World Footy News

As we get set for the back half of the 2015 USAFL season the Nationals at Austin are now just 3 months away.
 

Last Weekend’s Games

Last weekend was the final of the regional tournaments as 14 teams headed for Racine, WI for the Central Regional Tournament. Beyond that, there were also two full games that happened during the weekend.

@ West Potomac Park in Washington, DC: Baltimore/Washington Eagles vs. North Carolina Tigers
From the outset, the Tigers were putting the hammer down on the Eagles as they lead from the opening bounce and didn’t let up at all.
 

The recent AFL premiership match in Far North Queensland attracted a crowd of just under 9500 fans and curious spectators.  The figure was lower than anticipated (hoping for between 10-12 thousand or more) and made it another year where attendances dropped – though not significantly.

 

Over coming months the AFL decision makers in Melbourne will chat with their people in Cairns to thrash out whether or not Cairns deserves to hold another AFL match. Since 2010 the Gold Coast Suns have come to the northern city. They started in 2010 in a VFL fixture against the Essendon affiliate the Bendigo Bombers, then from 2011-2013 they played the Richmond Tigers before 2014-15 saw the Western Bulldogs come to town. Will there be moreω

 

 

Both teams made commitments to that effect whilst in town last week, stating their desire to return. But that might not be enough. At the end of the day the decision may be made purely on number-crunching, but the following reasons should be considered also. Here are five reasons why there is more to this than just numbers.

Paddy Brophy and Sean Hurley are both International Rookies from Ireland. They were both taken in the 2014 National Draft and they are both on strongly performing AFL club lists and playing the Western Australian Football League (WAFL).

Brophy is probably the earlier bolter of the two. On the West Coast Eagles list and playing with East Perth, Brophy has played in all East Perth’s league (1st XVIII) team matches this season and is averaging 14 disposals per game and a high of 20 disposals in both matches against Subiaco.
 

Friday night footy at Etihad Stadium kicks off Round 16 with North Melbourne hosting Essendon.

Once again viewers around the world can access matches live or delayed on a number of TV networks or stream the telecast via subscription to Watchafl.com.au. 

The broadcast schedule for this round can be seen below.

 

It was Round 10, 2001, when Brisbane Lions coach, Leigh Matthews, use a quote from the movie “Predator” saying “if it bleeds we can kill it.” He was referring to Essendon which had won 32 of its last 34 matches including the 2000 premiership and was on top of the ladder. The Lions beat Essendon that night and did not lose another game en-route to the 2001 flag and followed with more flags in 2002/03.

The North London Lions have taken a leaf from the Matthews book and proved that the powerhouse West London Wildcats are not immortal. They can be beaten, as the Lions proved in their 14 5 89 to 11 13 79 win at home on the weekend. The win secures third place for the Lions, but more importantly they have created a blueprint for success for other finalists to follow against the Wildcats come finals time. No longer is this a one-horse race to the flag.

In other results, the Wandsworth Demons powered home to a solid 47 point win over the Wimbledon Hawks whilst the London Swans gave the Putney Magpies a nasty afternoon with a 102 point lesson. For the Demons and the Swans the games were good tune ups ready for finals action in two weeks time.

With a round left in the AFLCNE season most of the recent action has occurred at the top and bottom of the ladder. The Manchester Mozzies have held firm after being challenged by Sheffield Thunder for bragging rights and will now finish the home and away season on top of the ladder and take out the 2015 minor premiership. At the other end of the scale, the Tyne Tees Tigers relentless finish to the season will see them likely to avoid the wooden spoon with more powerful performances.

Round 12 saw the Birmingham Bears keep their finals hopes in good stead when they won their game against Sheffield Thunder by a forfeit. The Nottingham Scorpions also stayed in the hunt with a 13 point win over the Wolverhampton Wolverines. But it was the Tyne Tees Tigers that caused the upset of the round when they thumped the third placed Huddersfield Rams by 72 points, pulling of their second win against a likely finalist in three weeks.

It’s half time at Cazalys Stadium in Cairns. The Gold Coast Suns have jumped out of the blocks quite brilliantly and raced away to a handy 18 point lead. The local crowd is delighted, apart from the many thousand Bulldogs fans who dream of an alternative universe at that time.

With the stadium lights already on and blazing, many of the crowd slink off to the nearest food or drink outlet for a feed. It’s very hard work being a supporter, and we need constant replenishing of energy.

The siren has sounded for half time and the fatigued Suns and Bulldogs players head up the race for their rest and a chat or two from their coaches. As soon as they are off the field a swarm of Auskick kids arrives like locusts, spreading to all parts of the field. As with all AFL matches, the four pockets are home to local juniors getting their time in the sun (or in this case multi-million dollar stadium lighting) wearing their red or black NAB jerseys.

Western Bulldogs’ rampaging rebounding half-back, Jason Johannisen, is just a nice guy. Pure and simple. You can tell by his smile when he approaches for an interview and his enthusiastic, positive responses to unrehearsed questions. In Cairns for this weekend’s clash between the Western Bulldogs and the Gold Coast Suns, Johannisen was happy to give up a few minutes to talk about his own journey, and what he hopes will be a successful and challenging one into the future.

Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, he left his home nation when he was just eight years old when his family moved across the Indian Ocean to Perth. So, does he remember his early days back in South Africa? “No, not really,” he says. But he does remember his early days in Perth, playing footy at school and with his local club and wanting to be an AFL player one day.

In his playing days, Malcolm Blight was one of the greatest players of his or any other era. Dual VFL premiership player with North Melbourne, dual AFL premiership coach with Adelaide, Brownlow Medal, Magarey Medal (SA), Coleman Medal, Ken Farmer Medal, dual All-Australian and more. The list is as impressive as it gets.

Nowadays Blight casts a watchful, paternal almost, eye over the rising Gold Coast Suns as originally the Director of Football but now Coaching Advisor. He gave his wealth of knowledge willingly to former coach Guy McKenna and now to Rodney Eade.

It is almost a fatherly role, and sitting with him in the grandstand at Cazalys Stadium in Cairns you could see his watchful gaze rarely left the goings on out on the oval as the Suns trained in front of an enthusiatic local crowd, augmented by many devotees from the Gold Coast and elsewhere who had headed north for the game.

With just two rounds left until the finals, the North London Lions are the fourth team to guarantee their place after a commanding win against the Putney Magpies. Whilst it would have taken an unexpected turn of events to see the Lions miss out, they would still be relieved that they now join the Wildcats, Demons and Swans in the top four and can start to work their drills, plays and fitness ready to go as far as they can this year. The final score saw the Lions 17 13 115 defeat the Magpies 6 3 39.

In other matches, the Wandsworth Demons were too good for the London Swans, winning 10 14 74 to 6 10 46. The West London Wildcats flexed their muscle in the run to the finals with a comprehensive victory over the Wimbledon Hawks. Final score saw the Wildcats 23 15 153 defeat the Hawks 6 4 40.

The remaining two weeks of the home and away season will see the top four vying for final positions. Wildcats and Demons are locked in first and second place, but the Lions and Swans will fight out third and fourth spot with both currently locked together on four wins each. Both have to play the ravenous Wildcats, but have winnable matches in the other round. The Lions have the superior percentage.