World Footy News

Across the first weekend of September, the Australian Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs, Mr Richard Marles, was in the Solomon Islands. The Australian High Commission in Honiara released a press release last week stating that Marles met with young Solomon Islands (AFL) footy players, coaches and members of the SIAFL committee. By itself, this is nice, but, on the basis of a gradual build up, Richard Marles in the Solomons is a sign of a growing interest in footy from Australian political circles.

During the International Cup it was reported that the Australian Federal Government had co-signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the AFL's International Development Managar, Tony Woods. Under the MOU, the Australian Government pledges to work with the AFL to support game development overseas. In return the AFL will assist the Government to promote trade and investment via Australian Football as the "platform".

Part of the arrangement includes that the AFL where possible will hold at least one exhibition game annually to promote trade and brand opportunities with early notification of the Government; and in return the Government will provide assistance to the AFL by identifying up to 4 "profiling events" overseas annually, and facilitate interaction between the AFL and potential corporate sponsors for AFL international events.

The MOU is seen as a formalisation of a continuing relationship. In 2008, well known North Melbourne tragic and former opposition leader, Simon Crean as Minister for Trade declared Australian Football as an "export product". We've seen the South Pacific squad play a game against Nth QLD locals at the 2009 Pacific Islands Forum in Cairns and Melbourne take on Brisbane in Shanghai last year.

Richard Marles is the member for Corio in the Geelong region in Victoria. To see Marles getting involved so soon afterward is encouraging. That he is regarded a bit of a footy tragic is evidenced by some of his writings on his beloved Geelong Cats (and city of Geelong) that can be read on thePunch website, where he also wrote a poignant article titled "The power of sport to cross cultural divides" in Dec 2010. Marles writes about seeing footy in Nauru as the local youth team was preparing for its assault on the 2nd Youth Oceania Cup (last December in Tonga).

Marles wrote "While the Youth Oceania Cup has been intriguing in its potential to internationalise our uniquely Australian game, a bigger lesson can be drawn from the tournament, namely the power of sport in our foreign relations with the Pacific."

He went on.... "In a diplomatic environment where cultural differences abound between Australians, Melanesians and Polynesians, a love of sport becomes a powerful and important point of cultural commonality."

"It transcends recreation and becomes a source of identity. It also becomes a wonderful tool to promote important social messages through role models and to positively influence behaviour."

"All of which is why the AFL, the NRL, and other sporting organisations in our country play an unheralded and vital diplomatic role in the Pacific. There is a genuine fondness for Australia in the nations of the Pacific. Sport has a lot to do with it.”

And so, back to the Australian High Commission (Honiara) release that states that Marles recognised the natural sporting talent of the Solomon Islanders and reinforced that Australia was committed to helping develop sport in the country, and AFL in particular in the Pacific and Solomons including through the Australian Sports Outreach Program and Australian Volunteer positions.

On behalf of the SIAFL, Development Officer, Mr Job Vulita and Australian Volunteer Mr Eddie Burton declared the SIAFL and players as being honoured that Mr Marles had taken the time to visit, and thanked the Australian Government for its support. Mr Marles was presented with a Solomon Sharks footy jumper. Mr Marles was able to impress the locals with his own footy skills as he took to the field for a kick.

Followers of Australian football and its growing international reach can rest assured that Richard Marles is an important ally. Marles was full of praise for the AFL Youth Oceania Cup for, amongst other things, for carrying "..our flag in a profound way."

Very topically, Mondays business section of the Age carried this story "How footy makes a mark in business", penned by Tim Harcourt who is a visiting fellow at the Australian School of Business (UNSW). Harcourt points out a number of what he calls direct linkages between AFL and the world of international business and finishes up by reminding us "....this game is not only a spectacle but it is also a great way for Australia to promote its image beyond its shores." Note Tim Harcourt, as Chief Economist of the Australian Trade Commission has penned books "Beyond Our Shores : Essays on Australia and the Global Economy: 1999-2004" and "Going the Distance : Essays on Australia and the Global Economy: 2004-2008". For anyone unaware - check out the cover of "Going the Distance". Harcourt, when it suits, is often quoted by Soccer advocates as being a Socceroos fanatic, follows Sydney FC and supports Liverpool and Roma; so, there is no accusation of a pro-AFL bias that could be levelled at him regarding his positive rap on the AFL.