World Footy News

The US and Canada have been playing each other in Aussie rules internationals almost yearly since 1999, with the US mostly holding sway. This Friday night in the NAB Cup qualifying final, two men from opposite sides of the border look likely to ruck against each other. Canadian Mike Pyke and American Shae McNamara have never played for their country, or for that matter played Aussie rules in their own countries. They are converts from rugby union and basketball that promoted themselves to Sydney and Collingwood as potential converts.

Nevertheless all those involved in the USAFL and AFL Canada will be very keenly following to see if the clash eventuates and how each performs. Pyke has become an established member of the Swans as a mobile ruckman after two years in Sydney. McNamara had a solid VFL season in 2010, his first season in the game. He now takes a step up to the Collingwood senior side for this NAB Cup match in which he will be hoping to demonstrate that he belongs at the higher level and set himself up for more AFL appearances in 2011.

COLLINGWOOD v SYDNEY SWANS

ETIHAD Stadium, Friday February 25, 7.40pm. All times are local

COLLINGWOOD 1. Leon Davis, 2. Chris Tarrant, 5. Nick Maxwell, 7. Andrew Krakouer, 8. Harry O'Brien, 12. Luke Ball, 13. Dale Thomas, 14. Luke Rounds, 15. Leigh Brown, 17. Dayne Beams, 19. Cameron Wood, 20. Ben Reid, 21. Sharrod Wellingham, 23. Lachlan Keefe, 25. Tom Young, 26. Ben Johnson, 27. Simon Buckley, 28. Ben Sinclair, 30. Brent Macaffer, 32. Travis Cloke, 34. Alan Toovey, 35. Alex Fasolo, 36. Dane Swan, 37. Kirk Ugle, 38. Scott Reed, 39. Heath Shaw, 45. Tom Hunter, 48. Jye Bolton, 50. Shae McNamara

 SYDNEY SWANS 1. Mark Seaby, 2. Rhyce Shaw, 3. Jarrad McVeigh, 4. Daniel Hannebery, 5. Ryan O'Keefe, 7. Brett Meredith, 8. Trent Dennis-Lane, 9. Nick Malceski, 10. Daniel Currie, 11. Jed Lamb, 12. Josh Kennedy, 13. Andrejs Everitt, 14. Craig Bird, 15. Kieren Jack, 16. Gary Rohan, 20. Sam Reid, 21. Ben McGlynn, 22. Byron Sumner, 23. Lewis Johnston, 24. Jude Bolton, 25. Ted Richards, 26. Luke Parker, 29. Martin Mattner, 32. Lewis Jetta, 33. Jarred Moore, 37. Adam Goodes, 38. Mike Pyke, 39. Heath Grundy, 42, Paul Bevan