World Footy News

Irish code crosser Colin O'Riordan was last night named in the NEAFL's team of the year.   O'Riordan in his first season at an AFL Club was signed by Sydney at the end of 2015.  He has yet to make his debut in the AFL but has clearly had a consistent season in the Swan's reserves team that plays in the NEAFL.

O'Riordan did not play with the Swans this past weekend as he suffered a punctured lung in the match the week before in Darwin.  He was unable to return with the team following that match due to that injury.  His progress this season is very positive as he bides his time and builds his knowledge of the Australian code.

 

It lasted just 15 or so minutes, but while it was happening an entire future of footy flashed before my eyes. When today’s AFL match between the Sydney Swans and North Melbourne started on a cold and showery Blundstone Arena in Hobart, Tasmania, two Sudanese players lined up on each other in key positional posts in an AFL match.

When the siren sounded to get the match started, North’s Majak Daw, armed with more muscles than are probably necessary, lined up at Full Forward. Beside him in the goal square was Sydney’s Aliir Aliir, the Full Back responsible for keeping club veteran Ted Richards out of the team. Well, that’s probably unfair as injury and other players have also had a hand in that…but let’s not ruin a good story!

 

Callum Twomey from the www.afl.com.au website looks at the rise and rise of Essendon’s Irish recruit, Conor McKenna. In recent weeks, McKenna has had a chance to establish himself in the team’s line-up ahead of the return to the club of banned players for their 2017 season.

THE MOST difficult thing Conor McKenna found when wrapping his head around the AFL code two years ago upon joining Essendon had nothing to do with kicking the Sherrin. The Irish product could do that well already, and on both feet.

 

It wasn't the running that was required, and the physicality didn't bother him either. McKenna was already one of Gaelic football's most gifted youngsters when he left there at the end of 2014 to pursue a career with the Bombers.    

The following article from The Glasgow South and Eastwood Extra website looks at the success of the Glasgow Sharks on the biggest day of the Australian Rules football year in Scotland last weekend.

Glasgow Sharks were crowned Scotland’s Australian Rules Football champions after defeating city rivals Greater Glasgow Giants at Linlithgow Rugby Club last Saturday.

The Scottish Australian Rules Football League (SARFL) Grand Final between the city rivals was a fierce one, with the Giants having the better first quarter.

But just like the rest of the season the Sharks were the comeback kids, meaning there were only two points in it by the end of the third quarter

The Irish Warriors and GB Bulldogs both had strong wins on Day 3 of the AFL Europe European Championships to set up a final rematch of their one point thriller from Day 1 of the tournament. In the women's competition the GB Swans are unbeaten after their first two matches.

The GB Swans and Irish Banshees kicked off the day and after a goal-less first half the Swans prevailed by a single point kicking 2.1 to the Banshees 1.6.  The Banshees notched up a win in the second match running out winners 4.8 to the European Crusaders 0.1.  The GB Swans then finished the day on top of the table with a 55 point shut out against the Crusaders.

Women's Round 1

GB Swans 2.1 (13) def Irish Banshees 1.6 (12)

Irish Banshees 4.8 (32) def European Crusaders 0.1 (1)

GB Swans 8.7 (55) def European Crusaders 0.0 (0)

 

Girls Play Footy Podcast Previews the EC16 Women's Championships with interviews with some of the key players.  You can find more about women's footy at their site - girlsplayfooty.com/

 The following reviews of each of the teams (kicking off this afternoon in London) have been sourced from AFL Europe.

AFL Europe Championships Team Preview – Irish Banshees

Every three years the AFL Europe Championships take place for teams to assert their dominance and claim bragging rights against their European counterparts, as well as gain valuable 18-a-side match practice in the lead up to the International Cup the following year.
 

In the lead up to this year’s AFL Europe Championships in London we’ll be focusing on each team and previewing their chances of taking out the top prize.

In the first of the women’s team previews we are getting to know the Irish Banshees a bit better.

 

The AFL today confirmed key rules for the Women’s All Star Match that will be played on Saturday, September 3, at VU Whitten Oval.

Women’s All Star Match rules will include:

1. Teams will play 16-a-side with six interchange players

2. Size 4 footballs (AFL women’s exhibition matches used size 4.5 footballs)

3. Deliberate out of bounds (AFL definition).

Round 22 kicks off in Perth on Friday night with the West Coast Eagles hosting Hawthorn at Subiaco. 

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. 

 

GAME	DATE	TIMESLOT	MATCH	VENUE	LOCAL TIME	GMT	Host
1	19-Aug	Night	West Coast Eagles vs. Hawthorn	Domain Stadium (WA)	18:10	10:10	7
2	20-Aug	Day	North Melbourne vs. Sydney Swans	Blundstone Arena (TAS)	13:45	03:45	7
3	20-Aug	Day	Richmond vs. St Kilda	MCG (VIC)	14:10	04:10	FOX
4	20-Aug	Twilight	GWS GIANTS vs. Fremantle	Spotless Stadium (NSW)	16:35	06:35	FOX
5	20-Aug	Night	Collingwood vs. Gold Coast SUNS	Etihad Stadium (VIC)	19:25	09:25	7
6	20-Aug	Night	Port Adelaide vs. Adelaide Crows	Adelaide Oval (SA)	19:10	09:40	FOX
7	21-Aug	Early	Carlton vs. Melbourne	MCG (VIC)	13:10	03:10	FOX
8	21-Aug	Day	Brisbane Lions vs. Geelong Cats	The Gabba (QLD)	15:20	05:20	7
9	21-Aug	Twilight	Essendon vs. Western Bulldogs	Etihad Stadium (VIC)	16:40	06:40	FOX

Exceptional Eagles?

Germany has proven to be the exception to the rule (higher ranked nations wins more often than not) with their win over the Swedish Elks on day two of the European Championships yesterday. The win has seen the Black Eagles climb to 17th place in the World Rankings and bring down the Elks to 18th place with Japan and Peace Team lucky recipients of a one place rise each to 15th and 16th respectively.

Germany and Sweden traded 2.04 Rating Points Germany now with 36.12 and Sweden 35.63.

Sweden’s loss to Great Britain on day one also saw the Elks lose 0.86 Rating Points, the Bulldogs creeping that little bit closer to Canada at 9th Place.

The German Eagles lead all day and despite a late push by the Swedish Elks ran out 28 point winners on Day 2 of the 2016 AFL Europe European Championships.  In the second match of the day the Great Britain Bulldogs were goal-less going into the last quarter but came home hard to go down to the Irish warriors by just a point. 

Once again in good conditions at Mostpur Park in London on Tuesday afternoon the four European nations battled it out.  Up first the Eagles and the Elks battled out an arm wrestle in the first quarter before the Germans pushed out their lead and by three quarter time were out to a 33 point lead.  In the final quarter the Elks refused to give up and won the quarter but still went down to the Eagles by 28 points.

Germany           1.6         4.6       6.12     7.14 (56)

Sweden             1.1         2.3       2.4        4.4 (28)