World Footy News

Kevin Sheedy's tour of North America received a little more media attention in Melbourne today with an article in the Herald Sun on his presence at the USFooty National Championships. The article mentions Sheedy being given the key to the city of Louisville and some general comments on the standard of footy in the US and how it's risen in the two years since he was last in attendance.

In a sound bite that might spark debate in the USA, he also mentioned as an aside that the Minnesota Freeze - a fairly new club and Division 2 Champions - has the best young talent at the Champs, particularly helped by the Western Australian Football League partnership program.

Original article here. Sheedy unlocks US potential
Daryl Timms, 16th October 2007, Herald Sun

IT'S a long way from Windy Hill to Louisville, Kentucky, but former Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy is proving a hit with the Yanks.

He has already been presented with the key to the City of Louisville by mayor, Jerry E. Abramson.

Sheedy is on an American tour in his new role as an AFL ambassador and was in Louisville for the weekend's football carnival to celebrate 10 years of Aussie rules in the country.

He was accompanied by former Carlton player Stephen Silvagni.

And Sheedy, as always, was on the lookout for an international recruit. He said Minnesota has the best young talent.

"A couple of the local boys have been over to Fremantle and they have a very good program in Western Australia, which has been very beneficial," Sheedy said.

"There is plenty happening over here and it has come a fairly long way to be honest.

"The enthusiasm by the Americans is quite amazing and we are getting more and more of them behind it."

Sheedy and Silvagni made presentations after Denver defeated San Diego in yesterday's USAFL grand final.

The league started in 1997 with a five-team tournament on one field in Cincinnati, and has grown to 32 teams over four fields.

And the national titles boasted nearly 1000 players, who all played at least three games during the tournament.

Several clubs are now fielding women's teams.

Sheedy compared the standard of the grand final as similar to the football played in Melbourne's eastern suburbs.

He said all sides had to have a 50-50 mix of Australian expatriates and local players.

Sheedy believes it could be another five to 10 years before America produces a home-grown AFL player.

"It's worth pursuing, that's for sure," he said.

Sheedy and Silvagni have run clinics on tour and were guest speakers at a function attended by 800 people on Saturday, where the USAFL launched its hall of fame and announced its teams of the decade and an All-American team.

A ground for Australian rules and cricket in Fort Lauderdale is nearly completed and will seat 25,000 fans.

"It's 170m around, so it's big enough for football," Sheedy said.

As for getting the key to the city, Sheedy said he hadn't tried it in any locks -- yet.