World Footy News

Over the past couple of years the Lazy Koalas team in Moscow and the St Petersburg Cats have revolutionised the state of the game of Australian Rules football in Russia. Their combined successes have seen a genuine increase in interest in the game after a slow burn initially. This interest is set to extend all the way to the Russian national team for the 2016 Euro Cup in Lisbon, Portugal with a novel and exciting recruitment tool.

The national selection process will see a combine take place, modelled as close as practical, to the combine testing events used across the world and through the AFL’s own Draft Combine. On 2nd July, potential players from both Moscow and St Petersburg can come and try out for national team selection with two spots up for grabs in each city for athletes from any field who excel and have the desire to try out the game.

For some this will be a fast-tracking of the highest order as players could go from no experience at all to national selection in the blinking of an eye.

There is also a spiel that has been promoted through some Russian media such as Sport Oddity (Read more: http://www.sports.ru/tribuna/blogs/sp...71989.html ) which appeals to the emotional desire in some to play a sport and represent their nation – live a dream.

Translated as closely as possible, the spiel reads “I’ve always wanted to play for the Russian national team. Admit it. You have too. It was my childhood dream to go out of the green playing fields in a match for the Russian national team and score the winning goal in the European or world championships. But with time, like everyone else, Responsibilities and jobs have become more important.”

“But we have good news for you. Here is a wonderful sport called Australian Football. There is a very real chance to represent Russia on a trip to the European Championships in Lisbon, Portugal.”

“We can help to give you a place in the team, help you to understand the rules, spend a few workouts together and play against the best guys of the continent!”

“What do we need from you? You need to be over 18 years, be prepared to exercise regularly, have played team sports (maybe an amateur rin rugby, football, basketball, American football - a major plus), be bold and psychologically stable.”

“You have the opportunity to travel at their own expense in Lisbon in October 2016, and be ready to come to the selection and training in Moscow or St. Petersburg.”

“The combine will take place in early July, after Saturday, July 2nd. The exact start time and location will be announced separately, depending on the number of preliminary applications. The selection will run tests in endurance and agility that will bring out the best. We will be kicking and catching at the end of the testing.”

“The best two athletes following selection In each city will be eligible to join the national Russian team and realize his dream.”

This is a novel and innovative approach towards selling the game of Australian Rules football, effectively from the top down – offering national opportunities which, in effect, would have a knock on effect to boost player numbers in Moscow and St Petersburg.

It certainly represents an exciting time for footy in Russia and might also, in time, revolutionise the approach of some nations to future selections processes.

It will be very interesting to watch the progress and gauge the success of the combines, but certainly credit has to go to both Russian teams – the Lazy Koalas in Moscow and the Cats in St Petersburg – for finding new ways to grow.