The game so popular south of the border is gaining steady traction in Inverell, with the stalwart Inverell Saints side and Auskick for youth.

Inverell Auskick co-ordinator and secretary Warwick Bedford was enthusiastic about the chance the clinic might kick-off several Aussie rules youth sides for Inverell. 

Presently, Auskick ends at age 12, and Inverell youth who want to play Aussie rules must qualify to play with the Inverell Saints.

Warwick is a dyed-in-the-wool rugby man from All-Blacks territory, but he said Auskick offered his grandchildren a chance to get into a team sport at a low cost and have a lot of fun.

He said the success they have had with Auskick is directly proportional to the effort they put in, and school participation has been positive and he thought building Aussie rules could happen with community support.

“Last year we had a big effort with the schools with the 9s come, which is like a touch AFL, and that generated a huge amount of interest,” he said.

“In actual fact, that drove a whole heap of stuff this year.”

They had about 340 children attend a gala day for age 9s in 2014, and the level of interest was a magnet for support and gear from the AFL.

Warwick said prior to the gala day, an AFL manager admitted that a high level of community interest was necessary for the league’s attention.

“And, yep, that grabbed their attention,” he said.

“Out of that came the NIAS program this year, and I think what it did was create a groundswell, and out of the groundswell grew all these things.”

For more information about the AFL Come and Try Day, phone Warwick on 0414 650 837 or email AFL Northern NSW Manager, Simon Smyth on simon.smyth@aflnswact.com.au