World Footy News

Regular achievers the Dubai Heat will take on the Muscat Magpies this Friday to conclude the inaugural AFL Middle East season. The two clubs meet at The Sevens, a rugby stadium on the outskirts of Dubai. For those interested, the day kicks of at 11am and will also include Auskick, a reserves match between the Heat and the Dubai Dragons, and a playoff for third between the Dubai Dingoes and Abu Dhabi Falcons. Local media have committed to covering the event in print, on television and a local sports radio program. Read on for a summary of the first season and a preview of the two Grand Finalists.

Grand Final Preview

The Dubai Heat are the Middle East’s most successful Australian football club in terms of matches won. Formed by a group of mates they have gone on to win the Dubai 9s tournament in 2007 and 2008, and the 2008 Asian Championships. Unsurprisingly the Dubai Heat powered through their season winning five from five matches.

They will meet the Muscat Magpies in the final, whose involvement is much more unexpected. Formed out of local Gaelic club, Clann na hOman, they had their first taste of Australian football at the inaugural Dubai 9s tournament. Their breakthrough victory came at home against the Dubai Dingoes in late 2007 and they partook in the 2008 Dubai 9s tournament. The Magpies had a solid preseason, beginning training eleven weeks prior to their first match and it has paid off - they have won four of their five matches, only going down to the Heat.

The two meet at 3.30pm this Friday with the Heat keen to match their Round 4 form, which saw them defeat Muscat 17.14 (116) 8.9 (57). Jeremy Bruer, Australian ambassador to the UAE and patron of AFL Middle East will present the winner's trophy and Brownlow medallist Kelvin Templeton will present the Kelvin Templeton medal to the player deemed Best on Ground.

Season Wrap

The 2008-09 AFL Middle East season was the league's first. WFN spoke to Commercial Manager, Steven Nugent about its success.

Whilst not entirely problem-free, all matches did go ahead although some at a later date than scheduled. This is a major achievement for any league in its infancy, made more impressive as clubs were from four cities spanning three countries. Nugent was praising of the clubs' efforts, "the teams were brilliant with getting organised to travel. They have flown to some games and driven to Muscat (five to six hours) to play the Magpies. It is a credit to the teams that they have made a huge effort and travelled to fulfill their fixtures at a cost to themselves. I am not aware on any other AFL league that has participating teams in 3 different countries!"

A few teams even had player rosters large enough to support a second side. Consequently the Falcons, Dingoes and the Heat, "played reserves games against each other." Not planned at the tournaments conception, the reserves matches were used as a curtain raiser for the main events.

The league enjoyed good and regular coverage. "Dubai City 7 TV station covered the first league game and we have a media agreement with 7 days newspaper (a free daily read) who cover each round and results."

The first season did manage to generate, "quite a bit of interest from locals and impressively Abu Dhabi have a local on their list which is great. Depending on the teams and venue, crowds were between 200 and 400."

The major problem facing clubs was the difficulty to secure a venue. "The Falcons, Magpies and Kangaroos have all done well to secure the same venue for each game however the Dubai based teams have struggled due to the prices venues are looking to charge as well as lack of availability. We looked at alternative venues but several didn't allow the serving of alcohol, which would have affected spectator numbers. And with VB as the league's major sponsor we like to have signage at the venues here in Dubai."

All things taken into account AFL Middle East's first season was a resounding success and this means it's here to stay. According to Nugent, "we will sit down with the team representatives after the Grand Final and look at what needs to be changed for next year. The league will most definitely go ahead next year and despite the current economic climate we expect it to be bigger and better. All the current clubs will be competing next year. We may well see a team from Bahrain formed, there is also a group of guys trying to form another UAE team up in Al Ain and we may see a second team formed in Abu Dhabi which would be great. The league and the other clubs will give whatever help is needed to fledgling clubs."

Home and Away Ladder

Between Seasons

The Dubai Dingoes will be sending an AFL Middle East side to the Bali 9s Masters Tournament in June. They are trying to get fifteen players to attend, about half from the Dingoes and the remainder from other Middle Eastern clubs (and maybe even a few dads from Auskick). They are also seeking a sponsor to help fund the trip. If you are aged over 34 and would like to take part, or can offer sponsorship contact dubaidingoes [at] yahoo [dot] com [dot] au.

The third Dubai 9s Tournament will be held on 3 April 2009. A gala dinner will be held that evening at the Le Meridien Hotel, which will include a charity auction with proceeds going to the bushfire appeal. Tickets are still available, selling from 350 AED (includes wine and beer). Several signed AFL jumpers will be part of the charity auction, including those of Matthew Richardson, James Hird, Chris Judd, Lance Franklin, Mark Thomson & Tom Harley and the St. Kilda football Club (including Robert Harvey).