AFLNT calls for urgent talks in desperate bid to save Central Australia footy competition

AFLNT has called for an emergency summit to save Central Australia community footy, following Alice Springs Council’s shock lockout decision.

AFLNT has called for urgent talks in a desperate bid to allow Central Australian community footy games to go ahead this season.

It follows Alice Springs Town Council’s shock decision to block the competition from local grounds in 2023.

The competition, which was due to begin in May, was thrown into turmoil after the council denied access to Albrecht Oval or Traegar Park.

AFLNT has slammed the decision and called for an urgent summit to discuss options on how best to ensure communities in the Red Centre could still play at well-developed facilities.

An AFLNT spokeswomen said the organisation “remained committed to exhausting options” that would allow the comp to go ahead in 2023.

“We think it is the wrong outcome to take football away from the young men and women of Central Australia,” the spokeswoman said.

“Football is an important part of the culture and is integral to so many people’s lives in Central Australia.”

Alice Springs Town Council have blocked the CAFL Community Cup from being played in Alice Springs. Picture: AFLNT Media

In pushing the council motion earlier last week, councillor Michael Liddle said moving the competition back to communities would stifle anti-social behavior in Alice Springs.

“I think the town of Alice Springs needs to breathe, it needs respite,” Cr Liddle said on Tuesday.

“The continuation of the community football on the Sunday will not bring change to what Alice Springs is currently enduring at the moment.

“The purpose of this is to pause the competition so that everyone can stand back and have a look at just what’s going on inside here.”

However, AFLNT said there was no evidence to suggest community football contributed to social issues currently being experienced in Alice Springs.

“We have had really strong community feedback from people right across the Territory who can’t understand the ban on the community competition,” an AFLNT statement read.

“And (those) who know how important a role football plays in providing a physical and emotional connection for young men and women in local communities.

“AFLNT remains concerned about the impact of the council’s decision and remains committed to working with key stakeholders.

“We also remain committed to working to address significant infrastructure deficits in remote communities that will enable the sustainable delivery of football in these communities.”

‘Not good’: Red Centre footy lockout impacts local players

There are concerns locking community football out of Alice Springs sporting ovals could lead some players back to a life of crime.

Alice Springs Town Council ruled earlier this week the Central Australian Football League’s community competition would be blocked from using local grounds in 2023, including Albrecht Oval and Traeger Park.

The competition is due to begin in May with peak body AFLNT scrambling to find a solution for the problem.

It comes after the Alice Springs Social Order Response Team late last year outlined its plan to work with AFLNT to support football in communities.

However, Mutitjulu Cats senior coach Craig Woods was concerned local players could return to doing “bad things”.

Cats coach Craig Woods talks to his players at quarter time during a match against the Central Swans in 2019. Picture: Sarah Reed.

“They would look for other avenues,” Mr Woods, who described the mental health of some players as “not good” since the decision was made public, said.

“Some of them would probably go back to doing bad things.”

Mr Woods said community football had been a powerful force in keeping players on the straight and narrow.

“Before that they were stealing grog, stealing cars, doing bad things,” he said.

“That’s the improvement I’ve seen in the last two or three years.”

Mr Woods claimed the council didn’t have sufficient evidence to believe community football in Alice Springs was adding to anti-social problems.

“It’s punishing players who didn’t take part in any of the incidents in Alice Springs ... punishing innocent people,” he said.

Meanwhile, scheduling more football matches in remote communities would help address anti-social problems in Alice Springs, a Red Centre footy coach says.

Kevin Forrester with Craig Woods. Picture: Sarah Reed.

South Alice Springs coach Chris Forbes said the ruling was “a shame” but was keen to see a mix between games being played in the Alice and community.

There was a 30 per cent reduction in community games played in Alice Springs last season following changes implemented by AFLNT “largely off the back of social issues” in town,

an AFLNT internal report presented to the council revealed.

Mr Forbes said the lockout penalised those who were doing the right thing and he was concerned youngsters who were already “bored” would not have a social outlet.

“It’s unfair for the kids who come in and do the right thing,” Mr Forbes said.

“A lot of kids are bored. (Footy) gives them something to do.

South Alice Springs Football Club coach Chris Forbes said it was a shame the CAFL's community competition had been barred from using council grounds. Picture: Chris Forbes.

“The community needs to come together as a community and fix the problems, not divide it.

“You can’t just leave (clubs) out of (the decision making process), they’re a big part of the makeup of footy in town.”

Mr Forbes said sport attracted anti-social behaviour no matter where it was held.

“Look at the A-League soccer a while ago, they invaded the pitch,” he said.

“They didn’t cancel the soccer.

“They implemented a few things and they’re still going.”

Mr Forbes also said Alice Springs would lack the economic injection of hundreds of visiting fans each weekend.

“The community football teams bring a lot of money to town,” he said.

However, Alice Springs mayor Matt Paterson said the council’s decision had “many layers” to it.

“While our community is going through perhaps one of its most challenging times in recent memory, we need a chance to catch our breath,” Mr Paterson said.

“This is not a cancellation, but a pause and the decision will be revisited ahead of the 2024 season.”

Originally published as AFLNT calls for urgent talks in desperate bid to save Central Australia footy competition