World Footy News

According to a recent edition of a Melbourne newspaper, following the 2007 AFL season, as many as four clubs will run community camps overseas, with South Africa the AFL’s recommended destination. Other countries that may figure in calculations are the US, England, Japan, China and Dubai.

The article, which also explored South Africa’s alignment with AFL clubs, revealed that joining Fremantle, West Coast and Collingwood in supporting the African nation’s footy aspirations could be another Victorian club, Carlton. The Carlton football club, which holds the VFL/AFL record for most premierships won, has encountered numerous problems over the past few years, not limited to poor performances on the field, although in 2007, the club seems to have put this period behind them whilst convincing multi-billionaire (and Australia’s third richest man), Richard Pratt to take over as president. The Blues are looking at taking on Johannesburg.

In addition to this, exhibition matches will continue to be held in London and Los Angeles, with others to be staged in Dubai, China and Japan (probable). South Africa will also play host to exhibition matches, as “a climax to (their) community camps”. Essendon is the backer of the Japanese program, and Melbourne, with assistance from the Melbourne City Council is supporting the Chinese program. Impressively, that is six AFL clubs giving direct support to overseas football organisations - a major turn-around in just a few years.

Dave Matthews said the AFL was, “keen to open new markets and expose the game to new groups” whilst also being happy to, “provide football to expatriates”. There is somewhere between 750,000 and a million Australians abroad.

Editor: And now for some wild speculation - AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou recently mentioned that if Essendon's Kevin Sheedy retires from coaching then the AFL has interest in acquiring him for a major role. This was the second time I'm aware of that Demetriou has alluded to plans for Sheedy. With the Bomber coach a long time advocate of developing Aussie Rules overseas, demonstrated by having coached the International Rules side, travelled to the US Nationals, having Essendon players travel to Japan and allowing US and Japanese players to take part in the Bombers' pre-season training, is it too much of a stretch to wonder whether the AFL would like him to become their high profile front man in the international push? Personally I think it's unlikely that Sheedy will retire or be pushed out at the end of 2007, but just maybe the AFL has big plans for him when he does stop coaching.

Another note is that the above list of countries that may receive AFL visits in 2007/08 is certainly exciting, but two obvious omissions are Papua New Guinea and New Zealand - will we ever see Geelong's supposed wish to develop the game "across the ditch" supported?