Footscray set to host largest U18 National Championship on record this Easter
The eyes of the Australian lacrosse community are set to descend on the Footscray Lacrosse Club again with Lacrosse Australia announcing that the 2024 Lacrosse Australia U18 National Championship will be held at Angliss Reserve in Melbourne.
Footscray are of course no strangers to National Championships with the Victorian powerhouses recently hosting the Senior Nationals in 2019 and 2022. “We can’t wait to host another Nationals Championship” said Footscray President Lachlan Williams, “these are the stars of the future, and now potential Olympians, and we are really looking forward to once again welcoming the best lacrosse players Australia has to offer”.
For Footscray, the chance to host the nation’s best again was something the club couldn’t’ pass up, “in recent years we have been fortunate enough to host other major events, notably senior nationals, so when the opportunity to host another event of this caliber arose, we wanted to throw our hat in the ring again” said Williams, “the players love playing on our grounds, and our volunteers do an amazing job, which I’m confident we’ll do again this time around”. As for the venue, Williams believes they are ready, “the ground is looking in great condition and with a new electronic scoreboard, we’re really excited to seeing some high quality lacrosse to kickstart the year of field lacrosse in Victoria”.
In recent years we have been fortunate enough to host other major events, notably senior nationals, so when the opportunity to host another event of this caliber arose - Footcray President, Lachlan Williams
The 2024 Lacrosse Australia U18 National Championship is set to be one of the largest Championships in recent memory (outside of the U15’s) with twelve teams set to participate over Easter from 29 March 2024 to 2 April 2024.
The Women’s draw will be particularly interesting with first ever Divisional setup on show as Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia set to be joined by Waikato in Division 1, whilst Auckland, Victoria A and a President’s team (based largely out of South Australia) set to battle it out for the Division 2 crown. On the Men’s side of the draw, Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia will be joined by Victoria A and Waikato in a single round robin event with the top 2 to progress to the final.
“I am incredibly grateful to the Footscray Lacrosse Club for again welcoming Australia’s best players to their club and I am thrilled to be able to bring a Championship with so many teams, “ said Lacrosse Australia Director of Competitions, Tim Kennedy, “the future of Australian lacrosse lies with this next generation who will have unparalleled opportunities open to them and it starts with strong domestic competition. It is great to be able to welcome back Waikato and Auckland and I am excited to see Victoria A and the President’s teams in action. It is because of this support from all teams and states that we have been given the flexibility to try the divisional format in the Women’s draw which I hope, in conjunction with an exciting Men’s draw, will result in some fantastic lacrosse and an unforgettable experience for our players”.
The 2024 Lacrosse Australia U18 National Championship will be held at the Footscray Lacrosse Club, Angliss Reserve, Yarraville from 29 March 2024 to 2 April 2024 with the finals to be live streamed on the Australian Lacrosse Network. Stay tuned to the Lacrosse Australia website and social media channels for more coverage.