Geelong and Essendon officially launched the 2018 Powercor Country Festival today.
Geelong and Essendon will kick off the Powercor Country Festival in Colac on March 11 when they line-up in a pre-season hit-out as part of the JLT Community Series.
Beginning in 2016, the Powercor Country Festival is a long-term partnership between the two clubs, created to
Essendon legend Kevin Sheedy and Geelong forward Tom Hawkins were on hand in Colac earlier today to launch the third year of the program.
“The Powercor Country Festival celebrates and
“Football, to the whole of Australia, is a powerful connector that brings people from all walks of life together.
"Over the years I have played with and coached many great players from the country and I know both Essendon and Geelong are blessed with many outstanding players that have come from the country on their lists today.
“We are excited to continue to build a stronger connection between the city and the country through the Powercor Country Festival.”
Geelong’s Tom Hawkins said the Cats are proud to celebrate and highlight local football clubs and regional communities as part of the Powercor Country Festival.
"The Country Festival is so important to the Geelong Football Club, we're the only truly regional team in the AFL and proudly represent the western region of Victoria," Hawkins said.
"It's often said that you can tell a lot about a community by the local footy club, and this is
“Growing up in Finley, our footy club was a social connector. A significant part of the Powercor Country Festival is celebrating the work these clubs and local heroes do for the community.”
Powercor’s General Manager of Corporate Affairs Melissa O’Neill said Powercor is proud to be again involved in 2018.
“Building on the first two years of the Powercor Country Festival, we are proud to be back bigger and better than ever in 2018,” O’Neill said.
"As a major employer with a significant regional workforce who are deeply embedded in the local communities that we operate in, it is important to us that the Powercor Country Festival continues to
“Having these top teams play a match in Colac is a way of bringing the focus back to country Victoria and thanking country fans for their contribution to this great game and country.”
JLT Community Series
Geelong Cats v Essendon
Sunday 11 March | 1.05pm
Central Reserve, Colac
