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

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.

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.

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.

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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