World Footy News

WE HAVE CONFIRMED WITH THE SYDNEY SWANS THAT THIS IS OPEN TO CLUBS IN AUSTRALIA ONLY.

The Sydney Swans are pleased to announce the Volkswagen Grassroots Grants program is back for 2016 with another $10,000 up for grabs for community AFL clubs.

The Swans and Volkswagen have again teamed up to offer 10 grants of $1000 each to help community clubs with initiatives such as facility improvements, new footballs, guernseys or training equipment.

For the chance to win a share of the $10,000, clubs should visit www.sydneyswans.com.au/vwgrassrootsgrants  and fill out the online application form by Sunday 29 May.

French US college basketballer Stanislas Heili tells Lindenwood University about last week's AFL US Combine experience and what the future might hold.

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Meanwhile fellow Combine triallist Omari Gudul has put the call out to Twitter looking for Australian rules players "to come run with me" in San Angelo, Texas.

Following on from the announcement in Ireland the day before the AFL released their own statement on the IRS last night.

The GAA and the AFL today announced they would play a two-match International Rules Test Series in Australia in 2017.

It was also confirmed that, in addition, the Associations have committed to a further two-game Series in Ireland, as well as exploring the adaptation of the game for an exhibition Series in the United States in the future, as part of an agreement reached to play a further three series in all, each of two matches apiece, in the coming years.

Following on from the success of the two recent one-off Tests played in Australia (Perth in November 2014) and Ireland (Dublin in November 2015), the two controlling boards had agreed the appetite was there among fans, players and coaches of both countries to return to a two-Test series for a further three series, with the commitment of the elite players of both countries to be involved.

While Aussies were sleeping the Irish press reported that the 2016 International Rules Series has been scrapped. The past two series have seen only one-off games between the nations, but the two-match format is being revived for 2017.

GAA president Aogán Ó Fearghail told the GAA world in his statement that : "It was not possible to organise a two-game series in Australia this year and for that reason we have decided to take a long-term view of the series and press pause for 2016.

"The success of the last two series has been based on the ability of both teams to attract the finest talent to their ranks making for close, competitive and entertaining games.

With just one game in the CNFA French Australian Rules football competition this weekend, the finals teams have been decided. The Toulouse Hawks will again be there, along with both Paris teams, the Cockerels and the Cockatoos.

But the clash between the Cergy-Pontoise Coyotes and the Perpignan Tigers was the fight for fourth place. Sadly for the Perpignan Tigers they will not be in their maiden finals series after going down to the Coyotes.

The final score saw: Cergy-Pontoise Coyotes 16 13 109 d Perpignan Tigers 3 10 28

In the wake of last weekend’s exciting debut by Collingwood’s American recruit Mason Cox, and the debut this weekend of Sudanese Swan Aliir Aliir, Sam Landsberger from the Herald Sun newspaper looks at the perspective of AFL recruiters in comparing international options.

 

No Surprise Irish Imports Adapt To AFL Easier Than Other Foreign Talents, Says Recruiting Guru

 

GARY Buckenara says it is not the luck of the Irish that Gaelic converts adapt to AFL far easier than talents poached from other codes around the globe.

 

 

The long-time Hawthorn recruiter says clubs tap into the foreign markets to unearth players hard to find in Australia — and that Ireland remains the No. 1 breeding ground because of the similarity between Gaelic and Australian football.

Croatian International Josip Habljak's stats for his fourth game for Sturt SANFL club reserves, in a top versus bottom clash against Norwood were understandably not as impressive as last week where he was named amongst Sturt's best, no doubt because of his lone hand job in the ruck (31 hit-outs).

Sturt again lost this match 17-11 (113) to 6-4 (40). Josip's Champion Data stats has him recording two kicks, five handballs - three effective, one uncontested and one contested for a total disposal count of seven. He took one uncontested mark and recorded four handball receives. He was second ruck this game for 15 hit-outs for five clearances. He laid two tackles and had one each free kick for and against.

AFL Media Release

The AFL is pleased to announce the appointment of a Women’s Football Advisory Group.

