AFL Masters National Carnival

AUSTRALIAN SERVICES GAME COACH ANNOUNCEMENT

AFL Masters is proud to announce the coaches for the 2026 Australian Services Game at the Newcastle National Carnival.

Leading Services Night will be Hailey Merrick from Western Australia.

Hailey has been involved with AFL Masters since 2017 as both a player and coach and, for the second consecutive year, is coaching the WA Women’s 45s team.

Her connection to this game is especially meaningful after serving 7.5 years in the Royal Australian Navy, completing multiple operational deployments and proudly representing the Navy on the football field.

Throughout both her military and sporting careers, Hailey has strived to lead by example, demonstrating commitment, resilience and teamwork on and off the field.

“I’m honoured to be part of an event that brings together two communities that have played such an important role in my life.”

Leading Services Day will be Jason Moriarty from Queensland.

Jason enlisted in the Australian Army in 1994 and served for nearly three decades across operational, instructional and leadership roles.

His service included four operational tours, most notably co-leading a mission to Iraq with a contingent of more than 450 soldiers and delivering strategic outcomes in challenging conditions.

Newcastle will be Jason’s sixth AFL Masters National Carnival, having also coached at the 2024 National Carnival in Fremantle.

Congratulations Hailey and Jason. We are honoured to have two experienced leaders with strong service and football backgrounds guiding Services Night and Services Day in what promises to be a very special Showcase Game.

ServicesDay MastersFooty

🏉 SHOWCASE COACHES ANNOUNCEMENT 🏉

AFL Masters is delighted to announce the first two coaches who will lead our teams in the 2026 Showcase Games at the Newcastle National Carnival.

👏 Kirsty Baker (Tasmania) has been appointed Allies Women’s Coach.

👏 Pat Ockwell (New South Wales) has been appointed Indigenous Men’s Coach.

Both Kirsty and Pat have made an outstanding contribution to AFL Masters and bring a wealth of experience, leadership and passion to these prestigious roles. We congratulate them on their appointments and look forward to seeing them lead their teams on Showcase Game day.

Stay tuned as we announce the remaining Showcase Game coaches over the coming days.

Congratulations Kirsty and Pat! 💙💛❤️💚

🎀 NOT JUST A HIGH TEA.

An elegant afternoon for a cause close to our hearts — swipe to find out more. 🌸

All raffle & auction proceeds go directly to the Hunter Breast Cancer Foundation.

📅 Tuesday, 29 September 2026 | 2:00PM – 5:00PM 📍 Rydges Newcastle | 🎟️ $120 per person

Tickets via link in bio — limited seats available!

The 2026 AFL Masters National Carnival is building, with 1,277 registrations and 1,123 registered players already locked in.

Do you know Quirky from Tasmania or Nat from Vic Metro? They’re now Carnival regulars — and this could be you.

Delegates meet on 11 July to begin forming divisions and working through the draft fixture, so if you’re planning on coming to Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, now is the time to register.

We especially want to see more 35–44s, men and women, stepping into the Carnival experience and representing their State or Territory.

Don’t wait. Join them. Register now and be part of it.

This is the Tuesday you won’t forget. ⛳️

Who are the 3 mates you’re bringing in your golf cart? Tag them below 👇

Join us for the AFL Masters National Carnival Golf Day at Rydges Hunter Valley Golf Course — with golf carts, prizes, novelty holes, putting comp, lunch, giveaways and plenty of laughs.

Grab your team of 4 for a 4-Person Ambrose and get ready for a day of golf, mates and a bit of friendly chaos.

🚌 Bus transfers will be available from Newcastle, so you can sit back, enjoy the ride and make a full day of it.

💛 Proceeds from raffles and activation holes will support our Charity Partner, the Australian Prostate Centre.

📅 Tuesday 29 September 2026
📍 Rydges Hunter Valley Golf Course
⛳ 4-Person Ambrose
🎟️ $120 per player

Spots are limited, so round up your team and book now.

https://aflmasters.com.au/events/golf-classic-2026

Which one everyone? Comment below 👇

Who’s your President? 👀

Behind every AFL Masters State and Territory team is a passionate volunteer helping bring players, coaches and families together.

As we count down to Newcastle 2026, we’re introducing the people leading AFL Masters across Australia and sharing what they’re most looking forward to at this year’s National Carnival.

Take a swipe through, get to know your President, and give them a shout-out in the comments.