Storm hits Coffs for the Simon Smyth Cup

87 matches, 700+ participants and three days of footy culminated with the Simon Smyth Cup returning home with the Illawarra Storm.

Coffs Harbour played host to teams from the North Coast, Central Coast and Hunter (split into Metro and Country in many grades) as well as our Illawarra Storm, in front of a massive crowd of more than 1100 people. Under the watchful eye of AFL greats Ryan O’Keefe and Leon Cameron, the Storm sides showed their capabilities and were well represented on the winner’s list in each grade.

The undefeated Under-15s girls team were the top performers across the carnival for our region, followed closely by the Under-17s and Under-13s Girls both with four wins each. 21 victories across the 36 matches played were enough for the Storm to take home the competition’s prestigious trophy, named after Northern NSW stalwart Simon Smyth. Just half a win behind were Hunter Country making some of the region’s close results crucial in the Storm securing the title.

The efforts of all our volunteers, including coaches, team managers and matchday officials did not go unnoticed, and AFL South Coast wish to thank all who supported the players across the weekend. A huge thank you to the team at AFL North Coast and AFL Hunter Central Coast for their support and coordination of the carnival, ensuring our kids got yet another representative experience in 2023.

All the results are below:

Under-13s Boys (Coach – Kenny Ewen-Chappell): 2W-4L

• def by Hunter Country 2.1-13 vs 3.5-23
• def Central Coast 4.1-25 vs 3.2-20
• def by North Coast Force 1.1-7 vs 3.3-21
• def by Hunter Metro 0.0-0 vs 5.5-35
• def North Coast Force 1.1-1 vs 1.0-6
• def by Hunter Country 1.2-8 vs 6.3-39

Under-13s Girls (Coach – Marcus Hollingsworth): 4W-2L

• def Hunter Metro 7.8-50 vs 1.1-7
• def North Coast Force 1.3-9 vs 1.1-7
• def Hunter Country 7.5-47 vs 0.1-1
• def by North Coast Force 0.3-3 vs 2.0-12
• def by Central Coast 0.0-0 vs 5.2-32
• def Hunter Country 5.4-34 vs 0.0-0

Under-15s Boys (Coach – Bryce O’Connor): 3W-3W

• def North Coast Force 6.3-39 vs 3.1-19
• def by Hunter Country 4.3-27 vs 13.5-83
• def by Central Coast 0.1-1 vs 11.9-75
• def Hunter Metro 8.4-52 vs 2.6-18
• def North Coast Force 6.9-45 vs 2.2-14
• def by Hunter Country 3.7-25 vs 6.7-43

Under-15s Girls (Coach – Matt Clarke): 6W-0L

• def Central Coast 1.1-7 vs 0.3-3
• def Hunter Metro 3.1-19 vs 2.2-14
• def North Coast Force 3.4-22 vs 2.1-13
• def Hunter Country 1.3-9 vs 0.2-2
• def North Coast Force 1.9-15 vs 0.0-0
• def Hunter Country 4.2-26 vs 1.2-8

Under-17s Boys (Coach – Kevin Pritchard): 2W-4L

• def Hunter Metro 6.3-39 vs 6.2-38
• def by North Coast Force 2.4-26 vs 10.5-65
• def by Hunter Country 1.2-8 vs 9.7-61
• def Central Coast 4.9-33 vs 1.4-10
• def by North Coast Force 1.3-9 vs 6.7-43
• def by Hunter Country 1.4-10 vs 4.3-27

Under-17s Girls (Coach – Peter Veerhuis): 4W-2L

• def by Hunter 1.4-10 vs 2.1-13
• def North Coast Force 4.3-27 vs 0.2-2
• def Central Coast 3.4-22 vs 1.1-7
• def North Coast Force 7.4-46 vs 0.1-1
• def by Hunter 0.4-4 vs 3.3-21
• def Central Coast 4.2-26 vs 1.0-6

The AFL Illawarra Juniors Competition resumes this weekend on Sunday July 16 with five rounds remaining before finals. The top four sides qualify for finals, with Grand Finals being held on Sunday September 3 at North Dalton Park.