Convicts Complete "First Ever" clinic in Cape Town!

Local children eagerly await instruction

March 2007 The Australian Convicts completed the first ever Aussie rules coaching clinic for the local school children in Cape Town. We arranged the clinic through Allison Simmons who is the head of AFL in Cape Town. Cape Town had been overlooked as a clinic venue by a couple of AFL teams that have toured recently. The Convicts were ready to make it a reality! We took the kids through kicking, handball and tackling drills and they took to it like naturals! About 200 children turned up with the aid of teachers from the local primary school. It was another huge success for the Convicts! During our second tour of South Africa we thought it essential that football be promoted in the schools on the Cape. It was certainly mission accomplished and by the look on the childrens faces when we finished, it was all worth it!

Barassi backs The Convicts!

Photoshoot on the Esplanade, St Kilda

August 2006 The legendary Ron Barassi lent his support to The Convicts by partaking in a photoshoot to promote the Convicts next tour to South Africa. "Its great what you are doing for international footy", he said. Barassi began his career in 1953 and went on to play 204 games for the Demons, including six premierships. After captaining the club from 1960-64, he transferred to Carlton to captain/coach the club. Barassi played 50 games for the Blues in five seasons, including the 1968 premiership, and after retiring stayed on at Princes Park as coach until the end of 1971, delivering another premiership in 1970 when the team came from 44 points down at half-time to shock Collingwood. After a playing stint with Port Melbourne in the VFA in 1972, Barassi was lured back to the VFL as coach of North Melbourne in 1973, and took the Kangaroos from last in 1972 to five successive Grand Finals from 1974-78, with the club winning its first two premierships in 1975 and 1977. Barassi also coached his former club Melbourne for five years from 1981, before his final stint as a coach began in 1993 - following several years in the media and in private business - with the team going from one win in his first year to the Grand Final in 1996, the year after he had left, having laid the foundations for success.

The Convicts Donate Footballs to Tanzanian Athletes!

Marathon Gold Medalist Samson Ramadhani is presented with a Burley Football

March 2006 The Australian Convicts donated footballs to Tanzanian athletes at the Commonwealth village today at 10am. A call went to air on the sports today program on Melbourne radio station 3AW on Saturday afternoon asking some footballs be donated after the Tanzanian athletes were seen perfecting kicking styles in the village mid week. The team manager of the Convicts, Anthony Nanfra answered the call. Anthony says, "Our charter is to promote Australian football around the world. We are proud to donate footballs to the Tanzanian athletes. We see it as a unique way they can spread the word about our great game to their fellow countrymen". Marathon Gold Medalist Samson Ramadhani has taken to the sport with vigour. "I can't wait to show my wife and child my kicking style," he said.

The Convicts Boys go to the Cricket!

We never miss a chance to promote the Convicts!

January 2006 The Boys from the Convicts went to the cricket and at the same time spread the word about the Convicts. Much fun was had by all and makeshift signs commentating on the game were appreciated by all. We finished by getting our mugs on TV!