World Footy News

Ironically the week after AFL South Pacific graduate Kurt Heatherley made his senior AFL debut – a young man from Vanuatu will lead the Sydney Swans onto the field in their crucial match against St Kilda this weekend at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne. Keep a look out for the Vanuatu flag.

The first week of August saw an important progam held at the Holiday Inn in Suva, Fiji, with the AFL Fiji Staff Conference. In recent months Simon Highfield has joined as AFL Fiji’s new development officer and AFL Fiji have also received support from Australia’s Pacific Sports Partnerships Program. Once again – this December Fiji will be hosting the AFL Oceania Cup. However – last week it was the AFL Fiji staff getting upskilled – along with training from the Fiji Ministry of Health & Medical Services and the Fiji Women’s Crisis centre with an aim to inclusion of awareness messages into the AFL Fiji school and community programs.

The 2016 BSP PNG Games are to be hosted in the West New Britain Province of Papua New Guinea. 22 provinces take part in 24 games – including para-sports and including AFL. Across 4 locations within the provincial capital of Kimbe. As a note, Kimbe Bay is said to host more than 60% of the coral species of the entire Indo-Pacific while Kimbe itself is the third largest port in PNG and said to be the fastest growing city in the South Pacific.

After one of the most evenly contested seasons by two clubs heading to the Grand Final, the West London Wildcats asserted their authority on Grand Final day to claim the flag they wanted so much and prove they were the best team in the AFL London competition for 2016.

The Wildcats won every quarter as they continued to build their lead over the Wandsworth Demons, always able to find the extra gear needed to halt every Demon charge or consolidate their own good work.

After finishing the season locked on top of the ladder, the Wildcats adjusted to the demands and pressures of grand final footy just a little better than the Demons. After leading by 12 points at Quarter Time and jumping to a 26 point lead by the main break, warning bells would have been sounding within the Demon’s camp.

The Glasgow Sharks downed the Edinburgh Bloods in a thrilling Preliminary Final at Linlithgow Rugby Club this weekend, sending them into the Grand Final to play against fellow Glasgow team, the Greater Glasgow Giants. Any fears that the city could not support two Australian Football teams can be laid to rest as the historic match showcases the work of both clubs to grow and co-exist.

In an exciting final to fight for a spot in the biggest game of the year, the Edinburgh team got quickly out of the blocks to hold a five goal lead by quarter time (Bloods 37 to Sharks 7). The Sharks, however, lifted with a big second quarter of their own to close the gap to just 13 points by half time (Bloods 47 to Sharks 34).

Maybe it was an omen that the Belfast Redbacks’ bus was late and the ARFLI Grand Final was delayed by 20 minutes…maybe it did induce an unsettled air into the drilled routine of the Redbacks. But out on the field it wasn’t anything to do with bus trips. It was the Leeside Lions team which determined the outcome of the day as the piled on more pressure during each quarter to win the 2016 premiership by 52 points.

To the Lions, all that mattered was their fifth flag and they claimed that in fine style.

After a tough opening quarter, largely even, the Lions held a narrow three point lead. Everything pointed to a tight contest with the Redbacks having more scoring opportunities but the Lions more accurate. Quarter Time: Leeside Lions 3 1 19 v Belfast Redbacks 2 4 16.

Another great story on footy development work in PNG.

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The Indonesian Garudas debuted at the 2014 International Cup and now a year out from the 2017 International Cup they are aiming to return.

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In just 365 days it will all be on again.  Footy players from around the world will be in Melbourne, the months (and in some cases years) of preparations will be over.  The tournament will be launched.  Promotional shots will be done.  New footy jumpers will be laid out.  Everyone (most who have paid their own way) will be ready to play footy for their country in the city where the game was founded

It will be different for every nation. Some will have been working on their team since IC14 wound up, they will be at least partly funded by well organised sponsorship campaigns or alternate forms of funding.  Some will have been scraping a squad and the funding to get them here together for the past few months.  There are always some nations that are touch and go to attend up until the final week before the first bounce.

One thing is likely as with each of the previous tournaments it will be bigger and better than ever.  In 2011 18 men's teams and 7 women's teams competed (with USA and Canada each sending a second women's team.  In 2017 we may see the return of nations that couldn't make it in 2011.  Two of these teams the "Peace Team" comprised of Israeli and Palestinian players and the Timor Leste Crocs have both shown positive signs in recent times that gives hope to their reprise. 

Denmark finished fourth in 2002 but were unable to attend 2014.  They were dearly missed and hopes are high that they will also return in 2011.  The PNG men's team won the 2014 tournament but their women's team, the PNG Flames were unable to attend and they also seem likely to return in 2017.

 

Defending AFL International Cup champions PNG are gathering their best squad of players and drilling them but are also on the lookout for any new talent.

The PNG Games later in the year will be part of the selection process as it will provide a good opportunity for the AFL PNG officials to assess the players in selecting the final squad for the 2017 AFL International Cup.

AFL PNG are also working to see the women's team known as the Flames back to the International Cup (they failed to send a team to IC14 after previously playing in the IC11 tournament).  AFL Development Manager in the South Pacific Ben Drew recently responded to us on Twitter that there was "every chance the PNG Flames will attend"

The following video interview with AFL PNG's Senior Operations Football Manager Rex Leka appeared on PNG's EM TV

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Round 20 kicks off in Melbourne on Friday night with Richmond hosting Collingwood at the MCG. 

If you want to know when you can see the footy on TV in your part of the world, check out the full schedule below.

As always schedules are subject to change at the discretion of the local broadcaster so please check local guides for updates. 

AFANA have also just announced (tentatively) on Twitter that the 2016 AFL Grand Final will be on Fox Sports 2 (FS2) in the USA. (formerly on FSP) and coverage begins 12:30 AM EDT.

GAME	DATE	TIMESLOT	MATCH	VENUE	STATE	LOCAL TIME		GMT	NETWORK
1	5-Aug	Night	Richmond vs. Collingwood	MCG	VIC	19:50		09:50	SEVEN
2	6-Aug	Day	Sydney vs. Pt Adelaide	SCG	NSW	13:45		03:45	SEVEN
3	6-Aug	Day	Melbourne vs. Hawthorn	MCG	VIC	14:10		04:10	FOX
4	6-Aug	Twilight	GC SUNS vs. GWS GIANTS	Metricon Stadium	QLD	16:35		06:35	FOX
5	6-Aug	Night	Western Bulldogs vs. North Melbourne	Etihad Stadium	VIC	19:25		09:25	SEVEN
6	6-Aug	Night	Adelaide vs. Brisbane	Adelaide Oval	SA	19:10		09:40	FOX
7	7-Aug	Early	Carlton vs. St Kilda	MCG	VIC	13:10		03:10	FOX
8	7-Aug	Day	Geelong vs. Essendon	Etihad Stadium	VIC	15:20		05:20	SEVEN
9	7-Aug	Twilight	Fremantle vs. WC Eagles	Domain Stadium	WA	14:40		06:40	FOX