World Footy News

Rain greeted all nations at they arrived for Day 5 of the AFL 2024 Transatlantic Cup in Toronto today. The host nation Canada went into today’s first match against France with a 1-1 record, the French 0-2. A win would mean Canada go to the semi-final, or alternatively a big win might see France through.

In the wet conditions it was Canada who dominated early and had the ball in their forward half for most of the match. The slippery ball made kicking for goal difficult and assisted the spoiling efforts of the Gauloises back six.

Thillay and Chasse among the best defenders for France while Simoneau, Groseiller and Galtier work hard around the stoppages.   Canada would have been a little disappointed they couldn’t convert more of their inside 50s but Robertson and Irwin with two goals each were dangerous anytime the ball was in their vicinity while Gaillard seemed to be everywhere for the Northern Lights and set up many of their goal chances.

In the end the French could not score, and it was a 57 point win to the Canadian women, giving them a 2-1 record, and securing a semi final against the USA Freedom on Thursday.

The rain continued to fall, and in theory that could have helped the Colombian newcomers against the highly experience Irish Banshees team.  If that was so, then the margin may have been greater than thirty goals. 

As it was the Banshees managed seven goals in the first term while the ball was dry and the legs were fresh.  Colombia defended with all their might, but the Irish used the ball well, kicking to leads and to space to avoid the defenders.   With veteran Marie Keating being rested, Shannon Stevenson at full forward took full advantage kicking five goals in the first half, and seven for the game.  This puts her at the top of the goalkicking table after she kicked two goals in round 1 for a total of 9 goals for the tournament so far.  

For the Banshees Kendrick with 4 and Noonan, Condon and Troy with 2 each were the other multiple goal scorers in the 140-point victory.  This took them to 2-1 in the tournament and they will play in the semi-final against Great Britain on Thursday.  

Gualteros, Laura Garcia and Laura Rodriguez the best for a well beaten Colombian team today.    The Colombians have a rematch on Thursday against France and will be looking to notch up their second win.  

The final match of the day looked like it would be the close one, at least it was the closest one of the day.  The first half was all USA Freedom as USAFL President April Lewis kicked the first goal of the match and Blecher and Sygulla kicked running goals to shut out the GB Swans in the first half.  

The addition of former AFLW player Dani Marshall, who missed the first two matches, seemed to make her teammates stand taller, and Dani herself played confidently across half back, marking, spoiling and kicking long to thwart the bet efforts of the Swans to move the ball into their forward 50.   Former Collingwood VFLW player Jess Blecher has been busy in all three games so far, but today was probably the best of them, as she set drove numerous attacks into the Freedom’s forward 50. 

The shutdown continued until the final quarter by which time the Swans trailed by 34 points.  They did suddenly find a way through, and an unlikely comeback looked possible when Newell and Hyna kicked goals for the Swans.  But the US settled and saw off the challenge to win by 21 points at the final siren.  

Tomorrow we will see Round 3 of the men’s matches at Humber College, with Ireland vs USA, Canada vs France and finally Great Britain vs Colombia with finals places up for grabs.