The first Emergency Services AFL match between the Adelaide Crows and West Coast Eagles this Saturday will give South Australians a rare chance to interact with and explore a role as a front-line hero.

For the first time in South Australia, an AFL match will be dedicated to recognising and thanking our emergency services staff and volunteers for their daily sacrifices and commitment.

To highlight just one set of skills and one of many opportunities that exist within the emergency services, representatives from SAPOL’s STAR Operations, the Metropolitan Fire Service and the South Australian Ambulance Service will be abseiling from Adelaide Oval.

Abseiling and performing rescue operations is just one of countless opportunities across SAPOL, the MFS, SAAS, the Country Fire Service and the SA State Emergency Service that can be taught depending on the path any career staff member or volunteer takes.

At the match this Saturday, there will be all-ages activations around the ground where footy fans can speak to career staff and volunteers about their agencies and what it’s like to be on the ground or in strategic operations during bushfires, floods, police response and many other duties.

At the core of establishing a dedicated match for emergency services personnel was the desire to thank and promote the exceptional work of emergency services agencies and recognise their positive impacts on our community.

As part of the agreement 3000 tickets were allocated to Emergency Services personnel.

This ticket will also enable recipients to purchase up to three extra reserved seat tickets to the Emergency Services Match for family and friends at a discounted rate, as well as General Admission entry to one additional match during the 2023 Toyota AFL Premiership Season.

All agencies involved are encouraging footy fans of all ages to ask any questions and sign up as a volunteer or potential full-time staff member.

Quotes

Attributable to Joe Szakacs

While joining the emergency services doesn’t require you to jump off a building, we wanted to show just one of the more extreme responses there are to situations faced in South Australia.

I look forward to welcoming thousands of South Australians to Adelaide Oval on Saturday for a great game of footy and encourage everyone to arrive early to take some time to look around and learn something new about our emergency services.

There has never been a greater opportunity to have all our hardworking front-line personnel in one place ready for you to pick their brains and take up a new volunteer role or consider a new career.

The State Government couldn’t be prouder that this announcement signifies the first time in South Australia’s history that we recognise our emergency services personnel through a dedicated AFL match.