World Footy News

Following on from our story on the AFL's press conference for the International Cup (see Warrnambool to co-host 2008 International Cup), in this story we present photos and audio from the day, and links to some of the local media coverage. The AFL's General Manager of Game Development David Matthews briefs journalists, the Mayor has a chat and Kevin Sheedy spruiks for the internationalising of footy. Many thanks to WFN reporter Troy Thompson for making the six hour return journey for the press conference.

Audio:

Press conference welcome from David Matthews, AFL Game Development

Mayor's welcome

Kevin Sheedy - part 1

More audio to follow later.

Media articles (excerpts and links):

Sheedy brings us the world, by Kate Butler, Warrnambool Standard.

An economic boom will hit the region with more than 800 international visitors set to visit the south-west when Warrnambool hosts the 2008 AFL International Cup... This is the best thing that has happened to the development of the game and Warrnambool is getting this great opportunity to be involved... We are thinking that each school could adopt a country and have visits from them and keep track of them.

Global Goals, by Monique Crapper, Warrnambool Standard.

WARRNAMBOOL will become a vital part of the AFL's 150th anniversary celebrations next year by hosting the $5 million AFL International Cup... Yesterday representatives from the AFL - including 150-year anniversary ambassador Kevin Sheedy - and the Victorian Country Football League, Hampden and Warrnambool and District football leagues attended the event launch at Reid Oval... The International Cup is about the future of the game and the AFL has invested in excess of $3 million as a one-off celebration of 150 years... Matthews said the AFL recognised international development as a major area of investment and have allocated $2 million this year.

The world according to Sheedy, by Monique Crapper, Warrnambool Standard.

ROUND one of the AFL will be played overseas within a decade, according to Essendon's most famous coach Kevin Sheedy... Sheedy has also encouraged the adoption of foreign players allowing an American footballer, Ethiopian immigrant and more recently two Japanese AFL enthusiasts to train with the Bombers.

Out and about, Sheedy still spreads the word, by Peter Hanlon, realfooty.com.au.

In August next year, Hlomela will return to Australia as South Africa's coach, one of the 800 of the 34,000 people playing our game beyond our shores who will contest the 2008 AFL International Cup... "One of the greatest criticisms about the game in my life's time is that it's not international," Sheedy told a gathering at Reid Oval... "But there's no reason why you can't inspire people to be involved in turning our great Australian game into an international game. Welcome them, and in 10 years' time, when we're playing a game for AFL premiership points in Mumbai, you can take some of the credit"... Sheedy has just returned from the 10th annual Australian Rules Championships in the US, and saw a standard he likened to D-grade amateurs. He reckons the display from the South African youth team in a curtain-raiser to an Essendon match in Darwin this year "showed we won't be wasting our time here"... "We've got to work now to make sure we don't miss the wave," he said.

David Matthews (right), Kevin Sheedy (front) and Mayor Atkinson (left) at Reid Oval, Warrnambool.

David Matthews and Kevin Sheedy at the press conference.