World Footy News

The Grand Final places are decided for the AFL London competitions with the West London Wildcats to meet the Wandsworth Demons in the Premiership Division decider. The two teams ran neck and neck all season across the home and away series, both finishing with just the one loss each – to each other – in what will shape up as a very even match.

The Wildcats made their way to the Grand Final when they downed the Demons 9 10 64 to 8 4 52 the previous weekend in a match where they took the early ascendency and the Demons fought back hard only to fall short. It was a good win for the Wildcats, but not one that suggests any real dominance and the Demons will enjoy their crack at a rematch.

The following article from the www.afl.com.au website, written by Nathan Schmook, looks at the signing by the Saints of two more promising Irish recruits ready for 2017. Westmeath product Ray Connellan and Joyce from Kilkenny have ticked enough boxes to impress the St Kilda recruiting department.

ST KILDA has signed two new Irish rookies as it continues a strategy of building its list with international talent.

The Saints have signed hurling star Darragh Joyce (right) and International Rules player Ray Connellan, both on two-year deal. 

The pair trained with St Kilda for three weeks mid-season and hope to relocate to Melbourne before the end of the season. 

Here is a task. Name 16 marquee players to capture to public’s imagination over the remainder of this decade. I accept the challenge, so here goes.

Chelsea Randall, Kellie Gibson, Tayla Harris, Sabrina Frederick-Traub, Brianna Davey, Darcy Vescio, Moana Hope, Emma King, Kara Donnellan, Kiara Bowers, Renee Forth, Emma Swanson, Daisy Pearce, Mel Hickey, Katie Brennan, Ellie Blackburn.

I know this list is correct as it was the one announced yesterday by the AFL as the marquee players for the national women’s competition in 2017. Oh, but that wasn’t the list you were thinking.

The Leeside Lions completed an impressive home and away season, remaining undefeated and being the first team into the 2016 ARFLI Grand Final. It is tremendous reward for effort for the Cork based club and they certainly deserve favouritism for the flag.

But the Belfast Redbacks have reached their fifth consecutive Grand Final after winning both of their Semi-Final matches at Islandbridge, Dublin, last weekend. By downing both the Galway Magpies and the South Dublin Swans, the Redbacks have set up a fascinating Grand Final. The Leeside Lions have the 2016 form, but the Redbacks have the Grand Final experience over recent years.

The Lions will host the Grand Final at their home ground in Cork, further strengthening their position as favourites.

Some of the greatest names in AFL/VFL and state football have made their way to the game from the Northern Territory. Not usually a location celebrated in the same tones as Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia or even Tasmania, the Territory has given us icons, legends and just some very good footballers.

Try this: Maurice Rioli (Richmond), Cyril Rioli (Hawthorn), Michael Long (Essendon), Nathan Buckley (Collingwood), Andrew Mcleod (Adelaide), Peter Burgoyne (Port Adelaide), Joel Bowden (Richmond) and so many more greats hail from the Northern Territory.

A brief look at the newest draftees, trades and rookies last year also boasts names like Jed Anderson (North Melbourne), Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti (Essendon) and Daniel Rioli (Richmond) who came to the game from the NT. 

The AFL national women’s league clubs today named their marquee players at press conferences in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

The 16 players will be the faces of the inaugural women’s teams; Adelaide Crows, Brisbane Lions, Carlton, Collingwood, Fremantle, GWS Giants, Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs.

Among them is 20 year old Sabrina Fredrick-Traub who currently plays full forward for South Fremantle.  Fredrick-Traub was born in England and moved to Australia when she was seven and she began playing football with the boys to help get used to Australian life.  She was named as one of two marquee players for the Brisbane Lions

Left: Sabrina Fredrick-Traub Image courtesy AFL Media

Round 19 kicks off in Melbourne on Friday night with Geelong hosting the Western Bulldogs at Simonds Stadium. 

