Teams finalised for AFL European Challenge JLT All-Stars Curtain Raiser

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Teams finalised for AFL European Challenge JLT All-Stars Curtain Raiser

Wednesday, October 31 2012 @ 04:27 pm ACDT
Contributed by: Tobietta Rhyman
Views: 5,951

After a few late withdrawals due to injuries, the two European All-Stars teams from the AFL European Challenge curtain raiser have been confirmed, and the players are listed below.

The Islands team features 9 Irish players from the Euro Cup champions Warriors team and 7 English players from the 3rd placed Dragonslayers.

Over on the Continental team, Danish Euro Cup runners up team and Euro Bowl winners France have 3 players each featuring in the team, with the remainder a fair mix of the best the rest of Europe has to offer,

The AFL European Challenge will be held this Saturday 4th of November at Kia Oval. The curtain raiser will start at 1pm, with the main event, Western Bulldogs vs Port Adelaide, starting at 3:30

Tickets are still available for £20 and can be purchased online from http://www.kiaoval.com

European Islands

Head Coach – Shaun McElhone – Ireland
Asst Coach – Pall Finsson – Iceland
1. Luke Booth – England
2. Ryan McCloskey – Ireland
3. Gerard Walls – Ireland
4. James Flavin – Ireland
5. Matt Kilheeny – England
6. Liam Corbett – Wales
7. Alasdair Lindop – Scotland
8. Kevin O’ Brien – Ireland
9. Eoin O Suileabhain – Ireland
10. Levi Fernandez – England
11. Andy Smith – Scotland
12. Ian Mitchell – England
13. Leifur Bjarnason – Iceland
14. Pall Finnsson – Iceland
15. David Lally – Ireland
16. David Saunders – Wales
17. Tom Exton – Scotland
18. Kevin McSorley – Ireland
19. John O’ Regan – Ireland
21. Sean Walton – England
23. Martyn Hinchey – England
35. Sam Brunton – England

Continental Europe

Head Coach – Daniel McClaer – Sweden
Asst Coach – Nicola Giampaolo
1. Zvonimir Murkovic – Croatia
2. Wilfried Houvion – France
3. Joost Van Der Hulst – The Netherlands
4. Johan Lantz – Sweden
5. Jakob Jung – Germany
6. Tom Browne – Finland
7. Joe Durling – The Netherlands
8. Rene Damborg – Norway
9. Jonas Nielsen – Denmark
10. Giovanni Alloisio – Italy
11. Niccolo Di Giorgi – Italy
12. Fillippo Alloisio – Italy
13. Josip Kravar – Croatia
14. Chris Martensson – Sweden
17. Troels Ottesen – Denmark
18. Aksel Bang – Denmark
19. Matthias Klusermann – Germany
20. Alban Schieber – France
21. Natis Johansson – Sweden
23. Gregoire Patacq – France
24. Tommaso Arnulfo – Italy
55. Tomislav Cvetko – Croatia

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Teams finalised for AFL European Challenge JLT All-Stars Curtain Raiser

Authored by: bernfried
on Thursday, November 01 2012 @ 04:16 am ACDT

I have to admark at at least four of the best danish players won´t come to this event, simply because they can´t affort to travel the thirt time this year around in europe just to play for a totaly unexpirienced team, that will get slaughtert by the hometeam from the ilands. Afl uses tousands of pounds to send professional teams, but they can´t affort to help the europe players.

greatings from Danmark

Bernfried

Teams finalised for AFL European Challenge JLT All-Stars Curtain Raiser

Authored by: Brett Northey
on Thursday, November 01 2012 @ 07:37 am ACDT

That is a shame. We're all aware that the international arm of the AFL (game development) are not flush with money and have to use it wisely, but you would like to think that for a curtain raiser to an actual AFL match that the AFL (not game development) could cover the cost of flights within Europe so that the teams could put on the best show possible.

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

Teams finalised for AFL European Challenge JLT All-Stars Curtain Raiser

Authored by: Eurofooty
on Thursday, November 01 2012 @ 09:28 am ACDT

5% of the gate would go a long way to helping getting the best players selected on merit over for the game. Hopefully this can be tabled in planning for the next match.

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

Teams finalised for AFL European Challenge JLT All-Stars Curtain Raiser

Authored by: Michael Christiansen
on Thursday, November 01 2012 @ 05:05 pm ACDT

A shame Izzy Folau didn't pull the pin a bit earlier - the savings there could've covered the travel costs many times over.

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

Teams finalised for AFL European Challenge JLT All-Stars Curtain Raiser

Authored by: Cam Homes
on Friday, November 02 2012 @ 02:12 am ACDT

The travel costs of the Europeans wouldn't make much of dent in A D's salary either.

