Australian rules football is like a religion in Western Australia and the far north of the state is no exception. In the past playing footy in the summer months has been almost impossible with temperatures regularly above 40 degrees, but a new approach to the game is helping to ensure it can be played all year round.
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00:00It's a level playing field in aqua footy, albeit a wet one.
00:09It's a bit of a mix between football and water polo.
00:12It started last year, we did a pilot program and it was a big hit so we've been doing it
00:18in the summer months.
00:19While the ball is the same, the goals are different and for obvious reasons handballing
00:23is the only way to pass and score.
00:26It's scruffling holding the ball, we usually just blow the whistle and get two people to
00:30ruck and it just restarts it, gets everyone to spread out and the game just runs.
00:37Up to 60 people play in weekly sessions.
00:40So we do 30 minutes and then we take a dinner break or lunch and then I think after that
00:45we'll go for another 20 minutes.
00:46It's open to anyone.
00:47It's a great opportunity for all the kids to come together of all ages and it doesn't
00:51matter what gender they are they can all come together and have a bit of fun celebrating
00:56our game of footy in a different form really.
00:58It's not just about the sport.
00:59There's so many kids in town and there's not enough to do, especially with free events
01:03and free stuff and they love it.
01:05They've come down here, they know they can come in, have a feed and enjoy some sports.
01:11But also the potential for bigger things.
01:13To have resources like our aquatic centre, like staff members, like AFL, AFOW players
01:18to come up and connect with kids who have these dreams and ambitions to one day play
01:23football.
01:24It's something really special and I know a lot of these kids will hold it very close
01:26to their heart.
01:27A cool new way to chase dreams of football stardom.