THEIR best playing days might be behind them, but that won't stop middle aged men with a passion for Australian Football giving the Cairns economy a $4.5 million free kick.

Almost 1000 players with an average age of 45, about 600 officials plus their travelling families, are in Cairns this week for the 27th annual AFL Masters National Carnival.

Pictures: AFL Masters National Carnival

The week-long event, which started last Thursday and is jointly held at Cazalys and Watsons Oval, is tipped to generate almost $4.5 million for the local economy.

The "middle-weights" are also expected to stay an extra week in the region, kicking goals for struggling businesses and tourism groups.

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The carnival has built on last year’s turnout in Darwin, with almost double the number of players, officials and families.

AFL Masters general manager Neil King said the "self-sufficient" age group was the ideal recession-buster.

He also said the carnival, the biggest in its history, was so successful because families would combine their one holiday for the year into their Masters trip.

"We believe one of the reasons for the big turnout was the economic downturn, many people have one holiday a year and go to the carnival, people now can combine the two because Cairns is such a holiday destination," Mr King said.

AFL Masters, an affiliate of AFL, conducts economic impact research after every carnival.

Mr King said Cairns edged Melbourne, Perth and regional Victoria as host city because of its holiday appeal. Cairns also hosted the event in 2004.

Tropical Tourism North Queensland chief executive Rob Giason said the event appealed to the "classical target" — those with an active outlook and the money to support it.

"The masters in all different sports are a perfect market, a group of independents who are out to have a good time and are self- sufficient," he said.

The carnival finishes with a grand final on Thursday.

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