World Footy News

The AFL's All Australian team was announced back in September this year.  State of Origin football is in a long hiatus - but theoretical State teams are announced each year - a number of media outlets still name theoretical state teams and the Big Footy Forum has a selection of user submitted teams here for 2017.  They generally take in Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia as well as an Allies team (NT, Tasmania, ACT, Queensland and NSW). 

But what about the rest of the world? If the Rest of the World were to play against any of the teams above, what is the best team they could muster?  We have determined eligibility for our theoretical world selection along the line of the International Cup eligibility rules and we have named the 2017 World Team (so this does not include foreign born but Australian raised players).

This year we have named Irishman Zach Tuohy as captain of the 2017 team after his sucessful move to Geelong where he was a key part of the Cat's defence and featuring in finals footy.

As with the International Cup the coach can be Australian but should have a strong link with international football. This year we have selected David Lake the coach of the PNG Mosquitoes and assistant coach of the Brisbane Lions AFLW team.  Lake led the Mozzies to their second consecutive International Cup title.  

 As well as players now on full AFL lists, International Rookies (Cat B) and International Scholarship players this team includes;

• Sam Willatt  who was on the list at Sandringham this year but unfortunately didnt play much footy with a knee injury (sorely missed by the GB Bulldogs at IC17),
• Padraig Lucey who departed Geelong this year and played with Newtown in the Geelong Football Leauge, and also continued to be a dominant force in the Irish team at IC17
• Alex Aurrichio who departed Carlton and chased further chances in the NEAFL and the SANFL.
• Chen Shiaoliang who continues to be the face of Australian football in China, based at the Port Adelaide Football Club and debuted with the Port Adelaide Magpies this year. 
• Ben Carpenter-Nwanyanwu the American from the Austin Crows judged player of the tournament at IC17.
• Paul "Ace" Hewago Oea the PNG young gun awarded best on ground in the IC17 Grand Final and following his Under 16 Championships performances for Queensland is now part of the AFL Academy Squad. 
• Kiwis Will Gregson, Joe Baker-Thomas and Barclay Miller who have all spent time with the Sandringham/St Kilda VFL or TAC Cup setup.

This team is intended to be an annual announcement, you can see last year's team here.