The 2013 Swans Gala Day was a huge success with over 500 kids from our club, try AFL program, and from the AASC OOSH program,  joining the Eagles for an afternoon of fun, footy and celebration with the 2012 premeirs - the Sydney Swans!

We were lucky enough to be joined by Luke Parker and Dean Towers from the Swans who joined in with our training drills, as well as telling us what it was like to win an AFL premiership!

They also awarded our mighty under 12 premiers with their victory pennant, which was flown proudly above Rofe Park's rolling green fields.

Congrats  to all concerend on a top day - check out the awesome photos by Greg Clarke. Thanks again Greg - always top pictures! 

A massive congratulations to Eagles Umpires Tom Smith, James Clarke, Christian Sharpe and Liam Kissick who have recently been selected for the Umpiring Regional Squad Programme. 

This is the Umpiring equivalent of the Swans Academy, and is a great testament not only to the dedication and commitment of our Umps, but also of our clubs's commitment to fair play and opportunity.

Umpiring is a great way to increase your footy skills, as well as earn some great pocket cash while keeping fit and participating in your favourite game. If you are over 12 and would like to start umpiring please contact our This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

What is Auskick?

Auskick is simply the best way for a young player to learn AFL.  Typically an Auskick session will focus on a few fun AFL skills based games, like kicking, marking, running, or handpassing. We then conclude the hour-long Auskick session with a ten minute modified rules version of an AFL match.

Auskick’s modified rules are both non-competitive and non-contact, making it a safe, fun and empowering sport for any child, as well as a great way to get fit, increase motor skills, and socialise. It also fosters and encourages teamwork, and can be tailored to suit children with spcial needs.

Auskick is lead by the Eagles own fully qualified coaches, with support of the playing groups parents, so get involved and we’ll train you to help us run a great Auskick session!

Who Can Play Auskick?

Auskick is for all boys and girls from the ages of 4 – 7. Typically we break into two groups, for our 4-5 year old “Ewoks” and our 6 – 7 year old “Jedis” with skills and games targeted directly at the abilities of our young players. The Eagles welcome new players of all skill levels all year round! Come and give it a try, or bring a friend - we'd love to see you! We also welcome children with special needs - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you have any queries.

What’s The Difference between Grade and Auskick?

While Auskick is a one hour session each Sunday, Grade Football requires our players to train for an additional hour on Thursday evenings, as well playing their hour long match each Sunday.

Under 9s still play a non - scoring version of AFL, as well as being non-tackle, so it’s still a safe and fun experience. Typically half of all grade games are home games, with the away games played in the Northwest Region. The furthest away ground is about a 40 minute drive. All Eagles Auskick sessions are held at our Home Ground – Rofe Park in Hornsby Heights.

Should My Child Play Grade or Auskick?

It’s always up to the parent and child as to when they are ready to start playing Grade footy, in our awesome under 9s squad. It may be, for example, that halfway through an Auskick season that a player is clearly ready to take the step up.

We are always open to Auskick players joining our U9s training squad, or even trying a game on matchday. Once there is a good skills base, we find most players love the additional competition of Grade footy, as well as the longer game time. 

But I don’t know anything about Aussie Rules…

You may be surprised to discover many of our parent group are new to AFL. Through the club we can teach you all you need to know about Australia’s favourite football, as well as how to teach your young player the skills they need to enjoy footy! Our coaching philosophy encourages as many hands on volunteers as we can get, and you get the added reward of learning something with your child that you can both share.

What Do I Need to Play Auskick? 

Your Auskick registration fee includes a backpack, which amongst a whole lot of great gear, comes with its very own football. You will also receive an Eagles Jersey (which is returned at the end of each football year).

You will need to purchase red shorts and football socks, both of which are available from the club canteen.

While mouthguards are not mandatory in Auskick (as they are in Grade footy) we still recommend that a mouthguard is used when on the field. Auskick can be played in sneakers, but for best stability for your child, we also recommend football boots are worn.

Where and When do the Eagles Play?

We run our Auskick program each Sunday Morning of our playing season 8.30 – 9.30 am at Rofe Park, Hornsby Heights. In 2013 our season begins April 7 and concludes in late August.

How Can I Register?

Registration for Auskick in 2013 is $100. You can register online at our website, or see us at our rego days Feb 2 and 9 at Rofe Park (10-2pm), or Feb 2 at Westfield Hornsby. 

If you have any further queries, please This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it - we're more than happy to help - and Go The Eagles!!!

While the footy season is in hiatus, there are still big things to celebrate for two of the Eagles brightest stars. Anthony Woodward (pictured with Swans Premiership player Nick Smith) has been been selected to join the Under 16s Swans Academy playing group, while team mate James Clarke has been nominated as a finalist for the News Local Junior Sports Star of the year "Services To Sport"  award!

Firstly -  Congratulations to Anthony Woodward on making selection for the Sydney Swans Academy Under 16’s playing group for 2013.  After three years of hard work, concluding in a gruelling 6 week program of skill, fitness and attitude just recently completed, Anthony becomes our first ever Eagle to progress to this level.  This is a fantastic achievement.

The process involved in described by Chris Smith, Sydney Academy Talent ID and Operations Manager:

“The QBE Sydney Swans Academy have finalised a new six-week benchmarking program.  The program is primarily targeting the Academy’s under-15 squad and will see the squad numbers cut by half following six weeks of intensive testing.

We are looking for the most skilful and committed boys to secure their place in the Academy’s more senior programs.

Up until the age of under-15 it’s an inclusive program, where we identify boys who have talents and good attributes and the right character.

The technicalities of it are that we have roughly 84 boys in our under-15 group. That group will be reduced by 50 per cent (as they move in the under-16 age group).”

Smith said the Academy has greater expectations for their older athletes, who are nearing AFL draft age.

“What happens at under-16 level and under-18 level is that our expectations rise in that the discipline, the commitment and the professionalism and obviously the standards need to improve significantly.

“Based on that, we do the six-week benchmark program, where we identify those boys who A: have good running credentials, B: their skill level is up to the standard that we believe shows that they have been working on their skills and C: a little bit about their ability to commit, which is sort of a by-product of their character.”


“I think the one thing that we just have to be careful of is that there are boys who are of really good character who miss out, but we need to be really sure that at the end of it all we have a core group of boys who are very determined and focused and committed to bridging that gap between where they are now, to when they get to draft age,” he said.

On behalf of the mighty Hornsby-Berowra Eagles we would like to congratulate Anthony on his selection to this elite level.  We wish him every success throughout season 2013 playing for our great Club,,and in his commitments with the Swans Academy which includes games against GWS Giants Academy  .  Hopefully this will inspire players within our Club of what can be achieved in our great game. He may be the first but we are sure he will not be the last from our club to succeed in achieving this level through the Academy. 

We also warmly congratulate Eagle James Clarke on becoming a finalist in the Services To Sport in the News Local Junior Sport Star awards. James was nominated when earlier this year he competed his AASC coaching accreditation, and began coaching primary aged children across Hornsby and Berowra for the club. James remarked "It's great fun and I want to get them interested in AFL - if we get them having fun and let them know when they;re doing well, hopefully we can get more numbers to sign up for Hornsby." 

Congrats to both James and Anthony - you've both done your club proud and we wish you every success in the future.