AFL mindset focus on big game/money - 95%, how to boost the game at grassroots level - 5% maybe?????

I reckon a lot of the spectators that will have paid the 20 pounds to go to the game are players who now have 20 pounds less to spend showcasing the game every week around Europe and providing the opportunity for the people inspired to go play Aussie rules after watching the big game. Being inspired is pointless unless there is a local comp to go play in.

I guess the question is - How much is the AFL going to give back to the sport in Europe or is it just gunna take the gate and fly back to Aus.

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

Teams finalised for AFL European Challenge JLT All-Stars Curtain Raiser

Authored by: Tobietta Rhyman
on Friday, November 02 2012 @ 07:56 am ACDT

The AFL will not give you the money to run your league. You will have to work it out for yourself. However, for independant leagues which do turn a profit, you do risk being taken over by them, as what happened to the VWFL the year they made a profit. This might be relevant to large organisations such as USAFL and some leagues in Europe in a few years. (in my personal opinion, the VWFL doesn't seem any worse for being managed by AFL Victoria and now has lots of coaching and umpiring courses and masses of junior development)

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AFL England Women's Football Co-ordinator; WFN Female Football Writer

Teams finalised for AFL European Challenge JLT All-Stars Curtain Raiser

Authored by: Harley Vague
on Friday, November 02 2012 @ 09:04 pm ACDT

The issue of cutting up the income pie is always emotional. I can see the the AFL side of things whereby they say "you have to show us that something is there" but that is what most leagues have done over time. Some perspective - the salary cap for a WAFL is roughly equivalent to one decent AFL player and we know the first thing that happenned when the AFL received a TV rights winfall a large chunk was consumed by player demands. There is always going to be a tight lid on spending but that shouldn't exclude special cases or special projects. This is a special event, with an audience. The cost of a few airfares in this case might result in some of the football onlookers achieving a bit of inspiartion to do something concerned with Australian Football.

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AFL England Women's Football Co-ordinator; WFN Female Football Writer

Teams finalised for AFL European Challenge JLT All-Stars Curtain Raiser

Authored by: Troy Thompson
on Friday, November 02 2012 @ 09:11 pm ACDT

I assume that AFL Europe aren't getting a cut of the cake? Wouldn't mind seeing the teams go around at half time in the main game with blankets for the crowd to toss in a pound or two. Might not cover airfares but might cover a good night out for the All Star teams. I could also understand if players considered this a bit demeaning.

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AFL England Women's Football Co-ordinator; WFN Female Football Writer

Teams finalised for AFL European Challenge JLT All-Stars Curtain Raiser

Authored by: Eurofooty
on Saturday, November 03 2012 @ 04:25 am ACDT

I guess it depends on whether the organisations overriding goal is to execute a top-down development program of elite talent towards the AFL draft and international rookie programs (with the primary goal of seeing international players get elevated to the playing lists), or to do a "land-grab" and focus on bottom-up strengthening of the volunteer corps & grassroots (thereby enabling establishment of the game in new areas over the longer term) and encourage international competition.

The school of thought at play here is that if you succeed at the former, you will probably have some successes with the latter.

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AFL England Women's Football Co-ordinator; WFN Female Football Writer

Teams finalised for AFL European Challenge JLT All-Stars Curtain Raiser

Authored by: Cam Homes
on Sunday, November 04 2012 @ 03:11 am ACDT

Eurofooty, couldn't agree more. You have put my thoughts much more succinctly than I have been able.

Probably I would rephrase you last sentence thus, -school of thought at play by the organisations(AFL), if you succeed at the former, you will (or they hope) or just might have some success at the latter.

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AFL England Women's Football Co-ordinator; WFN Female Football Writer

Teams finalised for AFL European Challenge JLT All-Stars Curtain Raiser

Authored by: Harley Vague
on Monday, November 05 2012 @ 07:58 pm ACDT

IMO you need a balanced approach and no one template fits all situations. When South Melbourne relocated to Sydney everybody thought enough had been done but it has taken a lot of hard work to get grassroots flourishing in Sydney. Overseas, there are examples of Auskick type programs generating flattering participation numbers but there is a large gap to consolidate community football. Whatever comes first - promotion or grassroots, needs to followed by the other for maximum effectiveness. I would suggest you'd achieve maximum effectiveness with a broad, well constructed program such as a promotional game, a local game, Auskick, meet the players as well as targetting educational reps, sponsors and media.

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AFL England Women's Football Co-ordinator; WFN Female Football Writer

Teams finalised for AFL European Challenge JLT All-Stars Curtain Raiser

Authored by: Tobietta Rhyman
on Tuesday, November 06 2012 @ 05:06 am ACDT

Very difficult for AFL Europe as they don't have any say in the running of the 21 affiliated European leagues. All they can do is encourage and support the focus on juniors. They do very well with this with the European Legion team, various combines and the range of grants and advice available for clubs developing junior programmes. Word about London this weekend was they're planning a Euro-kick summer camp for kids too!

