The Eagles Cup and Eagles Faction Football primary school competitions were launched last week with the help of West Coast premiership player Rowan Jones.

The Eagles Cup Primary School Football competition is a specially designed program for year six and seven primary school students, maximising participation, enjoyment and skill development within the “Great Australian Game”.

Season 2008 also marks the launch of the “intra house” Eagles Faction Football competition. The Eagles Faction Footy program is separate to the Eagles Cup but is a feeder to it and to this extent is promoted as a different competition. The program is open to all year groups from year four to seven involving both male and female students.

The WA Football Commission in conjunction with the Primary Schools Football Advisory Council coordinates both competitions. The programs run throughout the entire state during term two and three of the primary school calendar. This is split over the nine WAFL Districts and eight Country Regions.

“The increase in playing numbers in programs such as these is a terrific achievement in such a competitive market,” said Clayton Anderson from the WA Football Commission.

“This is attributed to the dedicated work of the Smarter than Smoking District Development Officers, commitment of the Primary Schools Football Advisory Council and the AFL Football Ambassador Program introduced in 2005.”