Page 1974 - Week 05 - Thursday, 5 May 2011

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I would just like to pass on my support to those teams. To the Canberra Raiders squad I pass on my support to Mark Appleton, Glenn Buttriss, Terry Campese—it would be good to see him back—Jarrod Croker, Josh Dugan, Shaun Fensom, Blake Ferguson, Danny Galea, Bronson Harrison, Mark Ioane, Jarrad Kennedy, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, Drury Low, Nathan Massey, Sam Mataora, Josh McCrone, Josh Miller, David Milne, Mark Nicholls, Matt Orford, Joe Picker, Michael Picker, Reece Robinson, David Shillington, Nick Skinner, James Stuart, Joel Thompson, Trevor Thurling, Dane Tilse, Alan Tongue—captain courageous—Daniel Vidot, Travis Waddell and Brett White.

Similarly, I pass on my support to the Brumbies players, Ben Alexander, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Mitchell Chapman, Mark Chisholm, Huia Edmonds, Rocky Elsom, Colby Faingaa, Francis Fainifo, Matt Giteau, Ben Hand, Stephen Hoiles, Michael Hooper, Peter Kimlin, Christian Lealiifano, Selasi Ma’afu, Pat McCabe, Stephen Moore, Dan Palmer, Patrick Phibbs, Julian Salvi, Andrew Smith, Tyrone Smith, Ed Stubbs, Afusipa Taumoepeau, Matt Toomua, Josh Valentine, Nic White, Jerry Yanuyanutawa and a rookie on contract, Samu Wara.

To all those players, to the coaching staff, good luck. Keep training hard and rest assured that the vast majority of your fans are still with you. Certainly, here in the Legislative Assembly we will all be cheering out at Raiders games and at Brumbies games. For the rest of the year, we wish you every success.

Australian Football League

MR BARR (Molonglo—Minister for Education and Training, Minister for Planning, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation and Minister for Gaming and Racing) (5.58): I am prompted to rise to my feet, just to continue the sporting theme briefly, to remind members that this Saturday, with both the Raiders and the Brumbies playing away games, Manuka oval is hosting two outstanding games of AFL. The Giants will be playing the Swans reserves this Saturday morning as a lead-up to the main fixture, the Swans versus the Western Bulldogs.

It is our big day for AFL in Canberra this year and it sets the scene, of course, for our expanded involvement in the AFL in 2012 with the Giants playing four matches. Of course, it will be a timely opportunity for people to get to see just a little glimpse of what football will be like at Manuka in the years ahead. We welcome the Giants as another addition to our family of national league teams.

Sport

MR SMYTH (Brindabella) (5.59): I will continue the sporting theme as well. I have to say, as a 46-year St Kilda fan, I know about disappointment when your team does not get up. But the great thing about St Kilda fans is that they have stuck with their team through thick and thin. We will continue to do so and—

Mr Barr: We have all got two teams this year: our own team and whoever is playing Collingwood.


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