CENTENARY Oval will play host to AFL teams Adelaide and North Melbourne for a pre-season match on March 1 as part of the AFL NAB Challenge.
The AFL announced the fixture Tuesday morning, which features the Port Lincoln match on a Sunday at 4.10pm, and has a strong focus on regional areas hosting pre-season matches.
Port Lincoln Football League operations manager Robyn Rowsell said Centenary Oval would receive a range of improvements in order to host the game that would also provide significant long term benefits.
She said the league, in conjunction with the Port Lincoln City Council, would install new goal posts and a retaining wall to replace the mound in front of the grandstand.
"It puts us in a position to vie for the state country championships or a regional SANFL game," Mrs Rowsell said.
"It's a long term benefit for football and everyone else who uses Centenary Oval."
Mrs Rowsell said she hoped the match would help promote our region to interstate fans and encourage them to come to Port Lincoln in March next year.
"We're hoping to get people over here to support North Melbourne," she said.
"It's a huge opportunity not only to showcase the Port Lincoln Football League but everything Lower Eyre Peninsula has to offer."
The Adelaide Crows players and support staff will also stay in Port Lincoln for a few days after the game to run an AFL community camp where they will visit schools, hospitals and community groups.
AFL broadcasting, scheduling and major projects general manager Simon Lethlean said the AFL had a strong focus on bringing pre-season games to regional communities.
"Fans in regional and suburban communities across Australia are unashamedly our focus throughout next year's NAB Challenge," Mr Lethlean said.
"We're pleased to be able to take top-flight football to some of the game's most important venues."
For the full AFL NAB Challenge fixture visit the AFL website.
Last Modified on 18/07/2015 10:23