World Footy News

Over the past couple of years the Lazy Koalas team in Moscow and the St Petersburg Cats have revolutionised the state of the game of Australian Rules football in Russia. Their combined successes have seen a genuine increase in interest in the game after a slow burn initially. This interest is set to extend all the way to the Russian national team for the 2016 Euro Cup in Lisbon, Portugal with a novel and exciting recruitment tool.

The national selection process will see a combine take place, modelled as close as practical, to the combine testing events used across the world and through the AFL’s own Draft Combine. On 2nd July, potential players from both Moscow and St Petersburg can come and try out for national team selection with two spots up for grabs in each city for athletes from any field who excel and have the desire to try out the game.

For some this will be a fast-tracking of the highest order as players could go from no experience at all to national selection in the blinking of an eye.

Round 13 kicks off in Melbourne on Friday night with North Melbourne hosting Hawthorn at Etihad 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	17-Jun	Night	North Melbourne vs. Hawthorn	Etihad Stadium	VIC	19:50	09:50	7
2	18-Jun	Day	Brisbane Lions vs. West Coast Eagles	The Gabba	QLD	13:40	03:40	FOX
3	18-Jun	Twilight	Fremantle vs. Port Adelaide	Domain Stadium	WA	14:35	06:35	FOX
4	18-Jun	Night	Western Bulldogs vs. Geelong Cats	Etihad Stadium	VIC	19:25	09:25	7
5	19-Jun	Early	Sydney Swans vs. Melbourne	SCG	NSW	13:10	03:10	FOX
6	19-Jun	Twilight	Essendon vs. GWS GIANTS	Etihad Stadium	VIC	16:40	06:40	FOX

The following is a story from the Coburg Football Club’s website which looks at how two of its Muslim footballers balance their celebration of Ramadan and football. Towards the end the article also looks at a cross-section of the cultural backgrounds of a club in suburban Melbourne – their case is not unique as the multicultural growth in footy goes from grass roots to the highest level. It is nevertheless an interesting example. The story by Adrian Dixon can be found at: http://coburgfc.com.au/lions-stars-embracing-culture/

 

One aspect that the Coburg Football Club prides itself on is its diversity with regards to its multiculturalism.

 

As the suburb of Coburg is based in the City of Moreland, there are many different cultures that represent the municipality, whether it be the background of their heritage or what religion they believe in.

 

And while the AFL encourages its clubs, at both league and state level to promote their multicultural stories among its players and staff, it provides great publicity for clubs like the Lions in order to increase its awareness.  

To borrow a phrase from Wallace & Gromit, Galway footy fans were treated to a “Grand Day Out” when the Galway Magpies hosted Rounds 5 and 6 of the 2016 ARFLI season. It was the third carnival day for ARFLI fixtures, following on from previous carnivals held in Dublin and Cork. Whilst the off field entertainment was regarded as a delight, so was the performance of the Magpies on the field with two wins from their two matches, seeing them claw their way off the bottom of the ladder.

The Leeside Lions also enjoyed their day with two strong wins from their two matches, downing both the South Dublin Demons and the Belfast Redbacks. The Swans and Redbacks had days they would rather forget, neither winning a match for the day.

 

At a function today, AFL Chairman Mike Fitzpatrick announced the initial eight women’s teams to take part in the national competition for 2017. As well as the Melbourne and Western Bulldogs, both teams having had teams playing on a regular basis, Adelaide, Brisbane, Carlton, Collingwood, Fremantle and Greater Western Sydney were granted licences to compete next year.

 

Geelong, St Kilda, Richmond, North Melbourne and West Coast were the unlucky clubs to miss out on inaugural selection, but have received provisional licences to clear their path for entry into an expanded league for women from 2018.

 

 

The Gold Coast Suns, Port Adelaide, Essendon, Sydney and Hawthorn did not pursue a licence for next year but will consider their options for women’s teams further down the track as the new competition unfolds.

The Manchester Mozzies were given their sternest test of the season so far, and passed with flying colours. Challenged by the Wolverhampton Wolverines, themselves determined to make a statement as the season gets closer to finals time, the Mozzies held firm to win by 13 points in a tough encounter. For the Mozzies, their dream of a continued dynasty is on track to come true. For the Wolverines, who have lost recent clashes to both the Mozzies and the Scorpions, the opportunity now exists to measure themselves and evaluate their chances going forward.

The Sheffield Thunder’s slow ascent up the ladder continued with a solid five goal win against the Tyne Tees Tigers. Whether this win is enough to keep the Thunder out of the cellar remains to be seen, but the win was welcome and something to build on. The task for the Tigers doesn’t get any easier, drawn to meet both the Mozzies and Wolverines in coming rounds.

