Masters return to field

• Local AFL Masters players. Back: Denham Hall, Heath Blair, Justin Wood, Scott Auton, Ben Coxen. Front: Brendan Plummer, Tess Moore, Marc Nunan, Cabel Hall, Manuel Hall, Taniel Bloomfield.

By Daisy Baker
October 12, 2022

Some of the region’s well-known football players past and present returned to the field on a national stage for the AFL Masters Carnival in Adelaide recently.

The competition attracted more than 50 teams from across Australia with players ranging from over 35s to over 65s. 

Tasmania fielded seven sides for the competition which ran from September 25 to October 1, with locals and former locals representing the region in four of them.

The Masters style of AFL began in Victoria in 1980 and is now played by more than 260 teams throughout Australia, following a set of modified rules designed to reduce the risks of injury.

The annual Masters Carnival provides the opportunity for male and female players to represent their state in the largest AFL Carnival event in Australia.

Player Tess Moore said they all played three games over the week, with healthy competition and lots of fun.

“Taniel [Bloomfield] and I played in the 35+ womens competition in a more mature team and while we didn’t get on the scoreboard until the third game, we had a blast,” she said.

Twins Cabel and Denham Hall played together in a 35+ team, which made it into the final as favourites but lost to a strong South Australian team.

Mrs Moore said Heath Blair, Scott Auton, Manuel Hall and Justin Wood in the 45+ division were a strong team from the outset, narrowly losing their first game amongst some timing controversy. 

“They played in the final and despite a strong third quarter bringing them well into contention, missed out against a strong Western Australia in the heat,” she said.

Mark ‘Funky’ Nunan, Ben Coxen and Brendan Plummer played in the 40s. 

“After being injured only minutes into the first game, Ben played on and was lucky to snag a couple of goals later in the carnival. 

“Denham and Cabel both had the opportunity to fill in in the 40+ team who had lean numbers.”

Former Bridport local Jade (Skippy) Child put in a great performance throughout the Carnival, winning the National Best and Fairest award for the 35+ age group and was named in the All Stars team.

“It was a whole lot of fun. I’m already keen for next year’s carnival on the Sunshine Coast,” Mrs Moore concluded.