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AFL England Women's Football Co-ordinator; WFN Female Football Writer

Teams finalised for AFL European Challenge JLT All-Stars Curtain Raiser

Authored by: Harley Vague
on Tuesday, November 06 2012 @ 07:27 pm ACDT

Is Eurokick the official buzzword?

Quite like it.

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AFL England Women's Football Co-ordinator; WFN Female Football Writer

Teams finalised for AFL European Challenge JLT All-Stars Curtain Raiser

Authored by: Cam Homes
on Tuesday, November 06 2012 @ 08:56 pm ACDT

Tobi

The AFL as the "world ruling body" for Australian Rules Football also runs the major league, the "AFL".

The IRB is the world ruling body for Rugby, it does not run any of the leagues/national competions. Its rulings and actions(RWC) are made for the 'good' the sport, Rugby.

Likewise FIFA (tho recent allegations of corruption) puts that organistion onto some doubt whether it has always acted for the good of the sport:-)

AFL Europe is also in the position to act for the 'good" of the sport in Europe, and I believe/hope that it will get better at doing that. The Islands v Continent match obviously had secured a sponsor (JLT) whoever or whatever that is. Maybe that sponsor could be secured for "international tests" between European nations over the next couple of years.

I think the point that Harley Vague and EuroFooty and myself are trying to get across is that when the AFL(ruling body) does its thing(London match, international promotions, combines (especially) etc.) the mind set is mainly for the good for the AFL (the competition) than the good of the sport, tho' there is the hope that the some of the success (as Eurofooty put it) will rub off on the sport internationally.

Could we say that although AFL Europe is more like the IRB than the AFL, its boss's (Ben MacCormack) salary is paid by the AFL so is still inclined to 'think' "AFL" rather than "Aussie Rules".

Very difficult you say for AFL Europe as it doesn't run the leagues, but giving the leagues assistance to do all these things you and Harley mentioned (and it appears to be doing that now) even if only to lend the 'prestige' of AFL Europe to the things the leagues are doing or attempting to do to promote footy.

I don't think any criticism is being levelled at AFL Europe at what it is doing at this level. Possibly what people are pondering is, what more it could be doing if the mind set of the AFL was different.

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AFL England Women's Football Co-ordinator; WFN Female Football Writer

Teams finalised for AFL European Challenge JLT All-Stars Curtain Raiser

Authored by: Cam Homes
on Tuesday, November 06 2012 @ 10:02 pm ACDT

I'll try to put this idea of top down promotion v "land-grab" bottom up focus and how it relates to the idea of what is good for AFL v what is good for footy internationally in anothger way

The AIS/AFL Juniors were taken to the AIS High Performance facility in Italy earlier in the year - excellent promotionally, mind set "AFL".

The Legion lads all taken along at the same time -excellent promotionally, mind set "Aussie Rules/footy/the sport" especially in Europe.

Let's hope that happens on 2013.

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AFL England Women's Football Co-ordinator; WFN Female Football Writer

Teams finalised for AFL European Challenge JLT All-Stars Curtain Raiser

Authored by: Brett Northey
on Wednesday, November 07 2012 @ 06:22 am ACDT

I agree with some of what has been said, but I'm not sure you can say of AFL Europe that their "boss's (Ben MacCormack) salary is paid by the AFL so is still inclined to 'think' "AFL" rather than "Aussie Rules"."

Ben is appointed by the AFL Europe Commission so surely answerable to them. He's working on the ground in Europe so I would expect after this long he'd be in tune with the locals.

I'm with Harley that really development has to be driven at all levels. The top end exhibitions help but there has to be grassroots to benefit from any interest generated. There has to be community clubs and there has to be juniors to keep feeding into them. With limited resources the temptation is to focus on just one aspect. But we're yet to see, just about anywhere in the world, the ability to connect significant junior numbers through to clubs, with the obvious exception of Australia and possibly PNG and Nauru.

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

Teams finalised for AFL European Challenge JLT All-Stars Curtain Raiser

Authored by: Cam Homes
on Wednesday, November 07 2012 @ 06:33 pm ACDT

Brett

I'm with Harley too. Development has to be balanced, unfortunately, I think it is weighted way too far in favour of the "AFL mindset" at present.

Yes, I think Ben MacCormack is probably in tune with the locals, but it was not his decision to hold the London exhibition match, (or the Combine for that matter) the AFL engaged a professional events company to stage the match I believe, so Ben's input would have been limited (getting the Islands v Continent was his baby I believe) and I reckon he has to be congratulated for being able to get that match included.

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

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