The undefeated streak of the Wandsworth Demons came to an end on the weekend when the West London Wildcats clawed their way back into top spot on the AFL London ladder with a narrow but important 13 point win. After dropping their first round match to the demons, the Wildcats were determined to again assert their dominance over them, and the rest of the competition.

The Wimbledon Hawks took a big step towards securing a finals berth when they downed the Putney Magpies. Despite it being just their second win of the season (as well as a draw), the result gives the Hawks a valuable game and a half buffer over the fifth placed Magpies with just four rounds until finals.

The vast tentacles of Australian Rules football have been spreading across India at an alarmingly pleasing rate, driven enormously by the work of Sudip Chakraborty and his tremendous team at AFL India. Teams are springing up all over India – north to south, east to west – and many young people are being inspired to start their own dream and create a club.

One such example is the Pink City Triceratops team in Jaipur, northern India. The city of three million people is around 250 kilometres from the nation’s capital, New Delhi. Jaipur is also referred to as the “Pink City Of India”, hence the new club’s name.

The Triceratops are a long way from having a competitive team at a national, or even local, level. But their commitment, dedication and desire suggests that things may change. Certainly, if D’Costa david, club founder, has his way that change will be sooner rather than later.

In a remarkable weekend of semi-finals in the CNFA, the French competition will see a new first time premier as the Cergy-Pontoise Coyotes and the newcomers, the Paris Cockatoos, won their way to the big dance.

In the battle in Paris, reigning premiers the Paris Cockerels took on their prodigy, the Cockatoos. The Cockatoos were up against history on so many fronts. New to the league this season and playing against a Cockerels team that has been comfortable with success, the Cockatoos were expected by many to fall at this hurdle. But determination and belief are powerful allies and the Cockatoos outplayed their opposition to record at tremendous 18 5 113 to 13 8 86 victory. The teams finished the home and away season in second and third position on equal points.

In an historic move by AFL Europe, the 2016 Euro Cup will be played in Lisbon, Portugal. Not a nation that boasts a major European competition, the move may be something of a surprise, but not to David Valente, one of the three directors of the Portugese Australian Football Association.

As David stated, “I don't have to tell you how huge this is for us.”

“Basically, AFL Europe is giving us a great opportunity and we're planning to seize it. With no TV broadcasts of AFL games for the time being, this is the best tool that we have to further the development of the game.”

(Picture: Official AFL Europe logo for 2016 Euro Cup)

On the back of nearly four million viewers in China for the Power's Round 5 clash against Geelong, Port Adelaide, the AFL and CCTV have entered a partnership which will see one AFL game per week for the remainder of the 2016 home and away season broadcast on the world's biggest television network.

As part of the agreement, one in every three games will involve Port Adelaide. CCTV will also broadcast any final if Port Adelaide is a competing club.

Port Adelaide will continue to produce its weekly 30-minute AFL Show which documents Port Adelaide SANFL recruit Chen Shoaliang's dream of one day playing AFL. The show also showcases highlights of five AFL games from the weekend, as well as the top five marks, goals and tackles from each Round.

Footy returns to Melbourne on Friday night with Round 12 kicking off at Etihad Stadium. The struggling Bombers host the Hawks in what is always a clash full of feeling between these two clubs.

If you want to know when you can see the footy on TV in your part of the world, check out the schedule below. As always schedules are subject to change at the discretion of the local broadcaster so please check local guides for updates.

WATCHAFL.AFL.COM.AU this weekend are offering free streaming of all Round 12 matches - conditions apply and not available in Australia.

 

GAME	DATE	TIMESLOT	MATCH	VENUE	STATE	LOCAL TIME	GMT	NETWORK
1	10/6	Night	Essendon vs. Hawthorn	Etihad Stadium	VIC	19:50	09:50	SEVEN
2	11/6	Day	Port Adelaide vs. Western Bulldogs	Adelaide Oval	SA	13:10	03:40	FOX
3	11/6	Twilight	Brisbane Lions vs. Fremantle	The Gabba	QLD	16:35	06:35	FOX
4	11/6	Night	Geelong Cats vs. North Melbourne	Etihad Stadium	VIC	19:25	09:25	SEVEN
5	11/6	Night	West Coast Eagles vs. Adelaide Crows	Domain Stadium	WA	17:40	09:40	FOX
6	12/6	Early	St Kilda vs. Carlton	Etihad Stadium	VIC	13:10	03:10	FOX
7	12/6	Day	Richmond vs. Gold Coast SUNS	MCG	VIC	15:20	05:20	SEVEN
8	12/6	Twilight	GWS GIANTS vs. Sydney Swans	Spotless Stadium	NSW	16:40	06:40	FOX
9	13/6	Day	Melbourne vs. Collingwood	MCG	VIC	15:20	05:20	SEVEN