The 2023 AFL National Inclusion Carnival in Ipswich, Queensland came to an exhilarating conclusion last Friday at Michael Voss Oval when Tasmania 5.4 (34) defeated South Australia 5.0 (30) to win the Division 1 Grand Final.
Amidst a flurry of free kicks in the frantic final minutes, Tasmania kicked the winning goal from the goal-square, following a 50 metre penalty.
Tasmania, not having a state league for footballers with intellectual disabilities, fielded players from local leagues who met the criteria for participating in the Inclusion Carnival.
Vic Metro 10.3 (63) defeated Western Australia 2.2 (14) in the third position play-off.
Vic Metro had narrowly lost the past two Division 1 Grand Finals. “A third-place finish in the first year of a re-build shows that success is coming much closer to fruition than could be expected,” said the Coaching Director of both Victorian teams, Rob Klemm.
“With eleven players new to the Metro Big V, the prospect of regaining the Peter Ryan Cup is extremely good.”
In Division 2 Vic Country 9.4 (58) defeated Queensland 4. 1 (25). Vic Country had not won the national championship since 2014.
“Five players earning their first Vic Country Big V jumper bodes well for their push towards Division 1 in the next carnival,” said Klemm.
“This was also the first true Victorian Country team to take the trophy, the previous victors being supplemented by Metro players.”
The hot conditions throughout the five days of the championship tested the fitness of the 16-player teams: 12 on the field, four on the bench.
“Congratulations to players and officials from all eight states and territories for another terrific Inclusion Carnival.”
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About Vin Maskell
Editor of Stereo Stories website, director of Stereo Stories concerts. Co-founder of Scoreboard Pressure website with Les Everett.
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Thanks for the update Vin. My Swan Districts had 2 players in the WA team. Both terrific young men. The All Abilities team are the most passionate and enthusiastic playing group to be around at the club. Great to see the game played for the joy of participating.
Any idea why they played 12 on the ground? Oval size? Heat and rotations? Or the difficulty of getting bigger numbers to travel in a totally voluntary competition?
Thanks for reading the story, Peter. The 16 player squads (12 on the field, 4 on the bench) were due to, yes, the difficulty – especially the expense – of taking bigger numbers interstate for nearly a week in a totally voluntary competition and the lack of depth in some of the non-Aussie Rules states, which makes it harder for them to draw a team together, let along a larger squad. The past four Division 1 winners in the national carnival, by the way, have been Vic Metro, South Australia, Northern Territory and now Tasmania. Cheers.
Thanks for this report, Vin.
Tasmania, eh? The forgotten footy state.
Thanks for this Vin, been a while since I watched the Inclusion Carnival down at North Port and Punt Road Ovals when my brother ran out for the mighty Queenslanders. Good work by the Tassie team, always wonderful to see inclusivity in action.