Glebe takes River’s Gift State of Origin 2024
By Tilly Werner
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The Glebe Greyhounds have claimed honours in the 2024 River’s Gift State of Origin over the weekend, winning five of eight matches between the club and Victorian rivals the Ocean Grove Cobras at Jubilee Park.
More than 350 participants, including young athletes from U9s to U15/16, took part in the weekend, with over 180 travelling from Victoria for the event.
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In its sixth edition this year, the State of Origin is an annual football gala between the clubs, that showcases the best of Australian Rules Football across two states, with rivalry playing second fiddle to fundraising for River’s Gift, a charity raising money for SIDS research.
Glebe won five of the eight matches across the weekend, to claim the State of Origin title for the third time in six years, a testament to the development of community football in NSW. They also claimed bragging rights in the annual Parents Match, a highlight of the competition’s festivities.
The growth of Glebe’s girls’ program was a key driver in their success across the weekend, with both its U14 and U15/16s teams delivering great margin building wins.
“We’re becoming a lot more competitive on the football front. It’s becoming bigger and bigger and it’s the highlight of the kids’ year,” Glebe Greyhounds Vice President, Nick Woodall, said.
“The club has also grown significantly from 7 years ago in female participation.
“When this started, we didn’t have too many girls and now they’re carrying the flag and are the backbone of the club, they’re fast and skillful,” State of Origin event co-founder, Cain Sarah, echoed.
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River’s Gift co-founder, Karl Waddell, has been astonished by the growth of the event across its short history.
“We are grateful to the Glebe Greyhounds and their local community for hosting this event and welcoming so many from Ocean Grove,” Waddell said.
“The two clubs’ unwavering support for the AFL Junior State of Origin and River’s Gift will help us further our research and move closer to our vision of a world free from SIDS.”
The significance of the occasion was underpinned by the contribution of four AFL clubs to a fundraising auction, with the Carlton Blues, Geelong Cats, GWS GIANTS and Sydney Swans all contributing prizes.
GIANTS’ Captain, Toby Greene, and Carlton Assistant Coach, Aaron Hamill, also gave their time to the event, following GWS upset win over the Blues on Saturday night.
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Results:
U9/10 Girls GG 0.0.0 – OG 5.3.33
U9/10 Boys GG 1.0.6 – OG 4.2.26
U12 Boys GG 5.8.38 – OG 1.1.7
U11/12 Girls GG 1.2.8 – OG 6.6.42
13/14Girls GG 7.14.56 OG 0.0.0
13/14 Boys GG 12.18.90 OG 5.5.35
U15/16 Girls GG 14.5.89 – OG 0.0.0
U15/16 Boys GG 5.10.40 – OG 5.6.36
Parents GG 3.9.27 – OG 3.5.23
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