Chaired by AFL Commissioner Major General Simone Wilkie, the 10-member group will meet quarterly to provide input in the inaugural national women’s competition which will commence in 2017.

AFL General Manager Game and Market Development Simon Lethlean said the panel will help shape recommendations for the new league.

The 2016 US Combine in LA has wrapped up.  The AFL will now bring a number of athletes down to Australia  in July (likely 3) to prepare for the National Draft Combine, although the possibility exists that they could bring one or more earlier at the request of AFL clubs as they did with Mason Cox in 2014.

The final day of the Combine saw the athletes in a competitive, improvised game with tackling. Woody Quinn, a gridiron player from the University of Tennessee stood out here against the basketballers. Also impressing was the 7ft Frenchman Stan Heili who threw himself wholeheartedly into the competitive work. Others that impressed were Shane Henry and Omari Gudul.

We spoke to Gil Griffin, author of the forthcoming book "Jumping at the Chance: From NBA Hopefuls to AFL Prospects — The Players of the American Experiment" who he thought would be offered the chance to come to Melbourne.

Photo Courtesy AFL Photos

The Wandsworth Demons didn’t waste any time sending messages to the rest of the AFL London competition about their intentions for the 2016 season. With Round One being played last weekend, the Demons kicked of their year with a rousing 17 point win over league powerhouse, the West London Wildcats. One round is not a season, but the Wildcats have been making a habit of grabbing any silverware not nailed down. Their Champions League victory coupled with their pre-season cup win had them pencilled in again as early favourites for another title by many.

Pick 44 in the 2013 AFL Draft was Sydney’s. They had plenty of other players to choose from that later made other team’s lists. Some of the names that went after 44 included Ben Brown (North Melbourne - 47), Orazio Fantasia (Essendon – 55), James Sicily (Hawthorn – 56), Tom Langdon (Collingwood – 65), Sam Lloyd (Richmond – 66) and a few other decent picks.

But the Sydney Swans had already seen something they liked better. Their scouts had been up in Queensland watching the skills and potential of Aliir Aliir, the Sudanese boy who had been firing at junior levels for years. When he went to Western Australia in 2013 to improve his drafting chances (after being overlooked in the 2012 draft), Sydney’s eyes followed. The Swans, not afraid to take a chance, picked a fruit from the draft tree that might take a while to ripen, but when it did it would likely be a delight.

Round 6 kicks off on Friday night with North Melbourne hosting the Western Bulldogs 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 schedule below. As always schedules are subject to change at the discretion of the local broadcaster so please check local guides for updates.

 For those in the US looking to watch American Mason Cox in his second AFL match with Collingwood, you will need to be able to tune into Fox Soccer Plus channel or watch via subscription service WATCHAFL.AFL.COM.AU.

 

GAME	DATE	TIMESLOT	MATCH	VENUE	STATE	LOCAL	GMT	NETWORK
1	29-Apr	Night	North Melbourne vs. Western Bulldogs	Etihad Stadium	VIC	19:50	09:50	SEVEN
2	30-Apr	Day	Melbourne vs. St Kilda	Etihad Stadium	VIC	13:45	03:45	SEVEN
3	30-Apr	Day	Adelaide Crows vs. Fremantle	Adelaide Oval	SA	13:40	04:10	FOX
4	30-Apr	Twilight	GWS GIANTS vs. Hawthorn	Spotless Stadium	NSW	16:35	06:35	FOX
5	30-Apr	Night	Geelong Cats vs. Gold Coast SUNS	Simonds Stadium	VIC	19:25	09:25	SEVEN
6	30-Apr	Night	Richmond vs. Port Adelaide	MCG	VIC	19:25	09:25	FOX
7	1-May	Early	Brisbane Lions vs. Sydney Swans	The Gabba	QLD	13:10	03:10	FOX
8	1-May	Day	Carlton vs. Essendon	MCG	VIC	15:20	05:20	SEVEN
9	1-May	Twilight	West Coast Eagles vs. Collingwood	Domain Stadium	WA	14:40	06:40	FOX