DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE
Issued by Ministerial Support and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6265 3343, Fax: 02 62656946
MSPA 129/09
Tuesday, 14 April 2009
DEFENCE’S INTER-SERVICE RIVALRY
RETURNS TO MELBOURNE
The 2009 Australian Services Australian Football Association (ASAFA) Championships
will return to the home of footy as Navy, Army and Air Force teams continue their
rivalries from 15-19 April.
Matches will be conducted at Whitten Oval and TEAC Oval, Melbourne, with Army out
to defend both the Jimmy Smail Cup in the men’s action and the Commodore Geoff
Ledger Cup for the women’s national title.
A championship dinner and awards ceremony will be held following the matches on 19
April, where the respective men’s and women’s ‘All-Stars’ teams will also be named.
Each of the Inter-Service teams is in excellent shape, with Navy having held its selection
event at the annual Inter-Command Challenge at Randwick on 17 March. Army’s
selection trial was at the annual Kapooka 12s on 14 March.
An added incentive for the men this year will be the return of the Anzac Day Challenge
against the Australian Combined Emergency Services (ACES) team, which will be a
curtain-raiser to the SANFL match at Adelaide Oval on 25 April.
The ACES side is said to be selecting a much stronger team this year, after having been
soundly defeated by the ADF All Stars in all five previous occasions. Free entry to
Adelaide Oval is also being organised for Defence personnel on the day.
Representing ASAFA, as either a player or umpire, is the pinnacle of Australian Rules
football in the ADF. It is the highest level of Australian Rules football that ADF
members may participate in.
A match for the ADF women’s side will be confirmed at a later date.
Draw:
15 Apr 09 – Port Melbourne Cricket Ground (TEAC Oval)
1030: Women - Army v RAAF
1230: Men - Army v RAAF
17 Apr 09 – Whitten Oval
1200: Women - Navy v First game loser
1415: Men - Navy v First game loser
19 Apr 09 – Whitten Oval
1100: Women - Navy v First game winner
1315: Men - Navy v First game winner
Media contact:
Michael Weaver:
0413 044 796
Defence Media Liaison:
02 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664
NEWS 
