World Footy News

The Essendon Football Club is sending seven of its younger players on a personal development trip to Japan this week. As part of the trip, the players and coaching staff will hold clinics in Tokyo and Osaka on behalf of the AFL. Essendon's website also reports that the Essendon staff will be testing the local Japanese players to determine which two will join Essendon for 2007 preseason training.

High performance manager John Quinn, chief executive Peter Jackson and development coach Matthew Knights will accompany Essendon players Jobe Watson, Nathan Lovett-Murray, Angus Monfries, Jason Winderlich, Adam Ramanauskas, Jay Nash and Ricky Dyson on the trip that is designed to immerse the players in a foreign culture and challenge them to leave their comfort zones. It is a similar trip to that which Essendon's leadership group went to Japan for two years ago. The story can be seen on the Essendon website.

The clinics will be in Tokyo on Thursday, November 9 and Osaka on Sunday, November 12. JAFL President Hideki Miyasaka is expecting a good turnout of Japanese and expatriate players as well as boys and girls for both clinics.

Despite the fact that the Essendon website reports that the club will be inviting two Japanese players to its 2007 preseason training, Hideki says that this remains uncertain. He believes that high performance manager Quinn and development coach Knights will assess the players in the clinics and then make a judgement before inviting any players to Essendon's preseason training.

The JAFL, Tokyo Goannas and associated clubs invite anybody who is interested in attending to come along to either clinic. Contact and venue details for the Tokyo clinic are listed below.

The clinic will be held 3-5pm on Thursday 9 November:

Setagaya Ward Athletic Ground;

4-6-1 Okura, Setagaya Ward, Tokyo.

Location: 15 min by Bus from Seijyo-Gakuen Station, Odakyu-Line

Tel:03-3417-4276 Fax:03-3417-1734

Editor: Note there may have been a change in venue to Chuo Ward - see the note on the front of the JAFL website. Approximate English translation available via link at top right of their page.