UNIVERSITY NEWS
AFL Update May 2022
Hi All, I hope you’re all safe and well. After a couple of disrupted seasons due to covid, we are gearing up for a big 2022 and we wanted to give you an update on the AFL club at University.
Club Update
The season is well and truly underway, albeit with some disrupted fixtures due to the wet weather in Sydney forcing a number of grounds to close for a couple of weekends. Overall all four teams have made a strong and promising start to the season.
Women’s Premier Division got their first win of the season, and first win since the end of the first covid affected season of 2020. Performances have been strong and this new group is starting to gel really nicely. A couple of games off finals, the group led the coaching group of GWS Giants players Katherine Smith and Jodie Hicks are poised to make some waves in the competition in the remaining two thirds of the regular season. With the Sydney Swans coming into the AFLW competition this year, it’s a big year for women’s footy in Sydney. The first Winter Series game between the Swans and Giants took place last weekend (15th May) with the Uni represented by Swans Academy gun Hannah Cerezo and co-coach Jodie Hicks putting the charcoal and orange back on.
Our senior men’s team have had a disrupted start to the season due to weather, but are starting to get key players back into the side and are putting some form together. Led by captain Marc Williams and coach Geoffrey Smith, the seniors just came off a 102 point victory over the Randwick Saints, with important games against fellow flag fancies Parramatta and Southern Power to come over the next few weeks. The group has always been flag contenders, and now with key players becoming available and some important wins to come, they will be there come finals time again.
Men’s Reserves have started the season in really solid fashion, with a 3-1 record after a weather affected start to the year. Player coaches Brad Fisher and Jono Ortiz continue to lead the players well, with good humour and flexibility that comes with organising a reserves team each week. This year has seen plenty of new faces, as well as some old ones too with impressive performances from 2020 league best and fairest JP Canavan as well as strong goalkicking performances from Jackson Brackin and Luke Shipway.
Last but not least our women’s reserves side. Sitting fourth on the ladder with a 2-2 record, the girls have got off to a really solid start. Captain Natasha Favotto has led the playing group really strongly, bringing together players with a range of experience from a few years of playing senior footy to never having kicked a football before. Having just come off a win against local rivals Pennant Hills, the girls will look to take that form into the next few weeks to consolidate their place on the ladder.
Sponsors
The club is always on the look out for new commercial partners. Why? It is a great opportunity for businesses to show their support for the local community, as well as getting good exposure through the club’s channels. In return it helps us to rely less on player rego and over time bring those fees down as much as we can. It also helps the club to grow and provide a destination for all players young and old, elite and social, to play their footy, improve and have fun. This year we will continue to invite player sponsors in addition to attracting new principal and major partners. All players are invited to bring in a player sponsor. Why? Because it’s a great way for the player to have their rego covered, as well as giving an opportunity for a local business to gain some more support without a significant financial contribution
Thanks to our current sponsors
Epping Hotel - A fresh take on a classic suburban pub. A great local where you can pull up a seat, grab a drink, or enjoy a delicious meal served with a smile. It’s on at your local since 1928.
S-Trend – A team is more than a logo. We make bespoke teamwear for clubs, state/national teams, universities, and organisations. Our apparel and merchandise are ethically made-to-order in-house and delivered within 4 weeks, anywhere in the world.
Athlete’s Authority – Success is a team sport. Our strength and conditioning gym in Artarmon helps athletes go from good to great by bulletproofing their body and instilling the confidence they need to succeed.
True Protein - Clean, all natural protein supplements developed by experts to give your performance the edge.
Mountain Goat Beer – Come and have a beer with us.
Membership
Looking for a way to support the club if you’re not currently playing? Then check out our new membership products. Get behind the club and show your support by heading to the Membership section of the website for more details
Merchandise
The shop is live and ready to accept your orders for Mac Uni merchandise. Pick up your colours in the Merchandise section of the website.
Key dates
May 21st – Indigenous Round
June 18th – Grand Stand Round raising awareness of domestic violence and mental health
July 2nd – Partners Day (formerly known as Ladies Day)
July 23rd – Kookas Day – a day for all former players of the club to come together
Games broadcast live on Kayo Sports
May 21st
July 23rd
July 30th
Thanks for reading this update; we hope you found it useful. If you wish to know more, are a prospective sponsor or have any questions then please don’t hesitate to call me on 0478 811 191, email me at president@muafc.club or reach out to me on LinkedIn.
All the best, and we will keep you updated as the season progresses.
Kristian
President – MUAFC