World Footy News

AFL International Cup Day: Dancing and smiling, wind and rain

by Jack Banister at The Footy Almanac

International footy is rare. The ovals of Royal Park lack the glamour you might find at a FIFA World Cup, but in the wind and the rain on Sunday, the visiting nations provided the sort of diversity of culture and style that befits a global event.

My favourite game of the 2014 FIFA World Cup was between Japan and the Ivory Coast in the group stage. It summarised perfectly what you want from an international contest – a clash of styles, as well as a meeting of cultures.
 

With the IC17 the first edition to include a round hosted by schools, a number of Victorian schoolkids were treated to some international footy action, many getting to meet players and learn about the grassroots of Australian rules football outside Australia.

At Mentone Grammar, German coach Mark Woods and national team members Fabian Cordts and Timm Rohrssen dropped by the school for the morning to visit Year 7 and Year 11 German classes, giving the students a chance to practice some German language skills and learn about the Eagles' journey to the IC, before the school's Year 7s all came out to watch the afternoon's matches. Read about it on the school's website German AFL players visit MG.

All across different parts of the Melbourne suburbs and in the regional city of Ballarat, other schools were making similar visits. The kids at Peninsula Grammar had made a banner for the GB vs Fiji Women's match, with one of the Peninsula students in the crowd having recently represented Victoria in the junior girl's Australian rules football championships.

Even the match at Linen House oval in Seaford (the only match not directly hosted by a school) saw a number of local primary school kids came along to spectate, with the Year 6 kids from Belvedere Park Primary School especially enthused by the Haka and Fijian Bole. Read more at International Cup treats Vic students to Footy Feast.

Thanks to all the schools involved!

Playing in his sixth international cup veteran Michito Sakaki (pictured left after the match)  showed his experience leading his team to a 19-point win over the Pakistan Shaheens at Marty Busch Rec Reserve in Sebastopol.  The match was moved from Mt Clear College as the ground there was deemed not up to standard for this match.  

Marty Busch Recreation Reserve was however in fantastic condition, outside of AFL venues one of the best prepared International Cup grounds I have personally seen.  Students from Mt Clear college were bussed to the ground and enjoyed the international footy experience.

 Northern Lights Amass a Monster Score over Gallant Shaheens

Current International Cup champion Canada predictably outclassed international footy newcomer Pakistan amassing a final score of 28 goals 18 behinds 186 points whilst the Shaheens were unable to worry the scoreboard operators.

Although one might think that the losing side would be devastated and demoralised by such a defeat this was not so as the Pakistan team could still smile at the conclusion of the match.

We sent out roving reporter Polly Fletcher to speak to the people attending the AFL International Cup at Royal Park during Round 1. 

2017 International Cup Round #2. Saint Patrick’s Ballarat - Women’s Pool A, Ireland Banshees vs Europe Crusaders Wednesday 9th August. 10.30am

It was a fine, sunny and cold morning in Ballarat with only dew making the surface of the immaculate ground a little slippery at first. The Banshees won as expected but by not by as much as expected. Not only did the crusaders play well as a team they were playing a team who had their coach on the ground for the entire game actively coaching. 

Maybe it was that the ground was in such good condition, maybe it was that they had just played each other in a warm up match last week, or maybe there is some sort of Pacific pact?  But the big hard body clashes we come to expect particularly from Nauru, (and make no mistake PNG are always up to match the tough stuff when it comes) were just not there in the amount we come to expect.  

Or maybe it is just that open play six goal opening quarter from PNG just took the sting out of Nauru? 

The German Eagles firmed as serious contenders for the Division 2 title today, with a big win over India at the Keysborough Playing Fields in front of a crowd of Year 7 students from Mentone Grammar.

The Germans were able to use their advantages in height and team structure to account for an improving Indian side.

The China Dragons maintained their unbeaten record at the IC17 today, with a 14-point win over Sri Lanka at the Mentone Grammar Keysborough Playing Fields.

In sunny conditions, the Chinese controlled the first half of the match before the Sri Lankans piled on five unanswered goals in the third term. Whilst it looked like Sri Lanka were set to clinch the win at 3/4 time, the Dragons steadied in the final term, kicking 4 goals straight, whilst Sri Lanka could only manage a single point.