Ellenbrook crowned Champions League competition winners

Ellenbrook Secondary College came out winners of the 2017 West Australian Football Commission (WAFC) Champions League competition, a 16-a-side pre-season school and community football tournament held over March.

10 teams and a total 200 participants aged 16 and 17 years took part in the four-week competition, which concluded with a thrilling Grand Final tri-series between Ellenbrook Secondary College, Governor Stirling Senior High School and Hills Rangers JFC at Noranda Lightning Park.

Ellenbrook were crowned the winners after successfully winning their two tri-series games.

The tournament, run by the WAFC and supported by the clubs and schools within the area and major sponsor Westside Auto, aims to engage youth participants who normally wouldn’t play club football by offering a modified game with a unique set of rules.

WAFC Community Development Manager Isaac Stewart said the game is played with several different rules and over a shorter period to engage new participants.

“The shortened game has several different rules including, a designated power-player who scores double points, a power-play period where double points can be scored and time-outs,”he said.

“It provides a great opportunity for school and club footy participants to play and learn from one another prior to the season.”

Darren Young, football coach and teacher at Ellenbrook Secondary College, said it is a great tournament to be involved in.

“Our school is very multicultural and the tournament offered some of our students the chance to play in a proper competition for the first time,” he said.

“The new rules provided excitement, and the boys were eager to play. This type of innovation is certainly needed for this age group.”