World Footy News

This weekend sees the first round of the Victorian Football League, Victoria's state league and home to both independent sides and teams affiliated with Victoria's AFL clubs. Players that don't get selected for their AFL clubs play in this league, just as West Coast and Fremantle players drop down to the Western Australian Football League and Adelaide and Port Adelaide players appear in the South Australian National Football League (the "National" is an historic artefact).

This weekend sees the VFL debut of two of international footy's trailblazers.

American Shae McNamara has been named as first ruck for Collingwood's second tier side against Williamstown in the VFL on Saturday, and Papua New Guinean Peter Labi is listed at half forward in the reserves of Carlton's feeder team, the Northern Bullants (i.e. VFL reserves). The Bullants' reserves play Williamstown's reserve grade, also on Saturday.

At one stage Labi and compatriot David Meli (Essendon) were having visa difficulties, so it's great to see one of them getting their chance in round 1.

Also making their VFL debut are the Gold Coast, but PNG's Stanis Susuve has not made their first round team. They play Port Melbourne at Southport in Queensland - possibly the first time a VFL side has had to travel outside of Victoria for a regular season match, with the exception of when Tasmania fielded a team? Susuve will instead line up for Labrador in the Queensland state league, and compatriot John James will again turn out for Mt Gravatt.

Essendon's Irishman, Michael Quinn, lines up for the Bendigo Bombers in the VFL. Across to South Australia and Adelaide's Irish recruit, Brian Donnelly, this year switched SANFL clubs from Glenelg to Central Districts in search of more opportunities, but this week (round 3) remains in the Doggies' reserves.

The continuing success stories are of course Tadhg Kennelly at Sydney (a first choice player off half back) and Setanta O'hAilpin at Carlton (establishing himself as a key forward).

These are just a few of the many internationals on AFL lists in 2010. A brief background to the others can be found on International Sportsmen recruited to the AFL - Current and AFL International Scholarship Listed Players - Current.