World Footy News

The Canadian Wolfpack, the U18 Canadian National Team, are touring Australia in August to take on some of Australia’s best youth teams. The Wolfpack dominated the U18 US Revolution team when they played in August 2007, and they are using this tour to measure themselves against the best young talent in Australia. A touring party of between 80 and 100 people including players and families will be heading to Melbourne in August where they will play at least four games including games against the Port Melbourne Colts and Kew High School. While the tour will coincide with the International Cup and organizers are hoping to be involved in some way, the tour is not officially part of the Cup.

Most of the Wolfpack team is derived from graduates of the North Delta Junior Footy program. The premier junior footy program in North America and possibly one of the best outside Australia, the North Delta program includes boys and girls playing in U12, U14, U16 and U18 footy. The program also provides pathways into the British Colombia footy teams and the Canadian Northwind.

Former AFL Canada President and founder of the North Delta program, Mike McFarlane hopes that this team makes an impression in Australia. “We also hope to make an impression on the footy community while there and open up the door to the fact that there are other nations beside SA and PNG that are starting to produce quality players and especially with the new international list now available to AFL clubs that they may be willing to start looking in our direction.” Another product of the North Delta league, Canadian Scott Fleming, has relocated to Queensland to play for the Broadbeach Cats. According to afl.com.au journalist Chelsea Roffey, Fleming is working to make it to the AFL.