World Footy News

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.”

Ed. - We welcome Scott Matheson to World Footy News as our newest writer. Scott is an Australian who spent many years in the USA, played in the USAFL at the Columbus Australian Rules Football Club and has held various positions on both the CARFC committee as well as the USAFL board. Scott has now returned to Australia and studies in Melbourne.

2015 is shaping up as the biggest year for American imports playing and competing in Aussie Rules in footy’s home state of Victoria.  Numerous Americans have made, or will make, the sixteen hour trek across the Pacific Ocean in order to chase some unorthodox sporting dreams.  This article profiles the players expanding the Yankee footprint in Victorian footy circles. 

Hot on the heels of St Kilda FC signing Barclay Miller, their third international scholarship from New Zealand – the footy news just keeps rolling in with the announcement of the New Zealand Hawks Academy preliminary squad that will travel to Sydney later this month.

In just his second game for St Kilda, USA recruit Jason Holmes sent a very early message to both selectors and the opposition that he was there to play. It took almost 10 minute for the first goal to be scored in the St Kilda versus Essendon clash in Morwell today, but it was Jason Holmes who regained the ball from an Essendon kick-in and kicked truly for the Saints’ first of 15 goals for the day.

Holmes once again competed well, ever so gradually gathering his AFL legs. His stats, whilst low on paper, showed a real competitiveness as he teamed well with fellow Saint ruckman, Billy Longer, to win the battle of the hit-outs. Holmes stats this week saw 3 possessions, 2 marks, 10 hit-outs and a goal before being replaced by fellow ruckman Tom Hickey in the third quarter.

It would be overly flattering to say that Holmes has arrived as a best 22 player for St Kilda, but his two games in the NAB Challenge so far have certainly showcased his improved skills, and his determination and heart are unquestionable.

In the run to the Northern Territory Football League finals this year, Wanderers fell. Their Round 16 loss to the Tiwi Bombers by 108 points hammered their percentage. The loss in Round 17 to Nightcliff wasn’t as brutal on the scoreboard, but potentially devastating to their season. Going down by 21 points to the Tigers meant a final round showdown with the team above them to sneak a finals berth.

Everything depended on Round 18. Wanderers were equal on points to Palmerston, but would have to beat them to pass them.

They did.

Last year’s grand-finalists had found their own little miracle to get another crack at a flag – however remote. Their Elimination Final against the Tiwi Bombers would have to reverse the Round 16 result and then some to proceed any further through the finals.

They did.

Festival of Sport & Footy in Da Nang, Vietnam

Central Vietnam Games - 2015

Da Nang 7th March 2015 

The Vietnam Swans are proud to announce a new initiative being led by the Swans in conjunction with the Viet Celts and Saigon Gaels Gaelic, Hanoi Dragons and Saigon Gecko’s Rugby and Hanoi Oi’s and Saigon Shooters Netball Clubs – the Central Vietnam Games, to be held in Danang on 7 March.

Through the perseverance and determination of Swannies Hall of Fame inductee and Hoi An native, Michael “MJ” Johnston and new Danang recruit Jason Carter, a fantastic old ground with ample grass to accommodate an expansive game of Aussie Rules has been booked.  An expected group of around 100 finely tuned athletes are expected to descend upon Danang for what is shaping up as a great weekend of sport.

Thailand Tigers AFL club hold Auskick Football Clinic at Boy’s Home.

A group of Thailand Tigers and Auskick families recently (December 2014) gave up their Saturday afternoon to run a football clinic at a boy’s home for children who are less fortunate than most of us. The chance to do this was made possible by way of iCare Foundation and the organisational skills of two Tiger members, (Coxy* and Phil*) and they deserve recognition for their work.

Over 50 boys from the home turned out, with a range of ages similar to Auskick. They were split into groups and introduced to kicking, handballing, goal kicking, marking and tackling by rotating through stations run by groups of Tigers, Dads and Auskickers. The level of enthusiasm from the children was great and the boys picked up the basics very quickly; you had to remind yourself that the majority of them had never seen a footy before.