World Cup

Dropbears 2020 Leadership Team Announced:

We are excited to finally announce the first members of the Australian National Quidditch Team leadership, who will help organise, prepare, run, and lead the Dropbears to the 2020 Quidditch World Cup in Richmond, USA.

Paul Harrison has been selected as the Head Coach of the Dropbears for 2020. Originally of the University of Sydney Quidditch Club (Unspeakables) and then Macquarie University Quidditch Club, Paul has served as Head Coach of both of these teams, and now is playing his eight season with the Sydney City Serpents. Last year, Paul coached the NSW State Team to their first gold medal at Quidditch Australia’s State Shield. As Head Coach, Paul will be responsible for the overall strategic vision and on field direction of the Dropbears as they try to reclaim gold at Richmond 2020.
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Australian Dropbears Coach, Assistant Coach, Manager and Selection Panel Applications now open!

Applications for the Head Coach, Assistant Coaches, Team Manager and Selection Panel members are now open, and will close at 11:59pm on June 23th 2019.

A full breakdown of the Head Coach, Assistant Coach/es, Team Manager and Selection Panel positions and their associated responsibilities can be found outlined here.

Head Coach

Required non-playing role

The head coach is responsible for the overall strategic and on field direction of the Australian Dropbears.

Assistant Coach/es

Intended non-playing role
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AUSTRALIA PLACES FIFTH AT QUIDDITCH WORLD CUP

Australia has placed fifth the fourth iteration of the Quidditch World Cup in Florence, Italy overnight. Team Australia, affectionately known as the Dropbears, lost only two games over the weekend; both to the United States, in pool play and in the quarter final.

America went on to win the gold at the event, while Belgium and Turkey shocked everyone to come second and third respectively. The United Kingdom came fourth, just missing out on the podium.

On the first day of the tournament, Australia put in amazing performance, notching up impressive wins against The Netherlands (220*-0), Austria (170*-10), and Vietnam (170*-20). read more

Dropbears Impress on Day One of the World Cup

Team Australia enters day two of the Quidditch World Cup full of confidence after three great wins and a close loss against tournament favourites, the United States - and we'll likely get another chance at them in the Quarter Finals.

BREAKING: Quidditch Australia Slammed as Evidence of Ball Tampering Emerges

It is a dark day for Quidditch in Australia, as evidence has emerged showing ball tampering is rife across the entire sport. Not even the World Cup final in 2016 is free from controversy.

 

It is alleged that across most tournaments in Australia, many available quaffles – a volleyball used to score points – and bludgers – the dodgeballs used by beaters to knock players out of play – were under-inflated. This has a distinct effect on how the ball is thrown and caught, giving the team ready for such circumstances a clear advantage.It is still being determined just how deep this goes – with some in the community fearing that entire tournaments may have been played under these conditions.

The balls used for the 2017 QUAFL Final. Were these balls under-inflated? PC: Ajantha Abey

The balls used for the 2017 QUAFL Final. Were these balls under-inflated? PC: Ajantha Abey

This is now Australia’s #deflategate, and many are calling for the leadership of Quidditch Australia to be sacked.

There is even evidence that under-inflated balls were used in the 2016 World Cup Grand Final. Quidditch experts say that a thrown bludger from star Team USA beater Max Havlin that missed Australia’s Seeker Dameon Osborn seconds before the winning snitch catch may have hit if the ball was fully inflated – casting a shadow over the miraculous win.

Quidditch Australia President Luke Derrick gave a tearful press conference this morning.

“Firstly I’m deeply sorry. I love the game of Quidditch, I love entertaining young kids. I love kids wanting to play the great game of Quidditch that I love,” he said.

“Any time you think about making a questionable decision, think about who you’re affecting.

“But I just want to say I’m sorry for the pain I’ve brought to Australia and the fans and the public, it’s devastating and I’m truly sorry.”

However, Derrick will continue in his role as President of QA, saying “I won’t be considering stepping down. I still think I’m the right person for the job.”

Team Australia 2018 Reserves

Quidditch Australia is proud to announce the eight individuals who have been selected as reserves for Team Australia. These individuals will join the 21 Dropbears at all training camps and team events in the lead up to the 2018 IQA Quidditch World Cup in Florence this June.

Coming from all across Australia, these athletes will train with and support the team, and are a crucial part of Team Australia and Australia’s World Cup campaign. The reserve squad includes individuals from New South Wales (4), South Australia (1), Victoria (2), and Western Australia (1). Two of the reserves have previously represented Australia at an international level and one was a reserve for the previous World Cup; the remaining five would be making their international debut should they be called upon to replace any Dropbear that is injured, ill, or otherwise unable to compete.
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Team Australia 2018

Quidditch Australia is extremely proud and excited to announce the 21 individuals who have been selected to represent Australia at the 2018 IQA Quidditch World Cup. These athletes represent the best and brightest Australia has to offer and we wish them all the best in Florence.

Team Australia, known as the Dropbears, will be tasked with defending Australia’s title after they successfully defeated the USA in the Grand Final of the previous IQA World Cup in 2016, winning 150* – 130. The Dropbears consists of 21 athletes from 3 states, comprising 12 Victorians, 8 New South Welshmen, and 1 Queenslander. The team adheres to the IQA’s rules in terms of roster gender maximums.In total, 104 individuals applied to be on Team Australia, the successful individuals representing the culmination of months of selection. We are grateful to and thank our six selectors and coaching team for their roles in this decision. read more

FLORENCE TO HOST THE 2018 IQA WORLD CUP

The 2018 IQA World Cup will take place in Florence, Italy, between the 27th June and the 2nd July, 2018.

The City of Florence, working in conjunction with the Human Company and the Italian Quidditch Association, was today announced by the IQA as the successful bid to host next year’s world cup. National quidditch teams from around the world, including the UK, Denmark, Malaysia, and the USA will fly to Italy for a chance to be crowned the international champions of the sport. read more

Team Australia Applications Now Open

After the successfully running of the four inaugural Quidditch Australia Development Camps in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia, we are now progressing to the next stage of our journey to the 2018 IQA World Cup.

Quidditch Australia will run two official selection camps, one in Victoria in November and one in New South Wales in January 2018, that will serve as the first step in creating the 2018 Dropbears. Applications are now open for the first selection camp, taking place in Melbourne on November 11-12th.

Attendance at one of the camps is a requirement for selection to the 2018 IQA World Cup Australian National Team. Applications for camp 1 close 11:59pm October 20th. All applicants must be Quidditch Australia members to be eligible. Applications will be reviewed by the Team Australia Selection Committee, who are tasked with choosing the individuals who will attend each camp. Successful applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by 28th of October at the latest.

To apply please fill out this form, we look forward to seeing everyone’s applications.

Good Luck!

Photography by Ajantha Abey Quidditch Photography.

Team Australia Selectors

Quidditch Australia is excited to announce the Team Australia Selection Committee.

The following six individuals will join Coach Genevieve Gibson, Assistant Coach Daniel Fox, and Selection Committee Chairperson Thomas Russell. Together, this committee will be tasked with assessing national talent and helping to create the Australian national team to be sent to the 2018 IQA World Cup.

We wish them well and look forward to what each will bring to the role.

Congratulations:
Cindy Callens, Daniel Scharf, Liam McMoppin, Owen Sherwood, Paul Harrison, Taya Rawson

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