World Footy News

The Ontario AFL (check out their new website) has appointed Emile Studham as its Director of Marketing and Game Development, their second full time employee. Emile has a long history of success with Australian Football in Canada, including a track record in junior development that the League is keen to revive.

Emile Studham has been associated with the Ontario AFL and the Northwind program since he first played for the Toronto Dingoes in 2001. During that year, he won the League Best & Fairest award, returning to Australia in the middle of the season due to player commitments in his home town of Wonthaggi. But it turned out that his association with footy in Canada had only just begun.

Helping with the Northwind’s inaugural International Cup campaign in 2002, whilst living in Melbourne, he formed a solid working relationship with the then league president of the OAFL and Northwind coach, Greg Everett.
Returning to Toronto in 2003, with the help and support of Greg, Emile became the founding president and coach of the Etobicoke Kangaroos, who still compete today within the OAFL. During this year, he also created the Auskick-Canada program. Teaching over 11,000 children, throughout 14 schools and 30 summer camps that year alone, the Junior Development program was a great success.

Returning home to Melbourne, Emile became a teacher and subsequent year 9 co-ordinator of Kew High School from 2004 – 06. During 2005, he was assistant coach of the A Grade Amateur team, Old Melburnians. During that year, he won the club Best & Fairest and ran the club’s fitness and rehabilitation program.

Fortunately for the league, Emile returned in August 2007 to Toronto, for a friend’s wedding. It was during this time, his love for football in Canada and teaching re-ignited.

After a short stint back in Melbourne, completing a 6 week Sales & Marketing course, Emile has returned to Toronto to fulfil the role for the OAFL as Director of Marketing and Game Development. He will again coach the Etobicoke Kangaroos, be involved in a coaching role with the Northwind program and run the league's Junior Development program, through his Auskick-Canada Program.

His responsibilities in this new role will be in the areas of:

• Sponsorship and Membership for both Northwind and the OAFL
• Recruiting and Coaching
• Developing Media exposure and advertising
• Youth Development
  

Emile’s enthusiasm, knowledge for the game, along with his teaching experience, will play an invaluable part in the success of Australian Football in Canada in 2008, and years to come.

Stay tuned as we hope to have some more exciting development news from Canada in the next few weeks.