It will not only highlight the growing popularity of the game in this region, but also showcase the skill levels being achieved at a local level by juniors, women’s league and senior players.

While some other codes sometimes face a struggle for numbers in their ranks, area AFL development officer Sonya Martin indicated that Australian football was quickly gaining popularity, especially among junior and women players.

“This year the league started the junior competition, and the junior boys will play Moree Suns at 3pm. We’ve got 22 kids listed for our team,” she said.

Martin thought the numbers were fantastic.

“The kids that are coming along and trying it are going ‘That’s great! I really like that, it’s a great mix’ and it is changing their perceptions a bit. Some of them have some views on AFL and they come and play a game and they’re hooked,” she said.

With women’s AFL on its way in the national league next year Martin said the idea of a women’s team was out there to see how much interest there was in the concept.

“We’ve done informal women’s games in Inverell before, like a bit of a kick and giggle, have a champagne at half-time, kind of thing, which is not what this is going to be,” she said.

“We got 20 to the first training session, 22 to the next and we’re training two nights a week at the moment.

Martin said more than 60 players from juniors and women through to A grade players trained on Varley Oval.

“That was just fantastic, a great atmosphere from 4.30pm through to 7pm,” she said.

Martin said there are no gate fees for spectators, the canteen will be running, bar service will be available and the junior teams will be doing meals from 6pm.

Saints coach Dick Gleeson said his biggest hope for the day was for bright sunny weather.