World Footy News

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

After five rounds of the AFL London season, the Wandsworth Demons, West London Wildcats and North London Lions have pulled away from the rest of the pack to grab the top three places. Whilst those three teams can mount a fascinating battle from here to see which team heads to the minor premiership and likely flag favouritism, the battle of the lower three sides is arguably more intense as the Wimbledon Hawks, Putney Magpies and London Swans fight for the other place in the top four and also to get clear of the wooden spoon.

This marks the half way mark of the home and away season with each team having played each other, giving a fair indication of relative strength going into the second half of the season.

Weekend matches saw the Demons down the Hawks by 83 points, the Wildcats savage the Swans by 103 points and the Lions feast on the Magpies to the tune of 102 points in a rather lopsided round. The results see the Wandsworth Demons still undefeated in top spot, with the West London Wildcats breathing down their necks in second place a game behind. The North London Lions hold third spot a comfortable game and a half clear of the Wimbledon Hawks.

The AFL Record for Round 11 features an animated Mason Cox on the cover (see below) and a featured two page spread inside discussing his journey and impact so far.   Below the ominous figure of Cox on the cover are the words "Be Warned! There are more of us on the way".

You can watch the latest episode of "On the Record" here where Mason Cox  is discussed and compared with the NRL's Jarryd Hayne who attempted to cross over to the NFL. 

 

The following story by Sam Wharton comes to us courtesy of the Port Melbourne Football Club and originally appeared here.

The Port Melbourne Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of Mikkel Kjoege as an addition to its playing list for the remainder of season 2016.


The football journey of Kjoege so far has been a story in itself.

Whilst his face may be familiar to some Borough supporters after he completed the majority of the club’s pre-season training sessions before the Christmas break, 21-year-old Kjoege was unfortunately forced to return to his home country Denmark following the expiration of his visa soon after.