World Footy News

AFL Europe is pleased to announce Megan Hession has been appointed CEO.

An experienced sports administrator, Megan will be based in London and will oversee the 21-member nation’s individual competitions while continuing to promote the game and oversee its development in Europe.

Originally from the United States, Megan arrives in London with a wealth of experience. After working for more than a decade in financial trading technology in New York and London, Megan started a sports management company in Europe that expanded to Dubai and New York. Her work focused on EPL player welfare and the organisation of high-performance training camps and sports event management in the Middle East.

Megan is no stranger to the AFL after organising Port Adelaide’s last two pre-season training camps in Dubai.

Megan said she was thrilled to be starting the role.

With a little over a week until the AFL’s Multicultural Round gets under way it is timely to have a look back at the genesis of our game and the part that players with strong and diverse ethnic backgrounds have played.

 

Whilst some might consider the “multicultural” aspect of the game a relatively new phenomenon, the fact is that the game’s past is garnered with a multicultural smorgasboard.

 

 

One of the first names that comes to mind is “Jezza” in the 60’s and 70’s. Carlton’s Alex Jesaulenko, of both Ukrainian and Austrian descent, became one of the better known surnames of his era. The commentary surrounding his famous mark in the 1970 grand final over Graeme Jenkins from Collingwood became part of folklore. Mike Williamson excitedly called “Jesaulenko, you beauty!” immortalising the mark and also a multicultural surname in one breath.

The USAFL, in conjunction with AFL Canada, will be streaming all four Parallel Cup matches live on YouTube.  Both days’ coverage will begin at 5:45pm ET, with Brian Barrish and Denis Ryan leading the commentary team for the weekend.  There will also be live updates on Twitter and Facebook.

Live Stream: Full schedule and YouTube links on USAFL.com

Twitter: @USAFL1997 and @AFL_TEAMCANADA

Facebook: USAFL and AFL CANADA

ST KILDA MEDIA RELEASE

THE rapid improvement of St Kilda’s international rookie Jason Holmes has resulted in a one-year contract extension for the 2016 season.

Until recently, the American-born Holmes had never heard of Australian football let alone played it but after completing his career as a college basketballer, tried his hand at an AFL combine.

The Saints selected him with pick 36 at the 2014 Rookie Draft and immediately set upon fast-tracking his development through the club’s VFL affiliate Sandringham.

Another big week for International players in the VFL as Round 15 was played in good conditions on Saturday and not so good on Sunday. The standout performances were the ruckwork of Eric Wallace and an impressive defensive performance by Kurt Heatherley.

A quiet day for opposing Irish players in the Essendon vs Geelong match. Lucey (Ire) had 5 kicks, 5 marks, 4 hit outs and 3 handballs for the Cats and Conor McKenna (Ire) on the winning side had 8 kicks, 3 handballs and 3 marks and kicked 1.1 to see the Bombers home by 13 points.
 

Friday night footy at the MCG kicks off Round 18 with Hawthorn hosting Richmond. 

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.

 

 

The following is a press release from the AFLNT looking at the increasing role and exponential growth of women’s football across the Northern Territory. As the new season approaches and plans for 2015/16 are put into place, the AFLNT is looking more closely at how that growth can be built effectively and positively into future plans.

As Territory Football approaches its Centenary year, focus is turning towards the women who make the game great.

 

Australia wide, the role of women in football has changed dramatically from fans and loyal club volunteers to elite athletes, coaches and umpires in their own right.

 

 

AFL Northern Territory (AFLNT) has seen exponential growth in TIO NTFL women’s football over the last few seasons, and to acknowledge this growth and successes AFLNT CEO Tony Frawley has pledged scholarships for women who wish to further their development in coaching, umpiring or administration of the game. 

In a move which will combine recognition of umpires and the multicultural legacy of our great game, the word “umpire” will be printed on the back of umpire’s shirts during the upcoming multicultural round. At each AFL match during Round 19, the AFL Multicultural Round from August 7-9, officiating umpires will have the word “umpire” emblazoned on the shirts in seven different languages.

The same touch will be added to the footballs used throughout the round, with the word “Sherrin” translated into the same languages as well as the 50 metre lines on each ground. To complete the picture of wider recognition of the event matches will be broadcast in corresponding languages for each venue as well as podcasts through afl.com.au and associated apps.

Already regarded as one of the most powerful Australian Rules football clubs across Europe, the West London Wildcats further enhanced that reputation on the weekend. Playing against the well credentialed Wandsworth Demons, the Wildcats showed little remorse romping home to a powerful 72 point win to book their place in the 2015 grand-final. They will enjoy a week’s break as the preliminary finalists do battle.

For the Demons it will be a week of soul-searching as they initially need to win their preliminary final to earn a rematch with the Wildcats. But that is not guaranteed. But assuming they do clear their next hurdle the Demons face a tough period of planning to find a way to bring down the Wildcats.

Their opponents will be the North London Lions which won their semi-final on Sunday against the London Swans. In a tighter, low scoring game it was the Lions with the answers at the end to hold the competitive Swans at bay by just 11 points in a game where the respective defences had a large say in the result.

As expected American Matt Korchek, one of the standout talents at this year's Draft Combine in Florida has made the trip to Melbourne late last week. But he has not come alone. Jalen Carethers, James Johnson and Kye Kurkowski are here too.

The foursome have been at Carlton's home base Ikon Park and have been making the most of the club's facilities as well as working out with the Sherrin while getting tips from the likes of Brenton Sanderson. On Sunday the four prospects appeared on Channel 9's TAC Cup Future Stars program in Melbourne. All four will show off their physical attributes and their newly acquired skills when they train in front of AFL club recruiters this Wednesday.

The combatants for the 2015 AFLCNE Grand Final have been decided after the semi-finals were played over the weekend. Once again the Manchester Mosquitoes powerhouse has reached the final match of the year, continuing their incredible domination of the league over recent years. But this year another challenger will step up to the plate – Sheffield Thunder.

For the Mozzies the salivating prospect of five grand finals in the past 6 years is a reality – and a fourth premiership over that time lingers large on the AFLCNE landscape. Last year the Huddersfield Rams did their best to stop the Mozzie juggernaut. That didn’t work, so the Thunder now has a chance.

So far this season the ledger is squared at one win apiece. The first meeting at Tyne back in Round 6 saw the Thunder roar to the top of the ladder with a big 74 point win over the Mozzies. They fired the first salvo in the war of psychology between the sides this year. By Round 11 it was the Mozzies that hit back – just – with a narrow 3 point win on Sheffield's home turf. The Mozzies won, but the Thunder knew they had what it takes to beat the Mozzies – especially since the Grand Final will be played at Sheffield. It makes for a fascinating grand-final.

Essendon Football Club in conjunction with Travel and Taste and Antler Luggage is proud to announce the documentary #EmbracingIndia, will air on FOX Footy (In Australia) at 9.30pm Tuesday 28 July.

The documentary follows Dyson Heppell, David Zaharakis, Joe Daniher and Zach Merrett on their ten day journey of self discovery across colourful and chaotic India.