World Footy News

For the debut womens sides from Fiji (Vonu) and Tonga (Thunder) the last match of the tournament was a chance to finish the tournament on a high. Combined with a perfect late August Melbourne morning on the Western Oval the game got underway – a little late – the weather may have been perfect but the traffic wasn’t. The Western Oval at Royal Park glistened with the morning dew catching the sunlight – and with little if any breeze it was as good weather as had been offered over the previous fortnight.

The Vonu had managed a win against the USA Liberty while the Tonga Thunder had had thus far a fruitless tournament with respect to wins. But wins aren’t everything in a tournament like this. When the Tonga ladies performed the Sipi Tau it was as much for the friendly benefit of their Fijian opponents as it was for intimidation. Winning isn’t the be all for a tournament like this.

Tonga won the toss and elected to kick to the 'right of screen' - the western end. And when the game got underway the contest was willing, the niceties of the pre-game forgotten and it was clear that the winner today would need to work hard – because, while winning isn’t everything in a tournament like this – it is national pride on the line and winning sure helps.

The GWS GIANTS are exploring playing an AFL match in China for premiership point, i.e. a regular season match.  To promote their quest their players donned International Cup jumpers.

GIANTS CEO David Matthews told Friday’s Daily Telegraph the club were keen to look at new avenues to promote the game overseas.

“We’re pretty ambitious about trying to look for opportunities,” Matthews said. “What the AFL has shown in New Zealand is to play a genuine home-and-away game for four points is the best way to promote the game.

“It seems such a logical step to play a game in China and we’d certainly be putting our hands up if it’s possible.

“It may be the starting point to have an exhibition game, with a match for points down the track. But we’re very keen on the idea, very keen.”

France notched their second win for the tournament with a 74 point smashing of Pakistan on McAlister oval on a bright sunny spring-like afternoon.

The International Cup Gala Dinner was on tonight and as is tradition World Teams have been named from both the Men's and Women's competitions at the International Cup.

Teams were picked utilising umpire votes, official team votes and the views of the AFL selection panel.

Captain of the Women is Canda's Aimee Legault, whose passion for Australian football is such that she moved Down Under to play at the highest level.  For the Men it is Ireland's Mick Finn, also now based in Australia and a key to their 2011 Cup win and likely to be vital tomorrow on the MCG.  Legault and Ireland's Laura Corrigan were named Female Player of the Tournament, and Finn was named Male Player of the Tournament.

The Women's side features 9 Canadians, 6 Irish, 5 Americans, 1 Tongan and 1 Fijian.

The Men's is dominated by the usual big 4 international sides: Ireland (4), PNG (3), NZ (3), SA (3).  The remainder are from Canada (2), GB (2), USA (2), Nauru (1), Fiji (1), Tonga (1).

It was a slightly dewy morning, even under the bright sun lacking on most days of this festival of footy, when the Finnish Icebreakers and the Japanese Samurai took the field on Ransford Oval at an early 9 am on Friday.

While both teams had struggled against either bigger teams (the Japanese) or more experienced teams (the Finns), it would be a morning of stormy weather for the players from Turku, Salo, Vaasa, and Helsinki. After several matches they had lost some players to injury, others (exchange students and local Finns) to exams, and were soon playing with 17 men – their vacant interchange bench contrasted with the to and fro of the Japanese team.

The first quarter produced some of the best football of the tournament, from the Japanese team. The Japanese combination of sure ball handling, confident marking, sharp passing, chains of handball, switching play, run on football and the metres gained was copybook stuff. It was only qualified by indifferent kicking for goal. Both offline shots and kicks falling one to two metres short.
 

With the early afternoon sun at McAlister oval nudging the temperature around and over 20C – the Canadian Northwind lined up ready to face the Tongan Storm in the 5th v 6th battle to decide the Division 1 premier. With a negligible breeze from the south aiding the Tongans it was the Northwind that looked sharpest from the outset.

 

At just 165 centimetres in height, Amina Humi might go close to one of the smallest full backs going around. Hard to image her up against modern day giants like Daniher (201cm), Tippett (202cm) or even Cloke (196cm). But in her own field, harassing opposition full forwards, she is a Tongan giant.

Our interview took a different direction. As a Hawthorn supporter, she still lists her footy idol as Lance Franklin. Amina says that her career highlight to date has been this current International Cup.

At just 21 years of age, Amina, who plays for the Nukalofa team back in Tonga, should look forward to a long career representing her country.

The USA Revolution has had a good run so far in the International Cup. On a win/loss ratio, their 3 wins from four starts has been a solid return. Jeff Talmadge is a part of the squad, and has shared some of his insights with us.

“I started playing footy in April 2013 so close to a year and a half. It’s been quite an adventure in such a short period of time. I was encouraged to come and check out the club in my home town, Austin, Texas, by an Aussie friend of mine from Adelaide. After my first game, I was absolutely hooked.”

 

Meet the players - Luke Matias (Great Britain).