World Footy News

As reported on WFN earlier (5th March) the Thailand Tigers took on the Malaysian Warriors in a Footy First in Phuket, Thailand.

This report courtesy of Thailand Tigers Australian Football Club.

After a 4 month lay-off, the Thailand Tigers were finally back in action over the weekend, with a short jaunt to Phuket to play Asian footy heavyweights, the Malaysian Warriors.

This match-up marked the first time Australian football has been played on the island province, and as a result, a healthy group of Aussie expats and curious others were on hand to see the two teams battle it out at the Alan Cooke Cricket Ground in central Phuket.

The biggest day on the AFL Middle East calendar is about to arrive with Friday’s 2014/15 season Grand-Final. To be played at Seven’s Stadium in Dubai, this year’s event sets up another David and Goliath type scenario as the powerhouse of recent season’s (a fourth consecutive grand-final appearance for potentially three flags takes on the newest team, the BM Bulls, in their very first season.

The match will kick off at 1.30pm, Dubai time. A decent local crowd is hoped for and expected as this becomes the newest local rivalry with two Dubai teams facing off for glory.

The all-conquering Dragons are deserving red-hot favourites, going through the pre-season and home and away fixtures undefeated. But how can anyone dismiss the efforts of the Bulls after surpassing all expectations to date in their maiden season.

The AFL and GAA today confirmed that the 2015 International Rules series will be just the one test between Australia and Ireland. This comes after some speculation that the AFL were pushing for an extra Test to be played in New York (among other venues).

The AFL have confirmed the once again only All-Australian team members or those who have previously been selected in the All Australian squad previously (in the event of injury) will be eligible for the Australian team.

The match will take place on the hallowed Croke Park turf on November 21st and Australia will again be coached by Alastair Clarkson with the assistance of Brad Scott and Ross Lyon.

It is hoped that a successful tour without serious incidents that have marred previous tours can see the series become a more permanent and expanded series in the future.

The NAB Challenge winds up in this fourth week, matches beginning  on Thursday night with Hawthorn taking on St Kilda at Docklands stadium.

We bring you the international broadcast schedule for these matches (below). 

Across the weekend Vanuatu was hit by a category 5 cyclone which is as bad as it gets. Early reports of fatalities are patchy and will sadly be understated. The intensity of this storm was comparable to the 2013 Typhoon Haiyan that left more than 6000 dead in the Philippines. With communications impacted - and Vanuatu with around 250,000 people living across about 65 inhabited islands and in a variety of conditions - the true scale may not be known for sometime.

My family and I enjoyed the hospitality of AFL Vanuatu during a family holiday to Port Vila last June. Like many others we look on from afar in shock and despair for those who have endured this. We wish for - but fear for - the safety of those we haven't heard from.

As far as kicking balls around a paddock - that will be the last thing on the minds of anybody. In Vanuatu - with such widespread destruction the coming days and weeks will be crucial for those left homeless and without access to clean water - and for bringing health systems back into operation and not just back to normal operation. It is for this reason that we urge those who can; to donate. Australian aid flights have already begun arriving.
- Via facebook : Give to Vanuatu with drop off points listed around Australia.
- Australian Red Cross : Cyclone Pam Vanuatu 2015 appeal.
- And cash donations from anywhere via Gofundme

Wanderers Eagles have completed an amazing fairy-tale at TIO Stadium in Darwin tonight when they defeated St Marys to win the 2014/15 NTFL Grand-Final. Six weeks ago no-one would have predicted, or written, this result, yet Wanderers pulled of one of the most miraculous victories and wrote the happiest possible ending to their story.

It was the nearest thing to a David versus Goliath story in many, many years, and David did indeed slay Goliath.

To scenes of unbridled joy, Wanderers fans jumped the fences in ecstasy when the final siren sounded, bringing to a close an emotional, exciting and almost unbelievable run from sixth place to premiers.

Final Scores: Wanderers 11 17 83 d St Marys 7 7 49.

The ultimate game of the 2014/15 NTFL season will be played tonight at TIO Stadium in Darwin. The premier AFL event on the Northern Territory calendar will see the all-powerful St Mary’s Saints chasing their third consecutive flag. Their opponents, Wanderers Eagles, were runners-up last season.

The match tonight presents a host of fascinating potential outcomes and side stories. Not only does the St Marys team face the prospect of a three peat (three flags in a row), they are also after their 31st premiership since they entered the league back in 1952. The last club to achieve three flags in a row was St Marys when they took out the 2007/08, 2008/09 and 2009/10 flags.

Wanderers, the team that made their own fairy tale to come from sixth place just weeks before the finals to reach the big day, get to make amends for last year’s grand-final loss to St Mary’s and chase their own 13th premiership. To read of their run to the finals, follow this link: http://www.worldfootynews.com/article...3072318056

Last night was the officially opening of the Michael Long learning and leadership centre. The facility is designed to assist indigenous youth to follow a football pathway to career, leadership and life options that might not otherwise be available.

World Footy news has reported on this centre’s development since the idea was flagged bag in early 2013. The centre will be of enormous benefit to indigenous Territorian youth. Many players from remote leagues such as Maningrida, Galiwinku, Groote Eylandt, Wadeye, Lajamanu and many more across the Northern Territory will follow this pathway in future years. Not Long now: Football themed learning and leadership centre taking shape

The following media release from AFLNT and the Northern Territory Government highlights the development of the project. The video clip below is also from the AFLNT showing footage of the official opening event in Darwin last night as a pre-cursor to the NTFL Grand-Final.

The NAB Challenge heads into week three on Thursday night starting with Geelong vs Adelaide at Simonds Stadium in Geelong .

We bring you the international broadcast schedule (below). 

 

Last week the Essendon Football Club announced that club and Australian Football legend, Kevin Sheedy, would be returning to the club.  The acquisition of Sheedy by the Bombers will prove a likely master stroke by the club as they use his five decades of experience at all levels of the game to help redirect the club in the wake of a tumultuous period.

Kevin has also written for World Footy News. His article last year about the proliferation of the Giants’ brand world-wide helped raise awareness of the international game to a far wider audience. See A GIANT invite from Kevin Sheedy

 Earlier last year I was able to briefly interview Kevin about his views on the international development of Australian Football. Again, he lent his enormous expertise and awareness of the game’s position to give insights to our readers: Kevin Sheedy – A (brief) World View

The Japanese city of Hiroshima is all set to host a very special ANZAC Day Australian Rules football event. In a year which sees the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landing and associated commemorations, the Hiroshima tournament will add yet another international dimension to a worldwide recognition of those who gave their lives in battle.

In their initial information advice, The Hiroshima Cranes stated that “on April 25th, the first Australian football tournament in history will be held in Hiroshima. Australian football or 'Aussie Rules', is Australia's most popular code of football, and is rapidly growing in popularity in Japan. Teams will travel from Osaka, Tokyo and Nagoya to participate.”

“April 25th (ANZAC Day) is Australia and New Zealand's most important national occasion. It marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand troops during World War 1. 2015 is the 100 year anniversary of this event. Respectful ceremony will be a key part of the day.”