The rise and rise of the Nambucca Valley Lions

AFL continues to go from strength to strength in the Nambucca Valley with the club preparing to achieve another major milestone when it hosts a Reserve Grade Semi Final on Saturday.

Fielding a team in the Senior Competition for the first time in eight years, the Lions have gone through the Reserve Grade home and away season undefeated and earned the right to play their Semi Final on home soil. The Lions will tackle fourth placed Northern Beaches Blues with a spot in the Grand Final at C.ex Coffs International Stadium on Saturday 10 October the prize for the victor.

If you’re looking for an indicator of the possible outcome of the Semi Final, look no further than the last round of home and away action. In that round the Lions hosted Northern Beaches at EJ Biffin Oval and came away with a 33 point win after leading at every break. On that basis, and off the back of an undefeated season, the Lions will go into this match as firm favourites to progress to the season decider in their first year back in the competition.

The home Semi Final comes less than a week after the Nambucca Valley Under 13 team claimed the Lion’s third Junior premiership in just four years since the club reformed. A further indicator of the rapid rise of the club is the formation of an Under 15 team this season, while the club has plans to add teams in Seniors (First grade), Women’s, Under 17, and Youth Girls from next year.

Paul Taylor, Community Football Manager from AFL NSW/ACT said the growth of the Lions has been just reward for hard work. “Since starting out with an Auskick Centre in late 2016 the club has grown year on year due to the hard work of a passionate group of volunteers.

“People are being drawn to the positive environment that the Lions have created and that’s resulted in the growth of the number of players and teams. There are plans in place to grow to Seniors and Under 17, and to field female teams, and the AFL will provide every support to help the club achieve these goals.”

The Nambucca Valley Lions take on the Northern Beaches Blues in the Reserve Grade Semi Final on Saturday 3 October at EJ Biffin Oval from 1:20pm.