World Footy News

The USAFL has revealed today on their website that they will have two representatives on the World XVIII team in the Australian Under16 Championships in Sydney this July. 

Brad Heicklen (pictured left) is perhaps not such a big suprise as it was revealed that he would be in the squad back in February.  Heicklin has been working for a number of years on punting and discovered footy through ESPN and subsequently hooked up with the Beachside Sharks in California.  This year he has been playing as an onballer with the club in the SCAFL and the 14 year old shows great promise.  His World XVIII audition tape can be seen below.

Nolan Ellis (pictured right) is perhaps the first of what we hope to see as generational American footy players.  His dad Tom Ellis (and uncle Charley) played with the multi championship winning Denver Bulldogs and represented the US Revolution at multiple International Cups.  He has literally grown up with the game in Denver and attended the 2005 International Cup in Melbourne.  He began playing with Denver last year and has show great potential so far.  The 16 year old will head to Perth this week to get some Australia experience under his belt before the Championships in July.   His World XVIII audition tape can be seen below.

Proud father Tom (also a former US Revolution head coach) shared Nolan’s reaction on the USAFL website “He is excited to meet all the other players and just absorb all he can while he is there.  He just wants to represent the USA, USAFL and the Denver Bulldogs well both on and off the field.  The outpour from family, friends and teammates has been awesome.  He just can't wait to get there! “