World Footy News

Two years ago I visited the Styrian Downunder Dogs in the town of Bad Radkersburg on the border with Slovenia where they were conducting a Friday night to Sunday pre-season camp.

It impressed me that the team was taking such a serious approach to their football and eager to absorb as much knowledge as possible about the game. These Austrians have to take the football seriously because without a Vienna team they represent Austria and travel long distances (even by Australian standards) to play in the Croatian league.

So, what has changed?

In 2013 the Olinda Ferny Creek footy team from the Dandenongs region east of Melbourne travelled to Vanuatu post season for the perfect end of season trip after slogging it out in the Yarra Valley Mountain District Football League.

Texan Mason Cox has returned to the US after his whirlwind tour to Australia to trial before a number of AFL clubs. Port Adelaide revealed earlier this week that they were not interested in taking Cox.

But this afternoon the Collingwood football club revealed that they have managed to sign the ruck prospect.  Unlike former American recruits who have come to trial previously it seemed that a number of clubs were keen to sign him so the decision to choose was Mason's. 

With payments for International rookies being outside the salary cap, Collingwood were probably always going to be in the box seat if it came down to a matter of who woud pay the best.

Images Courtesy AFL Media

The year 2014 presents itself as a great opportunity for international teams, and their players, to embrace and be embraced by Australian Rules football clubs across the world. Whilst there are carnivals such as the Euro Cup and the EEAFL throughout Asia which bring those parts of the world closer, it is the year of an International Cup which has the greatest potential to create lasting bonds between teams and players from across the world.

This year’s IC14 in Melbourne will be no exception as national teams, represented by many local clubs within their countries, make the journey to Australia where they will play hard against their opposition on the field, yet build lasting friendships afterwards off the field.

Francis Ramo and Peter Nuku jetted off earlier this year bound for Queensland (Australia) for a season of footy. As reported in the Solomon Star They were selected for the opportunity on the basis of their commitment and work ethic towards the SIAFL, their talent and their determination to go to Australia. It’s pleasing to see the a couple of months into this adventure that both are doing well playing with the Coolaroo Football Club.

AFL Papua New Guinea has already established a solid pedigree in International Footy not only in the South Pacific region but also against all comers in the International Cup. And not just the men. The PNG Flames womens squad debuted in 2011 at the Inaugural AFL International Cup Womens division and AFL PNG has announced a squad to return in August this year.

Maybe it’s fate, karma, coincidence. Or maybe it’s just two excellent teams dominating for the last two years, but the Toulouse Hawks and Paris Cockerels get the chance to lock horns in the CNFA grand final in France for the second consecutive year. Or, more correctly, the first. The 2012/13 grand final was never played after the Montpellier venue could not be used due to a local authority’s decision.

When Paris could not get to the rescheduled and relocated event, the premiership was handed to the Toulouse Hawks for their maiden flag. Even though the two met later in the year in the French Cup (for a Toulouse win), it still wasn’t the grand final they deserved to play. But the 2013/4 season sees them both back in the grand final for another chance.

 

 

This weekend footy returns to central Canada as the 2014 AFL Ontario season begins.

AFL Ontario (AFLO) is the largest Australian Rules football league in the world outside of Australia, and it has a very busy off season. AFLO has been preparing 8 months, for what many around the league feel should be its most competitive season yet. A statement confidently endorsed by league Vice President, Morgan King.

“The league has been steadily growing stronger every single year, but.. Looking over how much we’ve accomplished at the executive level and the information sent to us from the clubs, this season is definitely shaping up to be the best.” King commented.

When you are over 211cm tall you probably have plenty of squeeze in moments. Be it airline seats, doorways or beds things shorter mortals take for granted take some adjusting to fit as best as possible.

This week Mason Cox has come out from the US to trial with four Melbourne AFL clubs (and interview with Fremantle from Melbourne) squeezing in his trails between his college graduation as an engineer and beginning a career offered by Exxon Mobil back in the US.

Images courtesy AFL Media.

(Full audio of Mason's press conference at AFL House below)

This week's international broadcast networks and airing times below. This is the last week of the bye rounds where there are only six matches played. Round 11 returns to the 9 match per round schedule.

 

All but the most fervent Melbourne and Port Adelaide supporters probably saw the scheduling of the Demons/Power encounter at TIO Traeger Park, Alice Springs, as a lesser match in the upcoming Indigenous Round. 

With a round that starts with a clash between Sydney and Geelong on Thursday 29th May, and then features the showcase “Dreamtime at the ‘G” clash between Essendon and Richmond on the Saturday night, one could be excused for missing the Demons v Power clash crammed in between.

 

We conclude this six part series of the 2014 USAFL Season Preview with a preview of the Women's Division.