World Footy News

Melbourne's The Age newspaper reported today that the Victorian state government was "on the verge" of providing financial backing for an exhibition match in Los Angeles, likely to be held at UCLA on January 20th next year. The article, in Craig Hutchison's Pssst column, also mentioned that if the match can become a regular event in the AFL's calendar it was a possibility to become a NAB cup match in future.

Full article reprinted below (not available on the Age website).

Victoria nabs LA clash
by Craig Hutchison

PSSST hears the Victorian Government is on the verge of providing backing for another exhibition match in January in Los Angeles. The game, likely to take place at UCLA on January 20, will feature two as yet undecided Victorian teams to help promote Melbourne and Australian football into the Los Angeles market.

Australian Consul General for the US West Coast, Innes Willox, is in Melbourne and is expected to hold talks with the State Government this week.

Should the match regain a toehold in the sporting calendar, then, given its timing, it has claims on an eventual inclusion in the NAB Cup.

Meantime, a planned match in Dubai between Collingwood and Adelaide seems certain to go ahead on February 8. It could yet be given NAB Cup status.