It may have only been February when Parkes Panthers players pulled on their boots and hit the field, but there's a pretty good reason for that.
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Players and anyone else who loves footy have embraced a "short-format" of the AFL game.
As the Panthers ramp-up their pre-season training in the lead-up to the mid-April start to the AFL Central West season, an AFL nines competition - a Big Bash equivalent - is underway at Harrison Park.
It began with a come-and-try day on February 10 and since then organisers are pleased with its turnout.
Four mixed teams, totalling about 40 players, have signed up for games played at Harrison Park on the Eugowra Road every Monday night at 6.45pm.
"It's going really well, we're very pleased with the response and the support," Panthers rep and AFL nines player Renee Massurit said.
AFL nines is a non-contact, fast-paced version of the sport that stays true to the notion that AFL is for all shapes and sizes.
The Panthers are confident this eight-week competition - which officially began on February 17 and runs through to April 6 - will provide an extra boost to the popularity of AFL in Parkes.
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Central West Regional Development Coordinator Casey White agrees it will help the local game, using the success of the nines in other areas as an example.
He said it could bring a similar positive impact to the Parkes community.
"We ran post-season competitions in Orange and Dubbo and with 13 teams and close to 175 participants across the two towns, the popularity made it an easy decision to support the Parkes Panthers pre-season promotions with this competition," White said.
"It is a fantastic modified version for brand new players or the grizzled veteran who wants to get back into the sport.
"To have 40 players in Parkes for the first time is fantastic."
The competition will be run entirely by the AFL Central West Game Development team and all are encouraged to give it a try.
Massurit said anyone who still wants to play, can by just coming along to the games on a Monday night.
For more information contact the club via email at parkes.panthers@outlook.com or visit their Facebook page.
For the juniors, Parkes Panthers Auskick begins on Monday, March 23, also at Harrison Park, from 4.30pm.
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