AFL kicks off

AFL manager for planning operations Joseph La Posta, deputy mayor Craig Howe, manager environment and open spaces Peter Birch and AFL NSW/ACT general manager Tom Harley inspect new AFL facilities at Ellem Oval.

Adam Hourigan

A BRIGHTER future has been unveiled to the local sporting community courtesy of the Australian Football League's generosity.

And it isn't restricted to the $80,000 the AFL has contributed in partnership with Clarence Valley Council towards erecting lights at Ellem Oval.

Demonstrating a commitment to nurturing local talent throughout the region, AFL NSW/ACT general manager and former Geelong captain Tom Harley and AFL planning operations manager Joseph La Posta met with deputy mayor Craig Howe and manager of environment and open spaces Peter Birch at Ellem Oval yesterday to inspect the new facilities.

Harley said he was "thrilled" with the transformation of Ellem Oval into an all-round sporting facility and said the AFL is committed to investing in rural and regional communities to provide juniors the opportunity to develop skills in their own backyard.

"The Clarence Valley has the highest participation growth in NSW, 40% of local juniors have joined footy clubs," he said.

"By investing in the establishment of improved sporting facilities and providing an attractive incentive towards encouraging kids to play sport we are expanding the local growth population while it is still in the developmental stage and putting these kids on the pathways towards playing sport at an elite level. Developing AFL in the Clarence Valley invites the whole community to involve themselves with the sport."

"All it takes is one kid from the Clarence Valley to make it to the elite level. The AFL is proud to be investing in the future sports stars from northern NSW."