Tuesday, July 03, 2007

Mixed Nats Qualification and Guesses

So the Mixed Nats qualification policy is out at afda.com. Essentially, rather than the Nats N/S/E/W regions, there are twelve zones, each with at least one slot. Different State/Territories have responsibility for nominating teams to take those slots - they might pick rep teams, or run tournaments, or just announce or something.

As I understand it (some grapevine and some guesses):
- NSW have announced a State Championships tournament to determine their six teams.
- Victoria are running a 6 week league (if I've got it right) to determine their teams.
- SA has called for interest in teams taking their two slots.
- Tasmania will send a rep team for their slot I presume? They might have to have selections!!??!!
- Presumably the NT and Northern WA slots will not be taken up, and become wildcards and go to NSW and Vic?
- Southern WA might struggle to send two teams (particularly given their upcoming NUFL travel), freeing up another wildcard?
- Don't know how NZFDA will manage its two slotsAny

In Queensland
- Presumably Townsville will get its act together and claim the North Qld slot. I suspect if they're clever they'll also recruit a few southerners (up to 25% of the squad can be 'out of zone').
- QUDA hasn't made an announcement on the two South Qld slots, although I hear Byron are interested in trying for one of them, setting the cat amongst the pigeons? QUDA certainly wouldn't be keen to use Halibut as a qualifier, as teams have already formed etc, and it's probably right to keep Halibut a special event for Mixed teams around the country
- I'd have to imagine though we'll end up with a Queensland qualifier - Byron, Booty, Non-Booty plus something like the Lounge Lizards?

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