“I was amazed to hear about the number of young players that are learning the game in this country and hope that one day one of them makes it to an AFL club ” said Aussie opener Simon Katich

The Australian cricket team, on location at Senwes Park in Potchefstroom ahead of their opening game against South Africa A, were surprised to get a taste of home, so far from their native land, in the form of Australian Rules Football.

Frank Dimasi, from the Australian’s management group, was searching for somewhere to inflate 2 Aussie Rules footballs, that the players often use in cross-training exercises and stumbled upon the offices of AFL South Africa,

"I had two flat footies that needed some air and decided the best place to get some help is from the AFL themselves so I walked in to the AFL South Africa office near the cricket ground in Potch to see if they could help”, said Frank.

“When I entered the office I couldn't ignore the Fremantle colours plastered everywhere - the Dockers seem to have a real home in Potch”.

The Aussie cricketers arrived in Potch just 2 days after a week long Community Development Camp conducted by the Fremantle Football Club which saw over 1200 participants engaged in footyWILD clinics, coaching & umpiring workshops and Talent ID sessions.

Aussie opener Simon Katich was greatly surprised by the impact of the Australian game in South Africa at grass –roots level,

“It's great to see the game of AFL being developed in different countries such as South Africa”, said Katich, himself a Richmond Tigers fan.“I was amazed to hear about the number of young players that are learning the game in this country and hope that one day one of them makes it to an AFL club ”, he added.

The Aussies play South Africa A in a 3 day practice game at picturesque Senwes Park in Potchefstroom, North West Province. The North West is ‘home away from home’ for Fremantle FC, one of four AFL Clubs, supporting the AFL’s push into new territory. The other Clubs are Carlton (Gauteng), West Coast Eagles (Kwa Zulu Natal) and Collingwood (Western Cape).

footyWILD, the South African version of Aussie Rules attracts over 17,000 participants across 30 centres in 4 Provinces.
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