World Footy News

 

The following article by Russell Jackson at The Guardian explores the journey and AFL career to date of St Kilda’s American import, Jason Holmes. On the back of his best season to date, Holmes is now in pre-season for the Saints’ 2016 campaign.

Up close the modern AFL footballer is a far different physical specimen than his predecessors of the last few decades, far more sinewy and slight. On account of his finely-calibrated diet and training regime and the relentless pursuit of success, he’s closer in shape to a middle distance runner than a wide receiver, as was once the case.

This is a good thing, in many respects. The AFL footballer is now faster, stronger and more physically resourceful than ever and generally more skilled too, concepts not lost on St Kilda ruckman Jason Holmes when he emerged from almost total obscurity in 2015 to become the first born and bred American to play in the AFL. It was a truly remarkable achievement for a college basketballer who’d never properly watched a full game, let alone played in one, before the Saints secured him as an international rookie.

There are certainly some advantages to be found playing footy from October to March, or thereabouts. Whilst other leagues have wound down and turned their attention to cricket, tennis or anything else other than footy, those leagues whose seasons commence later get to have the immediate Christmas/New Year period, and more, to regroup or reassess.

A case in point is the NTFL (Northern Territory Football League). Their season begins in October and runs through until March. They are currently in the midst of a three week break where festivities can be enjoyed, but also injuries can be eased and plans can be re-developed.

According to the NT News, bottom placed Waratah has a new goal. Their coach, Tim Weatherald, has set a new goal of winning four of their remaining seven matches after a winless season to date. They will be rested and will have new plans in place, so they can finish an otherwise disappointing season on a high ready for next season. Article: http://www.ntnews.com.au/sport/local-...bedfe62b0b

Thoughts turn to those who live in the flood devastated parts of England after the Boxing Day weather events which have effected many locations including parts of Manchester, Huddersfield, Merseyside, Leeds and York as well as many more towns and cities across the areas of northern and central England. Record rainfalls have seen rivers and streams swell to levels rarely and sometimes never seen.

World Footy News send their wishes to those people effected throughout the region and hope for a quick recovery.

Wolverhampton football supporters will be hoping that their own event, two International Rules matches against St Mary’s GAA in January and March, can defeat the weather and bring welcome relief and excitement to the region for those craving the game.

First played last February, the inaugural event was won by the Wolverhampton Wolverines crew against the willing St Mary’s Gaelic football team. The International Rules match was deemed successful enough earlier this year to spawn two challenges in 2016. The Wolverines will be keen to win these test matches and retain the trophy.

In this article from the NT News, four boys from the Northern Territory get a taste of international footy through their participation in an International Rules match in Ireland. In a unique stepping stone to bigger things, both for themselves and others who might wish to follow in their footsteps, these Territory lads have travelled ground that few of their contemporaries have.

 

From never kicking a round ball in Tennant Creek to beating the Irish in Ireland.

 

That is the story and journey of Barkly quartet — Liam Holt-Fitz, Matthew Green, Mattaniah Bain and Kyrell Barton who beat the Irish in a number of contests at the hybrid International Rules game over the past fortnight.

 

The lads, along with their Wanderers Australia AFL Training teammates, earned some green and gold pride as they went undefeated through the tour.

In the final round of NTFL matches in Darwin prior to the Christmas/New Year break, the young Nightcliff Tigers took positive steps to the future, the Tiwi Bombers enhanced their finals prospects whist the top two teams, Saints and Crocs, pulled a little further ahead of the competition.

The Nightcliff Tigers have taken a youth development approach this season as they look towards a long term success, and their latest debutant, Isiah Farrell-Nelson, proved that the results are worthwhile. His six goal haul on debut contributed greatly to the Tigers’ big 134 point thrashing of the Waratah Warriors. The win sees Nightcliff jump into the top five, joining the Tiwi Bombers, Palmerston Magpies and Wanderers Eagles on five wins. Waratah’s horrid season continued, though they can take heart from the Nightcliff youth project as they build towards next season.

Final Score: Nightcliff Tigers 24 18 162 d Waratah Warriors 4 4 28

The AFL is currently gathering the momentum to place women’s footy on the national stage with the upcoming granting of licences to clubs to hold an AFL women’s national league. Whilst this is a wonderful step forward for women’s footy, and certainly validates and celebrates the incredible work done in Australia and overseas to grow the women’s game, the AFL is oddly behind many smaller national and international leagues in the development of women’s footy.

Even though the AFL’s endorsement of women’s footy opened the gates for people to develop the game, it is those leagues that have in reality sown and tended the crops to the point where the AFL must pursue highest level competition to complete the talent pathways already laid down.

