The Brisbane Lions will headline the Moreton Bay Festival of Football when they play the Sydney Swans in a practice match on Saturday March 8.
The Festival of Football is a collaboration between the Brisbane Lions, AFL Queensland and Moreton Bay Regional Council and will include NEAFL and Community matches, as well as the opening of the new Moreton Bay Sports Complex – AFL Precinct.
Lions’ General Manager – Football Operations, Dean Warren, said:
“This game is critically important for us to finalise our preparation leading into the season proper.
“With the revamp of the preseason competition, this game will be a crucial opportunity for our team to have one last competitive hit out before kicking off our 2014 campaign.
“Equally as important is the opportunity it provides us to continue to share our great game with the wider Queensland community.
“The Festival of Football will provide an exciting chance for residents in the Moreton Bay Region to see some of the AFL’s best in action and we are thrilled to be a part of it.
“I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge Moreton Bay Regional Council for their support of not only the upcoming Festival of Football, but AFL in general.”
Mayor Allan Sutherland said the Moreton Bay Region had quickly become the pride of South-East Queensland after announcing the Brisbane Lions will headline the Festival of Football at the official opening of Moreton Bay Central Sports Complex AFL Precinct in Burpengary.
“When council embarked on this project four years ago to build a multi-million dollar community AFL precinct our vision was to create a world-class training ground for the region’s young sportspeople,” said Mayor Sutherland.
“Today thanks to a partnership with AFL Queensland, we have delivered a centre of AFL excellence and an arena that can host the game’s youngest competitors and the AFL’s biggest stars.
“With giants of the game like Lance Buddy Franklin and Jonathan Brown all tipped to play at the Festival of Football, I encourage local AFL fans to get in early and stake their place at this historic match in our region.”
A pre-game match on the day between local rivals the Caboolture Lions and Redcliffe Tigers will decide the winner of the Moreton Bay Regional Council’s Councillor Cup before the Lions and the Swans take to the field for the last pre-season match before the 2014 season begins.
Ticketing information for the Festival of Football is available on the Moreton Bay Regional Council’s website at www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/burpengaryafl
