Dropbears Selection Timeline & Player Applications

We are excited to announce that player applications are now open for the Australian Dropbears for the 2020 World cup in Richmond, USA.

Apply Here

Please note applications will close at midnight on Sunday 25 August 2019.

Trials for the 2020 team will consist of three state-based camps and two national selection camps. Based off results from the pre-screening state-based camps, and, if applicable, State Shield, 50 individuals will be selected to attend both national camps.

Inability to attend state-based camps and (if selected to attend) at least 50% of national selection camps must be justified.

State-based camps

Queensland: September 1st

Victoria: September 21st (For Victorian and South Australian Players)

New South Wales: 22nd September (For New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory Players)

Quidditch Australia’s State Shield: 4th - 5th of October

National Selection Camps:

National Selection Camp #1: November 2nd & 3rd

National Selection Camp #2: November 16th & 17th

QUAFL 2019: December 7th & 8th

Dropbears Selection Panel

We are excited to announce the remaining members of the Australian National Quidditch Team Selection Panel, who will join the Head Coach Paul Harrison and Assistant Coach Luke Derrick in picking the Dropbears Squad for World Cup 2020.

Original Photos: Ajantha Abey Quidditch Photography and Courtney Buckley Photography

Ed Vienet is currently affiliated with the Monash Muggles in Victoria, where he started quidditch in 2016, now playing his 4th season, having captained the team in 2017 and 2018, and led the team’s selection panel. He has played on the Victorian Leadbeaters since 2017, and was a selector for the team in 2018 and 2019. As well as being a Dropbear reserve in 2018, Ed also has an extensive sports background outside of quidditch, in bastketball, football, and netball. As a quaffle player, Ed’s focus is on defence, tackling, and wants to build a team that can win in 2020, and set up Australia to repeat in 2022.

Simon Spann hails from the University of Sunshine Coast Quidditch Club in Queensland where he started playing in 2014. Picking quidditch over being a national level sprinter, he played for the Dropbears in 2018 as a chaser and seeker, as well as advising the team as a fitness and conditioning coach. A certified athletics coach himself, Simon is looking forward to selecting a team with the dedication to reclaim the gold.

Samantha Chittenden began playing with the University of Sydney Quidditch Club in 2015, eventually becoming coach in 2016 and captain from 2017-18, and now moving on to coach the North Sydney Nightmares Quidditch Club this year. Sam has also been a member of the NSW State Team since 2016, a Dropbears reserve in 2016/18, and NSW selector in 2017/19. Between all the fantasy, club, and state teams she has selected and led, Sam boasts an impressive number of gold medals, and will be looking to add another to the tally at Richmond next July.

Nathan Morton's involvement in quidditch dates back to 2013 where he began playing with the Monash Muggles. Having attended every single QUAFL and every single Victorian tournament since then (bar Mudbash 2014), he has also been a member of and selector for the Victorian State Team since its inception and a member of the Dropbears squad in 2014, 2016, and 2018 (initially as a chaser, and more recently as a beater). Now playing for Willows Quidditch Club, Nathan's extensive experience and mastery of all positions will be of great utility in selecting the team who can reclaim the gold.

Stephen Butler is one of the most experienced selectors in Australia. Having started out with University of Western Sydney/WSQC in 2012, he has been involved as a selector for fantasy tournaments in all three major Eastern states for many years, with a number of medals to show for it. Now with Macquarie University Quidditch Club, Stephen has also been a selector for the NSW State Team since 2017. With many years involved in high level competitive quidditch, Stephen knows the attitude required of players in order to create a winning team.

Further information regarding Dropbears selection camps and training camps including a general timeline will be released shortly. Written applications for players will open next week.

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.

Ruth Creffield has been selected as the Team Manager of the Dropbears for 2020. Playing for the University of the Sunshine Coast Quidditch Club since 2014, Ruth has been involved in her club's team committee for a number of years as well as being President of the Quidditch Association of Queensland, and playing for the Queensland Thunderbirds. As Team Manager, Ruth will be responsible for off field direction of the Australian Dropbears, including the planning of the trip to Richmond for the World Cup, looking after the administrative side of the team and facilitating a focus on team unity and player wellbeing.

Emma Luxford has been selected as the Assistant Manager of the Dropbears for 2020. She has been involved in the sport for almost eight years as a player and non playing member of the community with Blackburn Basilisks and more recently Melbourne Ravens Quidditch Clubs, and has over 25 years experience competing in and organising gymnastics. Em's extensive experience with large scale professional sporting organisation will be a great asset in her responsibility for assisting Ruth in the off field direction and management of the Australian Dropbears. Emma has since stepped down from this role.

Luke Derrick has been selected as an Assistant Coach of the Dropbears for 2020. He is currently in his eight year playing as a beater and keeper, having started out at the University of Sydney Quidditch Club and now playing for the Sydney City Serpents. Luke has been a coach and captain for both teams as well as playing for and captaining the NSW State Team. Luke has additionally been playing for the Dropbears in all of their international forays since 2014, being part of the World Cup winning squad in 2016, and Lead Beater Player in 2018. Luke will be responsible for assisting Paul in running training camps, and helping the Dropbears improve at the individual level and as a cohesive team.

Luke and Paul will both also serve as Selectors for the Dropbears squad. The rest of the selection panel will be announced tomorrow.

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

The role of the assistant coach or coaches is to assist the head coach in the development of the strategic and on field direction of the Australian Dropbears, as well as providing athletes with support and personalised training. With the intent to have two assistant coaches, the role has been broken up into a quaffle and bludger focus as two dominant aspects of the game. This is a guide only and applicants are welcome to put forward their own focus areas in their application.

Team Manager

Required non-playing role

The team manager should set the off field direction of the Australian Dropbears, including the planning of the trip to Richmond for the World Cup, looking after the administrative side of the team and facilitating a focus on team unity and player wellbeing.

Selection Panel Member

Intended non-playing role, but open to players

The selection panel is responsible for the selection of the team, in conjunction with the coaching team. The selection panel members are required to attend all national selection based sessions, state shield, and any pre-national selection events held in their own state. Once the squad is selected, the panel will hand the responsibility of the team over to the coaching team and team leadership.

The selection panel will be made up for five to seven individuals, inclusive of the coaching staff.

Applications are open for all positions to those who do and do not intend to apply as players for the Australian Dropbears as Quidditch Australia wishes to encourage a wide pool of applicants, however applicants may be given preference for roles if they not intend to try out as a player to avoid potential conflict of interest within the process.

APPLY NOW