World Footy News

To help improve Canada’s emerging junior talent in Australian Rules Football, AFL Canada are sending their Under 18 National Junior Team to tour Melbourne from August 16th- 28th. The Wolfpack, as they are know in Canada, will be competing in five matches against various local junior teams in the Melbourne area.

After playing the USA in Vancouver last August, the Wolfpack management sat down and looked at where they needed to go with the Canadian Junior National Team program to best prepare the kids for the Senior National Team.

With this in mind they began to explore the opportunity to travel to Australia to play against some local competition and have them see how they need to work hard to improve their game. And with the International Cup and the 150th anniversary happening this year, they also felt that this was the perfect time to bring the first Canadian Junior Team to Australia.

After securing monetary sponsorship from Darrel Lea Australia and Sleep Country Canada, product sponsorship from Darrel Lea, Kellogg's Australia, SPC Ardmona and Sports Unlimited the tour became a reality. The Sydney Swans, Hawthorn Hawks and Tourism Victoria have also lent the Wolfpack support by assisting them whilst they are in Melbourne.

All of the clubs that will be competing against the Wolfpack have also gone out of their way to help make the Canadians have a once in a lifetime experience for their travelling party, which is 52 including parents, players, coaches and siblings. You can view the players list here.

As for how the team is expected to perform, it is clearly understood that the Wolfpack will be up against it yet the team will try their hearts out and not quit. When speaking to coach Mike McFarlane he stated that “They (Wolfpack) are fit and can run all day and I think that some of their skills are going to catch some of the teams by surprise”. McFarlane also stated that “We lack experience playing on a full size field and this will be the weakest aspect of our game but a lot of our kids have been playing against the men in the Vancouver senior competition and this will allow them to compete against the clubs we are matched up against”.

AFL Canada hopes that the competing clubs will walk off the field with respect for their Canadian competition. AFL Canada also hopes that the AFL and its clubs will begin to see Canada as an area to look for kids wanting to come to Australia to play this great game. Hopefully this tour will open people's eyes to another nation that can become a feeder for players.

With Scott Fleming being AFL Canada’s first player from their junior program to move to Australia to concentrate on his footy and doing very well with Broadbeach in Queensland, they hope he is the first of many to follow suit. When discussing this with McFarlane he stated “Quite a few of our kids are already talking about doing the same thing as Scott has done and giving footy a chance. It is in the Canadian make-up to move to further your sports career and this takes one of the hurdles away that is sometimes associated with international players”.

During the trip the Wolfpack will also have an opportunity to view and support their Canadian senior side in the opening round of the International Cup when the Northwind takes on Finland. This will also provide each of the juniors with the unique opportunity to see what they are working towards in their future football careers.

Here's the itinerary for those interested in having a look, and to give some idea of the footy feast the Canadians will be packing into their stay.

Itinerary for the Wolfpack Melbourne Tour 2008

Saturday 16th August .

Arrive Melbourne for most.

Free day - Possibly see Essendon v Adelaide at Telstra Dome or Melbourne v West Coast Eagles at MCG or join Tony Morwood and the group to The Rising Sun Hotel to watch the Sydney Swans v Geelong on the big screen TV for a 7.10 PM start. .

Sunday 17th August .

Free day - Possibly see Richmond v Hawthorn at MCG or Carlton v Kangaroos at Telstra Dome.

Monday 18th August.

Mostly Free day until approx 2.00pm

WOLFPACK FOOTY GAME # 1 - Team Canada Wolfpack vs Ivanhoe (Kew High School) for 4.15pm start

Tuesday 19th August.

Free day.

Coach Jason arrives at 9.30am on NZ7 from Auckland.

Wednesday 20th August.

Free day until approx 5.00pm - 5.30pm Barbeque at Port Melbourne Football Club viewing their training session.

Thursday 21st August.

WOLFPACK FOOTY GAME # 2 - Team Canada Wolfpack vs De La Salle Year 9/10's for 11.00am start, followed by viewing De La Salle 1st 18 team v Clontarf college from Perth (Indigenous Academy team) and followed by supper & drinks for all - transfers provided by the school for 24 players.

Friday 22nd August.

Day visit to the country and Healsville sanctuary for kangaroo feeding and wildlife etc.

WOLFPACK FOOTY GAME # 3 - Team Canada Wolfpack v Healsville for 7.00pm start (under lights).

Saturday 23rd August .

Free day - Although Coach Mike will be going and taking anyone interested to see Port Melbourne vs Collingwood at 2:00 PM Teac Oval.

Possibly seeing Collingwood v Swans at Telstra Dome (night game) for those interested.

Sunday 24th August.

WOLFPACK FOOTY GAME # 4 - Team Canada Wolfpack v Port Colts 10:00am start - Afternoon Coach Jason will be going to see St Kilda v Adelaide at Telstra Dome (day game) 2pm start.

Monday 25th August.

WOLFPACK FOOTY GAME # 5 - Team Canada Wolfpack vs St Bedes College Year 9/10's for 1.30pm start - transport provided by the school again for players, rest need to make own way.

Tuesday 26th August.

Free day .

Wednesday 27th August.

- Seeing INTERNATIONAL CUP Round 1 Game - Team Canada Seniors v Finland at Royal Park North for 11.00am start - no transport provided at this stage.

Coach Jason departs in the evening at 6.55pm on Tiger Airways TT7308 to ADELAIDE at 1855.

Thursday 28th August.

Depart Melbourne for most of the group although a few families are staying until the 29th.