World Footy News

The following is a story written by Charles Miranda in Amsterdam for News Corp. It details the decision made by AFL Europe to recognise Catalonia as a nation in the lead up to this weekend’s European Champions League tournament. The article appeared in today’s Herald Sun in Melbourne at: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/australian-football-league-recognises-spanish-region-catalonia-as-a-country-in-european-competition/story-fni5ezdm-1227269879164

 

In essence, the story follows the line that the AFL, through the efforts of AFL Europe, have given the region of Catalonia in Spain an independence not granted them through politics or societal influence. It marks a fascinating event where sport has had a direct hand in perceptions of nationhood.

 

AFL recognises Spanish Region Catalonia as a country in European Competition.

 

In the scheme of global politics it’s a pretty small thing.  

 

 

But the Australian Football League has done what three centuries of bloody wars and secessionist sentiment have failed to achieve and given nationhood status to the Spanish region of Catalonia.

The sounds of umpire’s whistles, half time sirens, advice from the crowd and parochial cheering are about to announce Australian Rules football to Amsterdam in a big, big way as the inaugural AFL Europe Champions League tournament takes place.

The draw has been released for the event which essentially divides the competing teams into two groups – Red and Black – which will compete in a round robin format to decide placings which will determine semi-finalists and other matches to decide final placings.

Teams in the Red Group are: Amsterdam Devils, Edinburgh Bloods, Solna Axemen, Zagreb Hawks and the West London Wildcats.

Black Group teams are: Malmo Redeyes, Toulouse Hawks, Rhineland Lions, Belfast Redbacks and the Manchester Mosquitoes.

 

With the 2014/15 NTFL season done and dusted there is some evidence coming through that the game in the Northern Territory, most particularly the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL)  is enjoying a strong and rapid growth. It is a long bow to draw to claim that the game is capturing a wider national audience, though there is evidence coming through which may support the idea.

 

A recent press release from the AFLNT noted that:

 

TIO NTFL Drawing Unprecedented Crowds in 2014-15 Season

The TIO NTFL attendance figures for the 2014/15 season are on record pace with more than 70,000 patrons through the gates since Round One in October 2014.

Analysis of the past five years reflects an increase of close to 12 per cent on the 2013/14 season attendance figures.

 

(Picture: Jubilant Wanderers players during NTFL Grand Final - source NT News)

Austrian Football in the form of the Styrian DownUnderDogs need you support.  They are taking part in the competition ' ING-DiBa Club Tausender' in Austria.

A total of 50,000 euros will be awarded to non-profit organizations nation-wide.  Every vote - counts as per category, the 10 clubs with the most votes receive 1,000 euros each for their club project.

Goto  https://www.ing-diba.at/vereinstausender/vereindetails?club_id=685.

 

The Sydney Swans have elevated one player to Bloods Legend status and welcomed two new faces to the Hall of Fame at tonight’s annual Guernsey Presentation and Hall of Fame Induction Dinner, presented by Volkswagen.

More than 650 guests attended the evening at Sydney’s The Star Event Centre.
 

Former Swans captain, coach, five-time best and fairest winner and the 1940 Brownlow medallist, J.Herbie Matthews, became the fifth player elevated to Bloods Legend status, joining Bob Pratt, Bob Skilton, Paul Kelly and Peter Bedford. He was among the inaugural inductees into the Swans Hall of Fame in 2009.
 

The following article from www.abc.net.au  looks at the recent Tiwi Islands grand-final played last weekend, but largely hidden by the larger NTFL grand finals. It is a fascinating account of both the game itself but also the people, heritage and culture that are as much a part of the game as the players themselves.

 

This is the first of two articles from ABC News which examine both the history and impact of the game on the people of the Tiwi Islands as well as looking at this year’s grand-final.

 

 

The Tiwi Islands – or by the native name Ratuati Irara (two islands) – are comprised of Bathurst and Melville Islands, 80 kilometres north of Darwin where the Arafura Sea meets the Timor Sea. It is also home to the NTFL team, the Tiwi Bombers.

 

(Picture: Bulldogs players receiving quarter-timee instructions)

 

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