Almanac (Community) Footy: National Inclusion Carnival 2023

 

 

The AFL National Inclusion Carnival kicks off in Ipswich on Sunday 8 October and concludes with two Grand Finals on Friday 13th October.

 

The annual carnival, which had its first official year in 2014, features the best players from leagues and competitions for players with an intellectual disability.

 

This year’s eight teams are truly national, representing New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria Country, Victoria Metro, and Western Australia.

 

The week begins with a round robin of seven lightning games for each team played at Springfield Central Sports Complex. After the completion of all the matches, each consisting of two short halves, the teams are graded into two divisions.

 

The teams then play three games, each of 15 minute quarters.  The culmination, of course, is the Grand Finals to be played at Brighton Homes Arena.

 

Each squad is only 16 players  – 12 on the ground and four on the bench. Though partly due to the expense of travel and accommodation, it allows for a very open style of play. Major injuries, however, can challenge coaches to be very flexible with game plans.

 

While the Vic Metro team was the dominant Division 1 team in the early years of the national carnival (including a three-peat in 2016, 2017 and 2018), it lost to the Northern Territory by one point in 2019, and to South Australia last year by five points.

 

Western Australia, winners of the Division 2 Grand Final last year, are expected to be the big improvers this year. South Australia are always tough. Tasmania, despite not having an integration league, now have enough eligible players to compete on the national stage. Queensland will be competitive on their home soil, and Northern Territory and NSW/ACT will both prove a handful.

 

The Vic Metro team, coached by Anthony Scolyer of Fountain Gate, will be keen to get back on the winner’s dais. The Vic Country team, coached by Chris Pargeter of North Albury, will want to be part of the finals action.

 

From 1994, the early days of integration/inclusion football, South Australia and Victoria played annual games. In 2013 there was an unofficial national championship held in Melbourne though not all states could attend due to costs.

 

All states were onboard in 2014, with old VFA grounds Preston, Coburg and Port Melbourne hosting matches.

 

More recently Launceston, western Sydney and the Barossa Valley have been the home for the carnival.

 

This year all roads lead to Ipswich.

 

All fixtures and results can be found online through the PlayHQ link

 

All matches scheduled on Thursday 12th and Friday 13th of October will be broadcast on Kayo Sports, Foxtel, and the AFL Platforms (demand, website & app).

 

For more details about the upcoming carnival click here.

 

To read more about FIDA click here.

 

To read a personal insight into FIDA click here.

 

 

 

To return to our Footy Almanac home page click HERE.

 

Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.

 

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