President's Welcome Adelaide 2005

Welcome to the 23rd Masters Australian Football (MAF) Carnival. This is my first year as National President and I’m very proud to announce that the Adelaide carnival promises to be the largest in our history with 40 teams in 9 divisions and 4 age groups. We would expect our total numbers including families, coaches, managers and umpires to be around the 1500 mark. It doesn’t seem that long ago that we had 6 teams in total at the 1983 carnival in Melbourne.

With the support of the South Australia Tourist Commission the MAF Board was only too pleased in awarding the 2005 Carnival to our host state association, South Australia MAF. We wish the organizing committee all the very best for a successful carnival. Our special thanks to the Westminster School and particularly Facilities Manager Marcia Evans for the generosity in allowing the carnival to be hosted at their magnificent school. We will enjoy 4 designated football ovals with first class facilities not available at any previous carnival.

Since the Hobart Carnival of 2000 the MAF Board was directed by all states to undertake the coordination of all future carnivals. We have now organized successful championships on the Gold Coast, in Melbourne, Perth and Cairns and we are more than confident of a very successful Adelaide carnival. With the size and popularity of the carnivals all future locations need to be able to cater for our growing requirements both in playing venues and social facilities. It is a challenge that our Board looks forward to achieving.

On behalf of MAF we wish all participants, coaches, umpires and spectators a very enjoyable and injury free carnival. Please take advantage of the hospitality offered by our host and remember it’s ‘Football for Fun’

 
Peter Coffey

NATIONAL PRESIDENT