World Footy News

The lifeblood of future Australian Rules football competitions world-wide is and will increasingly be the development of junior pathways. Ultimately, it will not be enough for the game to grow simply through ex-pat Australians overseas and local converts. To prosper, rather than stagnate or fall away, the leagues and clubs need the infusion of youth as its supply line.

Already there are increasing signs worldwide of Auskick clinics or similar growing across Europe, the USA, across Asia, Oceania and even in Chile, South America, across African countries and the Middle East. Almost everywhere the game is played junior programs of one sort or another are appearing to develop the next generation of players.

One more recent example has been the development of a junior program in Sweden at the Södermalm Blues club in suburban Stockholm. A recent chat with Jonas Raninen, Södermalm Vice President and Junior Team Manager, unearthed the background and logistics of their program, including potential for further growth and a vision for the future.
“We started out in 2013 with 4-5 kids and had a couple of AusKick sessions together with Bromma Vikings which is another club from the Stockholm area. Last year we had managed to recruit a few more kids and this was the first year that we ran regular trainings once a week for the juniors. The 2014 season also ended with a couple of official games being played in Stockholm. This year we have continued with trainings and have grown to 20+ juniors.”

“Today we at Södermalm have 23 juniors registered with the club. It’s hard to estimate the potential growth factor since this is a sport totally unknown for Swedish kids (and in the general Swedish society), but based on our development we should be able to recruit and retain around 10 kids per year.”

“It’s both extremely tough and easy at the same time to recruit. We don’t get “natural” recruits dropping in from the street, but then again most kids are very positive and easy to convince once they are introduced to it. It’s also a welcoming sport since all kids are new to it, which lowers the threshold for someone to start even at an older age. You don’t have to feel awkward about being new and inexperienced when everyone is just starting out.”

“We have always worked under the assumption that “if we build it – they will come”, so we just keep on building hoping to introduce as many kids as possible to this great sport that we love.”

“Hopefully we will soon see some of our players grow up and enter senior teams and the national team as some of the first Swedish kids that have grown up playing footy. Getting a junior development program in place we think is one of the most important things if we want to secure longevity in Aussie Rules in Sweden. The Swedish footy scene has mostly been built on Australian ex-pats coming here and a few Swedish enthusiasts putting in the efforts needed, but if we get regular junior trainings happening across the country then we will have a natural flow of new players entering the senior competitions as well.”

“At the moment the Södermalm Blues senior side of our club is supporting all the juniors, carrying the costs of trainings grounds, playing kit and footys so that we can offer free of charge training for the kids. The junior trainers are also putting in their time free of charge. Hopefully we can get some support from the municipality in the coming years, but at the moment we have no support, so the recent offer from AFL Europe to help out is most welcome.”

An insight provided by club stalwart, current senior player and Social/Media Coordinator, Jonathon Briscoe, on the club’s Facebook page shows that already the growth in local junior competitions is growing. “The kids are alright! For the third week in a row the Söder and Bromma juniors took to the field. With increasing experience we’re starting to see more advanced passages of play from the youngsters - new ruck combinations and quick hand balls and passes through the centre. Söder managed to get another close win under the belt.”

New groups through Facebook and other social media avenues are springing up as well. Grant Walsh, known for his development of the game in Germany and more recently junior programs in Stuttgart, kicked off a group for others trying to develop junior footy across Europe. As stated by Grant, “we are all about finding opportunities to develop junior footy (AFL) and school programs. We want to share experiences and find the most effective way to get kids playing. The long term future of footy in Europe starts with getting local kids involved. So… share info with others who are interested in the longevity of Australian Football in Europe.”

Recent endeavours include the Clapham Cubs junior program in London, the work of volunteers and school teachers across Ireland, Scotland and continental European countries and plans developing in others. Even ideas such as the Facebook page “Teaching Australian Rules Football” (see Teaching Australian Football) are set up to ensure that clubs everywhere can gain greater access to the tools needed to expand junior growth.

The Blues’ model is well on the way to echoing similar programs with the Farum Cats in Denmark. The dynasty created by Farum has gone hand in hand with their targeted youth/junior development Farum Juniors Drive Danish Dynasty. Södermalm is already a strong club in Sweden, but maintaining a strong junior base into the future will ensure that success remains and grows.

Certainly the Blues have given us another example of how to grow the game by chasing long term growth. There will be days and weeks when things won’t look so rosy, but the commitment to invest in and grow junior footy remains the only way to create a sustainable future for the game, and well done to the Södermalm Blues for doing so.

For more information about the Blues and their initiatives, visit their website at: http://www.sodermalmafc.se