World Footy News

The end of a big week - once again, the following report provided by Ben Drew - AFL South Pacific Development manager.

Today was GRAND FINAL Day for the AFL U/15 Youth Oceania Cup in Fiji.

The weather was beautiful and the footy was terrific!!!

Huge thank you to Fiji Sports Commission & Coke for their partnership for the event! AFL Fiji, Siteri, Simon, Maciu, Matalita, Saula, Isimeli, Yabaki, Jiuta, Mere, Roko, Semesa, Va, Litia & everyone who has volunteered to run boundaries, do the goals & other jobs during the tournament. Once again AFL Fiji has been great in organising this event on the ground!

A reminder that Wednesday was a rest day, so after Tuesdays first day of four quarter championship matches - today saw the 2nd batch of four quarter games. The report below again provided by Ben Drew AFL South Pacific Development Manager.

Wednesday was a rest day and at 8:30am teams were sent to the Damadoor Aquatic centre for recovery session with Michael Hyndman from AFLQLD, the teams were then dropped off to Albert Park and taken through Social Media & Respect & Responsibility workshops. From 1pm Andrew Hughes from the AFL gathered all the coaches and took them through a coaching masterclass session.

A solid mark for Nauru.

The Australian Football League (AFL) today announced it would partner with Australia-wide Insurance Broker JLT (Jardine Lloyd Thompson) for the pre-season competition for the next three years, with today’s launch of the JLT Community Series in Melbourne. 

AFL General Manager Clubs and AFL Operations Travis Auld joined with JLT Chief Executive Leo Demer to announce the fixture for the 2017 JLT Community Series, which will see all 18 teams play three matches across a four-week stretch between Thursday February 16 and Sunday March 12, to lead into the 2017 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. 

‘JLT is the National Insurance Broker for the AFL, our 18 clubs and the State Associations across the country, with a relationship now of 13 years with football from the grassroots through to elite level of the game,” Mr Auld said

In slightly late news, the Tokyo Goannas wrapped up the 2016 AFL Japan season with a 40 point win over the Senshu Powers on Sunday November 27, held under lights at the Yokohama Country & Athletic Club.

Across the weekend just gone the season was wrapped up with the 2016 AFL Japan Awards night including the highlight of the evening - the naming of the 2016 'Peter Wilson Medalist'.

Looking ahead AFL Japan is setting sights on Melbourne 2017 and the International Cup in August next year. AFL Japan are taking registrations of interest and have set a December winter training schedule with more news to come with respect to January and February. The build up begins.

Again - the below match reports are courtesy of AFL Pacific Development officer Ben Drew.

Today saw Day 1 of the Oceania Cup component of the festival. With teams transitioning to 4 x quarter football on a fantastic Suva day!

Collingwood’s Kendra Heil will miss the inaugural AFLW season with scans confirming a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee.

Heil was injured innocuously during a training session last Tuesday. It is her third ACL injury, having undergone a reconstruction to her left knee in early 2016 and another to her right knee in 2008.

Ontario-born Heil relocated to Australia in 2013 to pursue Australian rules football after being a standout performer with the Hamilton Wildcats in the Australian Football League of Ontario.

Day 1 of the 2016 Oceania Youth Cup tournament has again fired up with a round robin Lightning Carnival. The 4 nations able to attend this year have warmed up for the week ahead. The following report is courtesy of Ben Drew - AFL South Pacific Development Manager.

The Auckland AFL Grand Final was one for the ages - as the Waitakere Magpies held off the reigning premiers - University Blues - for a narrow 7 pt win

AFL New Zealand report that in ideal conditions the Magpies got off to a flier with 3 quick goals, and were on top early largely via the efforts of mids Carlos Donnell-Brown, captain Shane Leat and the experience Dave Rattenbury.

The 2016 AFL Youth Oceania Cup junior football carnival gets under way this morning in Suva, Fiji. Teams and players from 5 South Pacific nations will compete in the most significant tournament for a number of years.

The Fiji Sports Commission has provided support for this years event – that sees an extended programme across the first 2 weeks of December.

The traditional U/15 boys tournament plays out this week and the 5 competing nations are Fiji Jnr Tribe, Nauru Stars, Solomon Islands Sharks, Tonga Thunder, Vanuatu Volcano's.

In late 2015 AFL New Zealand broke new ground with their inaugural draft for the 2016 AFL New Zealand Premiership. A four team super league is you will. This time around the draft was held again but with a 2nd year variation – each of the 4 sides was able to retain 13 of their list – a base roster – from the 2016 season to provide a level of continuity.

The 2017 competition will again see matches played over 9 rounds at Auckland’s QBE Stadium at North Harbour. The first round of matches will start on February 12th culminating in the final round on April 9th.

Hutt Park Wellington plays host today to the Wellington AFL 2016 Grand Final. First bounce at 3pm will see the Wellington City Saints engage in battle with the Eastern Suburb Bulldogs who have played in every grand final for the last 10 years and are gunning for a FourPeat.

While in Australia the Chappell-Hadlee One Day cricket series kicks into gear today – over in the land of the long white cloud attention may be directed elsewhere. Not by everybody mind you – but for AFLNZ it’s the big day of the year for the Auckland AFL with their Grand Final.

Waitakere Magpies take on the University Blues at Aucklands QBE Stadium (not that you would know it by checking “What’s on” via the stadium website!!) with ball up 2pm (local time) today. The scene is set for a monster game – the defending premier (Uni Blues) defend their crown against the thus far undefeated Magpies. The script writers have penned the dream encounter. In fact the Magpies will contest their 7th Grand Final in 8 seasons – lead this year by skipper Shane Tyson-Leat. The Uni Blues have perhaps had to do it the hard way this year, coming from 4th.