An example of how the women’s game has been taken to places not dreamed of even just five years ago is the Pyramid Power club near Cairns in Far North Queensland. The year 2015 saw them enter an all-girls Under 13 team in a boy’s competition – girls taking on the boys head on in a scheduled competition. This may not be the first such team, though it is hard to find documentation of many others. But it is a huge step forward for women’s footy as younger girls are being exposed to the competitive aspects of team footy in an environment long dominated by boys.

As is increasingly the way, talented young footballers from all over the world are being increasingly more often lured to Australia to try their hand at Australian Rules football. Those not able to attend various combines to get on the AFL’s radar are risking much to leave their home lives behind and journey to Australia to try their hand. Some documented examples have been players from the United States making it to the VFL. Others have come from Canada to play on the Gold Coast or country Victoria.

Josip Habljak has been one of the mainstays of Croatian footy in recent years. His interest in the game turned in to a love affair of sorts and his talents grew exponentially. Like others before him, the lure of coming to Australia has seen him make that life change and see how far he can go with his adopted game.

The following interview with Josip is unique in that it gives a very clear insight into the background of a player not brought up with the game and how, by degrees, he developed his own game and explored options to go further. Now with Sturt Football Club in the SANFL, Josip opens up about his footy journey.

As the need for top level athletic talent for the upcoming 2017 Women's national league becomes more obvious the AFL today released the following announcement that will aim to find talent from other sports in Australia.  As yet there are no announcements about talent from outside Australia being included.

AFL Media Release

The AFL is pleased to announce a female talent search campaign will be held throughout Australia in early 2016.

The campaign is designed to give female athletes who are currently active in other sports the opportunity to test their football fitness and skills.

 

Round 10 of the NTFL season wrapped up in Darwin yesterday with the St Mary’s team ending the Buffaloes’ winning streak, the Palmerston Magpies upsetting the top team, Wanderers finally getting a solid win on the board and the Tiwi Bombers (barely) keeping their finals hopes alive.

The match of the day was certainly billed at the St Mary’s Saints and Darwin Buffaloes clash. Both were locked in a three way battle for top spot and the winner would certainly hold a psychological advantage come finals time. The Buffaloes won the first and last quarters, keeping their final quarter record of fighting back alive, but the damage was done by the Saints with eight goals to one across the middle two quarters. The win sees St Mary’s now alone at the top of the ladder and well placed to seek another flag. For the Buffaloes, their seven match winning streak has ended, but the incentive remains to stay in the finals race.

Final Score: St Mary’s Saints 12 15 87 d Darwin Buffaloes 8 9 57

The AFL Middle East season has reached the mid-season, or winter, break with the Dubai Dragons having their say once again. In a shortened competition due to the withdrawal of the Muscat Magpies, the Dragons recorded their second win of the season in an eleven point thriller against the Doha Kangaroos.

The Dragons undertook a significant off-season rebuild with players departing, putting pressure on their claims to another flag. But the win against Doha sees them in the prime position to snare another minor premiership. They now have two wins, the same as the BM Bulls, but with two games to play compared to one for the Bulls.

The game in Doha was tight from the outset. The Dragons led most of the early stages, with a one goal half time lead. But the home side came back hard and jumped out to a ten point lead midway through the final quarter. But the Dragons newer players and last minute replacements stepped up to grab back the lead and hold on for a win.

The AFL International Cup is the pinnacle event on the Australian Football international calendar and has grown steadily in stature and standard. Despite financial considerations limiting numbers, participation is greater than some other football world cups, yet the IC profile remains low.

With this in mind I have started an electronic petition for the SBS to broadcast the IC. It is an ideal event for the SBS as it fulfills all its charter points. The IC is multi-cultural, multi-lingual, entertaining, educational and advances the spirit of world friendship. Without jumping too far ahead, any lift in the profile of the IC will produce direct and indirect benefits for the competition. Those benefits in all probability will be small at first but it is the "foot-in-the-door" to leverage the future.

Currently there has great response from individuals at https://goo.gl/GwnmAK but I need organisations to promote this petition to achieve the "reach" simply by sharing WFN's facebook post.

 

The 2015 Oceania Cup at Furnival Park in Toorak, Suva (Fiji).

Kicking off on Monday with a round robin lightning premiership - the Nauru Stars got off to a flier and held on to finish the day the undefeated winners. Following that was 3 days of footy as the Nauru Suns sought to regain their title of junior champions of Oceania.

Action from the tournament (above left), Fiji junior Tribe (above right - photo FijiSun).