COMBINED Independent Schools have won the 2016 PSSA AFL state championship after defeating Riverina in a spectacular grand final on Thursday.

CIS, featuring the best years 5 and 6 students from independent schools right across NSW, defeated the Riverna district team 8.3.51 to 3.7.25.

Thirteen teams played in the 2016 competition which was held at Tomaree Sports Complex in Nelson Bay between May 24 and 26.

The Hunter Wolves played seven games across the three days.

The side won two games, drew one and lost four.

Hunter Wolves coach Kevin Greaves said the result was one of the best he has seen in his seven years with the PSAA side.

“Results-wise it was the best year for quite a while,” Mr Greaves, a teacher from Maitland, said.

“We drew 21-all with North Coast yesterday [Wednesday] and won against west Sydney twice.

“We haven’t been within 10 goals of those teams ever.

“This shows the standard of footy though the junior kids in the Hunter is improving quickly.

“From what we’ve seen, the Wolves are at a much higher level than in previous years.”

Team manager for the Hunter Wolves, Barry Davis, who is also a teacher in Maitland, agreed with coach Greaves.

He added that the Wolves played “extremely well” and showed “good team skills”.

“The team as a whole worked well together,” Mr Davis said.

“We didn’t rely on a couple of individuals.

“We’ve concentrated more on developing their skills, to get the boys to be better AFL players and better sportsmen.”

Results aside, Mr Greaves and Mr Davis said the championship had grown the sport and allowed the smaller Hunter AFL community to meet with those playing the game in other regions.

“The AFL community in the Hunter is far smaller than other areas,” Mr Davis said.

“This [carnival] gives the kids a chance to make friends with other AFL kids from other areas.”

The Hunter Wolves played off for ninth position. However, it finished the championship in 12^th position after ranking.

This year the Wolves side featured two Nelson Bay Marlins juniors – Jack Denahy, 10, and Hugh Doherty, 11.

Jack said the championship had been “really good” to take part in.

Penny Blythe, a committee member of the Nelson Bay Marlins Junior AFL Club, had nothing but positive words to say about the championship event, which is typically held in Sydney.

“Everyone seems to have just loved coming here and visiting Nelson Bay,” Mrs Blythe said.

“The parents have just been fantastic, there’s been no negativity. There’s been a real positive vibe. It’s been a real success.”

The Marlins club helped to cater the event across the three days.

Mrs Blythe said the carnival had helped boost tourism to the town, with feedback from visiting families that they will be back to holiday in Port Stephens.

“A lot of the families seemed to be pretty excited to stay here,” Mrs Blythe said.

“The team from Broken Hill and the Barrier region [in the far west of NSW] all loved that they woke up to the water.

“They didn’t even mind that it rained today [Thursday morning].”

Peter Moore, PSSA’s organiser for the event, said if there was anything that came from the carnival, it was that more people had been made aware of the state’s AFL community.

WEDNESDAY:

Marlins in wolf pack

TOMAREE Sports Complex has been alive with the sound of football for the past two days, with hundreds of primary school-aged children in Nelson Bay for the 2016 PSSA AFL state championship.

Thirteen teams, made up with years 5 and 6 students, and many of their family members are in Nelson Bay for three days – May 24 to May 26 – for the AFL carnival.

On Wednesday, Penny Blythe, a committee member for the Nelson Bay Marlins Junior AFL Club, said the carnival had been going “really well”.

“It’s been a really good vibe down here,” she said.

“There’s been a great display of AFL and the feedback we’ve had, everyone is loving the area.

“There’s some families that have travelled from Broken Hill and they’ve commented how nice it is to wake up and see the water.

“It’s great we can hold these carnivals here.

“Because the kids are in primary school, when they come their whole family comes too.”

The Nelson Bay Marlins junior club has helped to cater the state carnival across the three days.

Two junior Marlins, Jack Denahy, 10, and Hugh Doherty, 11, are playing for the Hunter Wolves in the carnival.

Hunter lost two and won one game on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, it had won one game and drew its other.