AFL Cairns, AFL Queensland and Hawthorn Football Club are pleased to announce plans for the club to head north to Cairns for its AFLW pre-season camp in July 2023.

Hawthorn Football Club is one of the most successful clubs in the AFL, having won 13 premierships in the past 50 years, and recently completing its first season in the AFLW competition.

Hosting this regional camp in Cairns presents a significant opportunity for the local community to be further exposed to elite professional sport, especially for women and girls. National sporting events bring more visitors to Tropical North Queensland to support tourism economy, with accommodation and transport providers, restaurants and tourism operators benefiting.

Hawthorn has also demonstrated a commitment to connecting with community through schools and football clubs while demonstrating high performance excellence. This will not only leave a legacy for football in the region but will further demonstrate the region’s capabilities.

A key component of the pre-season camp is preparation for the upcoming season in a high-performance training environment. Cazalys Stadium facilities and partner venues in the Cairns region offer an on-field and off-field training environment that adequately allows for a dedicated pre-season program. This includes football training, classroom and meeting spaces, gymnasium and rehabilitation facilities.

Building participation of women and girls in football in Cairns is also a key focus for AFL Cairns, AFL Queensland and Hawthorn Football Club, and as such, the three organisations will be hosting a School Gala Day at Cazalys Stadium on Friday 14 July, with school-aged girls engaged in the sport of football. The girls will be introduced to elite athletes in a fun environment, establishing a pathway into organised girls’ competitions in the Cairns region.

There will also be a coach education session with Hawthorn Football Club coaches and a High Performance Coaching Program with nominated individuals over the course of the weekend.

AFL Cairns General Manager Craig Lees was excited about this opportunity for the growth of football in the region.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Hawthorn Football Club as we embark on this transformative journey together. This camp will have a lasting impact, benefitting not only our current players, clubs, and coaches but also contributing to the continuous growth of women’s footy in Cairns for years to come,” Lees said.

Hawthorn Acting CEO Ash Klein was also delighted to promote the game in the community.

“Hawthorn is excited to engage with AFL Queensland, AFL Cairns and the Cairns community this AFLW pre-season,” Klein said.

“We look forward to growing our game in this region and engaging with the next generation of AFLW stars as we embark on our second season in the competition.”

More information regarding these initiatives, including how to register, will be released over the coming weeks.