AFL greats to lend a hand in Lismore

Two of the AFL’s biggest names of the past two decades will visit Lismore on 7 April to show their support for the community following the recent major flooding and ongoing challenges.

Clarkson, a four-time Premiership winning coaching with Hawthorn, and O’Keefe, two-time Premiership player with the Sydney Swans and Norm Smith Medalist in 2012, will present the Lismore Swans with equipment and clothing donated by the Sydney Swans and GWS GIANTS. They will also attend training sessions for Lismore’s junior and senior sides.

All players and potential players are invited to attend the sessions at Hepburn Park, Goonellabah, with the juniors kicking off at 4:00pm and the seniors beginning at 6:00pm.

Everyone is welcome to join the two greats after training at the Lismore Workers Sports Club for a question and answer session catered by AFL North Coast and the Lismore Swans.

Both Clarkson and O’Keefe hope their presence will spur players across all teams to come to Lismore and get them excited about the upcoming seasons for AFL North Coast’s seniors (commencing 23 April) and AFL Northern Rivers’ juniors (commencing early May).

Upon learning of their visit, the Lismore Swans’ president, Ken McPherson, said it would provide a boost for players in the region. “Everyone knows our region has had a terrible run in the last month,” said McPherson. “The floods have affected everyone at our club in some way and we have all been shaken up a bit. To have two greats of the game visit Lismore and bring equipment with them donated by the AFL clubs will help us get back on our feet.

“I know players young and old are excited at the prospect of meeting Clarko and O’Keefe and I hope we get a massive turnout and training to show how much our Swans love footy and are resilient in the face of adversity.”

Alastair Clarkson is the AFL’s Community Coaching Ambassador and Ryan O’Keefe works for AFL NSW/ACT as its Coaching Development and Education Lead.

 

AFL’s flood assistance

 

The AFL has distributed almost $70,000 to more than 25 flood affected clubs across NSW in 2022.

Additionally, NAB will provide $330,000 in grants of between $2,000 and $10,000 to clubs in NSW and Queensland which will be distributed by the AFL’s Community Relief Fund direct to clubs, and NAB AFL Auskick centres.

NAB will also pay the Auskick registration costs of children at flood affected football clubs nominated by the AFL.

In the immediate aftermath of the floods, the GIANTS drove equipment and clothing to Lismore for community footballers. The elite club also prepared 3,000 meals to be distributed across the Northern Rivers, donated 400-kilograms of meat, and two barbecues and gas bottles.

Gold Coast Suns and Brisbane Lions have visited flood affected regions and in the Northern Rivers and south east Queensland.