Cooktown’s junior Australian footballers are set to fly high over the next two months as AFL Cape York brings the wet season action of the AFL Superkick program to the region for another year. Photo: Supplied.
A wet season afternoon deluge failed to dampen the enthusiasm of junior footballers when AFL Cape York held its first AFL Superkick program of the year on 5 February.
The program offers an extension of the skills development year 4-6 students learn during in-school sessions and AFL Cape York game development co-ordinator Matt Mellahn said it had been a promising start to 2025.
“We had about 15 kids and a few adults as well, which was nice,” he said.
“We’ve retained a few of the ones who were here last year – they came back and brought some mates with them, which is good for the program.
“The rain swamped in for the last 15 minutes, so we had to head for shelter.”
Mr Mellahn described AFL Superkick as “an advanced Auskick session” and encouraged any junior players interested in improving their skill on the paddock to attend one of the upcoming four sessions.
“After the [in-school clinics], we then do a clinic after school for those who are really keen,” he explained.
“The ones who have done Auskick for the last three or four years and want to develop their skills more can come down and play a game to learn more about the game.”
Despite the wet and humid start to the AFL year on Cape York, Mr Mellahn said there was an increasing interest in the football code from Cooktown up to the Torres Strait.
“After our school programs, we have our Crusader Cup carnival as well, and at the end of all the skills clinics in the schools, we have a big carnival at the end of the term – that definitely builds interest,” he said.
“We get about 80 kids to it each year; the kids keep showing up, and the kids who are showing up have demonstrated they are keen and want to learn more.”
AFL Superkick will be held at the John Street Oval from 5-6pm on 12 and 19 February, and 12 and 19 March.
