World Footy News

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.

Thursday night footy in Adelaide kicks off Round 15 with the Port Adelaide hosting Collingwood. 

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.

 

Following is an update from the www.afl.com website looking at New Zealand Hawk, Kurt Heatherley and fellow Auckland recruit also with the Box Hill Hawks, Shem-Kalvin Tatupu. The article is by Travis King.

 

HAWTHORN will try to block rival clubs circling New Zealand project player Kurt Heatherley by ramping-up contract talks with the athletic defender.

Heatherley is yet to make his AFL debut, but his stocks have risen during a standout VFL season for Box Hill, with his impressive form attracting rivals' interest.

Hawthorn has been delighted by the international rookie's progress and AFL.com.au understands the reigning premiers are eager to hurry along negotiations on a new deal.

In what is arguably the biggest sporting event now on our local Cairns calendar, the Western Bulldogs will host the Gold Coast Suns at Cazalys Stadium this Saturday. For the fifth consecutive year Cairns will be in the national and international eye as an AFL Premiership venue, showcasing our brilliant location and wonderful facilities as we put Far North Queensland and AFL football on show.

 

The event is also supported by a huge variety of events locally, listed at the bottom of this following press release from the AFL. Each year this event has become bigger and better and a bumper Cairns crowd is expected to turn out.

 

MEDIA RELEASE FROM THE AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE

 

AFL passion arrives in Cairns this week with a full program of community events in the lead up to the Round 15 Toyota AFL Premiership match between the Western Bulldogs and Gold Coast SUNS at Cazalys Stadium on Saturday, July 11.

 

 

Article courtesy Toronto Dingos

Founders, Life Members, players, best and fairest winners, coaches, premiership players and clubmen were all treated to a night in the spotlight at the Toronto Dingos Football Club 20th Anniversary Gala at the Atlantis Pavillion on Saturday night.

More than 80 guests, comprised of current day members, alumni and former Dingos now living in other cities and countries made up the numbers in what can only be described as one of the greatest events in the club’s 20 year history where the hard working volunteers were acknowledged.

The night was centered around five guest speakers including president Mick McFarlane, founder and Life Member Terrance Wallis, former president and Life Member Craig Stewart who received a standing ovation, Life Member Chris Buczkowski and founding player and Life Member Paul Tinkler who also organized the 20th Gala.

The World Team format that saw a mix of overseas and multicultural players form a team to play in the National Under 16 Championships has seen a watering down of the overseas based players component of the team as the concept has worn on.  Now there are no overseas based players involved with the team now made up exclusively of players with multicultural Australian based players that were born in non-English speaking countries (although the squad below seems to have some exceptions to this) .

The South Pacific Team now does not compete at this national tournament - they now compete in the Qld U16 State championships (that were held in May) and can make it to the National Championships and represent Qld. 

The AFL has also indicated that in future, if there is an outstanding overseas based junior talent identified by international affiliates they will "be open to accommodating these players either through the World Team or through another state talent program."

 

Matches for the World Team and Flying Boomerangs begin today at 4pm.

The following story is about an extraordinary football club with an incredible vision, and some of the finest footballers you could ever wish to meet.  The Starkick program kicked off by the Coolbinia Bombers Junior Football Club in Perth, Western Australia is one of the most inspirational endeavours seen in Australian Rules football.

 

The article, written by Laura House for the Daily Mail Australia, looks at the program, its background, the people driving it and the kids who just love their footy. It is a fascinating insight into a club that has gone where few, if any, clubs have gone before, but where other clubs should dare to travel.

 

 

'When he's out there he's not a child with a disability - he's just a kid playing footy': Australia's first AFL team for children with special needs sees them play alongside their peers

 

The following story is a fascinating, in depth account by Sam Landsberger at the Herald Sun newspaper exploring the paths of four young African footballers. Sam starts with the story of Gach Nyuon (Sudan) before moving on to the stories of Maibor Chol (Sudan/Egypt), Patrick Taban (Uganda) and Rueben William (Kenya). They are amazing stories of courage, freedom and ultimately their journey to football.

This story adds further to the recent look at the journey of Sydney Swans player Aliir Aliir, drafted last year Sudan To Sydney Swans: Aliir Aliir’s Journey Continues and the success of North Melbourne footballer Majak Daw, selected again for a senior game last weekend.

Gach Nyuon’s long journey from Africa to potential AFL draftee

(Picture: Jay Town, Herald Sun)

Four boys from Sudanese families have trekked through war-torn countries and survived refugee camps before arriving in Australia and falling in love with footy.

 

One saw an attempted kidnapping of his baby brother and another has more than 70 siblings, owing to his assassinated father’s 12 wives.