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	STATE	LOCAL TIME	GMT	NETWORK
1	29-Jul	Night	Geelong vs. Western Bulldogs	Simonds Stadium	VIC	19:50	09:50	SEVEN
2	30-Jul	Day	GWS GIANTS vs. Richmond	Manuka Oval	ACT	13:45	03:45	SEVEN
3	30-Jul	Day	Hawthorn vs. Carlton	Aurora Stadium	TAS	14:10	04:10	FOX
4	30-Jul	Twilight	Collingwood vs. WC Eagles	MCG	VIC	16:35	06:35	FOX
5	30-Jul	Night	North Melbourne vs. St Kilda	Etihad Stadium	VIC	19:25	09:25	SEVEN
6	30-Jul	Night	Brisbane Lions vs. Port Adelaide	The Gabba	QLD	19:25	09:25	FOX
7	31-Jul	Early	Melbourne vs. Gold Coast SUNS	MCG	VIC	13:10	03:10	FOX
8	31-Jul	Day	Fremantle vs. Sydney Swans	Domain Stadium	WA	13:20	05:20	SEVEN
9	31-Jul	Twilight	Adelaide Crows vs. Essendon	Adelaide Oval	SA	16:10	06:40	FOX

Matt Thompson from the www.afl.com.au website reports on life after the AFL for one of the recent American recruits to the AFL. The story certainly gives a small idea of how one player gave our game a shot and when things didn’t fully pan out, another career awaited.

FORMER North Melbourne international rookie Eric Wallace has signed on with American NFL side Carolina Panthers.

The North Carolina local spent three years on the Kangaroos list, but failed to play a senior game.

Wallace – nicknamed 'The Beast' – has earned a spot on the Panthers 90-man roster in the position of tight end.

When writing history, one train of thought says that clubs go through the stages of initial development, success, domination and then legends. It might be the time to have a close look at the Manchester Mosquitoes and review their place on that particular pecking order.

The Manchester Mozzies have claimed the 2016 AFLCNE premiership with an emphatic 83 point victory against the Nottingham Scorpions in the Grand Final. For the Mozzies it is a rare “three-peat” of flags, claiming the titles in 2014, 2015 and now 2016. More impressive is the fact that they have now won five flags in seven years from their six Grand Final appearances.

As they did last year, the Mozzies raced out of the blocks with a big first quarter. Not as frightening as 2015 when their 12 goal to one first term effectively buried the Sheffield Thunder by quarter time, but their eight goal term set up a six goal quarter time lead. The Scorpions were already heavily on the back foot.

Stanis Heili and Brandon Nazione have been selected to trial with a number of AFL clubs over the next week. The two athletes performed well at the AFL's US Combine held in Los Angeles in April this year.

They have already met with Mason Cox to personally discuss what may lie ahead for them and attended the St Kilda vs Melbourne game at Etihad on the weekend.

Mynmar Nationals Star in AFL Asia Debut  - Article from Myanmar Times by RG Vogt

After stepping to his mark and smashing a kick through the uprights, Han Tun Aung kept his cool.

The rest of the team erupted into triumphant shouts.

Euphoria was to be expected, as the historic goal marks the first ever kicked by a Myanmar national in AFL Asia competition. It was a weekend of firsts for Han Tun Aung and his compatriot Min Thiha Kaung, both playing footy for the Fighting Cocks for the first time.

5pm update - Kurt is now named as Emergency for Sundays game and not in the selected 22.

Hawthorn has included midfielder Will Langford, key forward Tim O’Brien and Kiwi defender Kurt Heatherley in an extended squad to face Richmond on Sunday.

All three have been named on the bench in the Hawks’ 25-man squad.

Heatherley continued his push for a senior debut last week racking up 17 disposals, eight marks and five rebound 50s for Box Hill.
Hawthorn will finalise its side tomorrow afternoon ahead of Sunday’s clash at the MCG, which will be Sam Mitchell’s 300th AFL game.