World Footy News

It starts today. My new role as an AFL Multicultural Community Ambassador for 2015 kicks off with the opening ceremony and function here in Cairns to kick of the AFL Diversity Cup. Bought forward a little as my induction is not until next week, but footy won’t wait. Being a resident of Cairns I am front and centre for this carnival, living five minutes from Cazalys Stadium, it makes sense to start today.

The five days of gladiatorial combat between the state Kickstart indigenous teams will be a brilliant showcase of future talent. The best talent on show will make their way into the Flying Boomerangs national indigenous team or the World Team programs. To be present helping the AFL with various media roles will be an honour and a great way to start twelve months as an ambassador and try to initiate ideas, projects and programs which may assist the multicultural growth of the game here in Far North Queensland and maybe beyond.

 

AFL Round 2 kicks off tonight in Perth with West Coast Eagles hosting Carlton.

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 tropical North Queensland city of Cairns will play host to this year’s Kickstart Championships and All Nations Cup this weekend, which together comprise the AFL Diversity Cup. Last year’s event was held in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales. The North Queensland city of Townsville held the event in 2013.

The event presents the opportunity for Cairns to further establish its credentials as a regional venue for high calibre AFL events, following on from hosting AFL Premierships matches and other key national events such as the Women’s Championships in 2013.

According to the press release from AFL Queensland:

“AFL Cairns will host the 2015 Kickstart Championships and All Nations Cup (AFL Diversity Cup) at Cazalys Stadium from Friday 10th to Wednesday 15th April. The U15 Kickstart Championships is in its 5th year and the structure has been developed to provide a supported, talented player pathway that compliments the National U16 Championships. It aims to expose indigenous and multicultural players, coaches and umpires to an elite AFL program environment.”

Back when Michael Gallus, director and founder of the Footys4all Foundation, first linked with the Pyramid Power junior football club in Gordonvale, Queensland, he saw and fell in love with Walsh’s Pyramid, the mountain that towers over the small sugar town.

He always stated that one day it was his wish to “have a kick of a footy” at Power Park in Gordonvale, home ground of the Power, and a ground with one of the most picturesque backdrops anywhere in Australia. Last week, Michael got his wish.

As part of his latest Footys4all sojourn to distribute sporting balls to less privileged kids across the country, Michael and his crew of fellow volunteers made their way to Cairns and linked up with the people of the Pyramid Power club to travel the region and visit a number of schools.

The following is an extract from an excellent article by Justin Robertson in the Toronto Star, the largest daily newspaper in Toronto, Canada. It looks closely, and proudly, at the success of Sydney Swans ruckman, Mike Pyke, but also paints a good picture of the game of Australian Rules football in the Canadian sporting landscape.  

 

Australians can spend 20 years trying to win a premiership. Pyke won a flag three years into his AFL career.

 

Ask a rookie viewer of Australian Rules Football to describe the sport, and they might say utter chaos — and, also, a bit like rugby. Ask Canada’s Mike Pyke to describe it, and he’d say it’s one hell of a job.

In an announcement from AFL Europe, the Croatian city of Umag will host the 2015 Axios Euro Cup in an enormous coup for the rapidly growing Australian Rules football nation.

According to the AFL Europe website, “It’s with great enthusiasm that AFL Europe, with the help of the Croatian Australian Football League (SANH), is thrilled to announce the location for 2015 Axios Euro Cup is the beautiful town of Umag.”

“The Axios Euro Cup is being held on the 10th October 2015 in Umag, which is located in Istra, the coastal region of Croatia. Taking place in the resort that also plays host to the annual ATP Croatia Tournament, the Cup promises a well organised, cheap and warm weekend. With special Euro Cup accommodation and being accessible from three airports under an hour and a half drive and the alternate option of hiring a car and driving from Italy or Slovenia, the 2015 Axios Euro Cup will be affordable for all.”

The AFL today confirmed the present broadcast coverage for the 2015 Toyota AFL Premiership Season into New Zealand.

As a long standing international partner of the AFL, Sky NZ will again broadcast AFL matches in 2015. Sky NZ coverage will include: One match per week (delayed), Anzac Day matches LIVE from Westpac Stadium and the MCG, one delayed match each week of Finals Weeks 1-3, and the 2015 Toyota AFL Grand Final LIVE. Sky NZ will also broadcast the AFL Weekly Highlights Program.

AFL General Manager Broadcasting, Scheduling & Major Projects, Simon Lethlean said the AFL and AFL New Zealand continue to investigate supplementary broadcast solutions in the New Zealand market following the closure of the Sommet Sports channel.

 

AFL footy is officially back in Melbourne on Thursday night.  The season opener is Richmond vs Carlton at the MCG.

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 can be seen below.

 

 

 

The following press release from the AFLNT details the upcoming opportunities for remote Territorian youth at the Michael Long Learning and Leadership Centre. As detailed in a previous article – Michael Long Learning & Leadership Centre Opens in Darwin – the centre aims to provide opportunities and pathways for remote players to develop, and this chance for a remote player contract with the NT Thunder presents something potentially life changing for recipients.

 

Press Release: NAAFVLS All-Stars Welcomed To MLLLC

 

 

The NAAFVLS Remote All-Stars have commenced their one week education and training themed camp at the Michael Long Learning and Leadership Centre.

The newest team in the AFL Middle East stable off talent enjoyed one of the most remarkable maiden seasons in any league for the 2014/15 season. To play their first game in the pre-season cup in October 2014 and go on to be grand finalists in March 2015 shows an incredible performance in just five months.

It is not the first such occurrence. Just last year the Raiwaqa Bulldogs in Fiji entered their first ever senior team and swept to premiership glory Fairy Tales do happen - Raiwaqa Bulldogs win AFL Fiji 2014 premiership, but this team had existed as an Under 16 junior team prior to that glory. The BM Bulls came from nowhere, almost.

Club President, Andrew Campbell, was involved from day one and was happy to share the story of the Bulls’ rise – as much for storytelling as it is a blueprint for development and success that other clubs may be able to replicate.

Earlier this year World Footy news reported on the rise of a new Australian Rules football entity in Poland, based in the city of Bydgoszcz. Since that time, Gareth Smith and his crew have worked overtime to get the team bigger and better.

The result is the Bydgoszcz Wildcats.

According to the club’s website, “at the moment, we train at the stadium at ul. Grim Piwnik in Fordon on Saturdays at 13:00. Everyone is welcome.”

“Most of the team are still novices to using the [oval] shaped ball, and all together we learn the sport.”