Masters’ masterful plan

One of the largest football competitions in the country could be headed to Broome next year if three elder statesmen of the game have their way.

Bob Smith, Mike Hamling and Robert Apps from AFL Masters WA visited Broome last week on a fact-finding mission with the purpose of hosting the AFL Masters national carnival in Broome in October 2012.

As part of the tour they visited Broome’s sporting grounds to gauge the feasibility of hosting the competition.

The carnival runs four separate divisions for different age groups from 35 years and older to 50 years and older with the oldest player at the last carnival in Cairns 74-year-old Cobber Rogers from Kalgoorlie.

The Cairns carnival attracted 1600 players and officials as well as families and AFL Masters WA president Bob Smith said it was a great chance for people from around the country to visit Broome. The carnival injected an estimated $4.5 million into the local economy when it was hosted in Cairns.

Mr Smith said the idea for a carnival in Broome came to him when he visited Cairns last year and after seeing Broome’s sporting facilities, he believed the town could be a contender.

He said the carnival would look at using at least four football fields in Broome during the first week in October.

“Basically it’s all planned around the AFL Grand Final so we can get together and watch it as a group then play our own competition,” he said.