportive. They love grassroots footy and giving kids in the bush every opportunity.
“Our kids Percy and Bridie love it.
“They catch up with friends, make new friends, learn new skills, and they get to be outside and active. They also love that their parents are there.”
The Auskick program kicks off at 5pm sharp on Thursdays at Leitch Oval.
As the juniors get warmed up in their Auskick jerseys and socks, the barbecue gets sizzling, ready for the post-game feed.
“The proof is in the pudding. We have an hour to do something that’s great for all ages and abilities,” said Mrs Whan.
“Its action-packed for kids, socially and physically. We feed them dinner, then they go home and go straight to bed.”
