World Footy News

Jason Lassey of Bigfooty Media interviews Sölvi Fannar Sigmarsson.

Canterbury, the current champions, will be keen to use home advantage to retain their title this coming weekend in Christchurch. In 2012 they won their third National Provincial Championship in a row.

With a strong squad in 2013, Canterbury has an excellent chance to beat the other three leagues sending teams.

Auckland, Wellington and Otago will all be competing at the National Provincial Championship. Otago is the newest team at the competition, and could be the surprise package of the weekend. Wellington and Auckland will both be tough to beat, with squads filled with experienced and tough players. Disappointingly Waikato are unable to make this year’s Championships after a number of years competing at this level. 

Masala F.C (located in Noble Park a suburb of  Melbourne, Australia) is currently signing up guys who are either interested in playing casual footy and basically looking to get fit! No prior experience is required- training will be provided. All that's needed is a will to get fit and team spirit. Inbox them on the Facebook page here or email contactus@masalafc.com.au.

Following on from his interview with Denis Ryan, Jason Lassey of Bigfooty Media interviews the Al MacGlashan from the Chicago Swans and co-coach of the Austin Crow's Simon Boyce.

The following is a press release for AFL Northern Territory released originally earlier this year. In subsequent months the Sprofila product has undergone enhancements and funding changes, hence the delayed article. The program itself is worthy of note as it will certainly revolutionise many aspects of remote region football Australia and world wide.

At last, Aussie Rules football clubs, players and fans in the Territory will have access to a dedicated, free, online social media and communication platform - www.footysprofila.com.

In partnership with the AFLNT, Footy Sprofila is now available for the NTFL, the first league in Australia to access the new innovative platform.

HAWTHORN upgraded Shem Tatupu and Kurt Heatherley to their full rookie list. Now it will only take consistent form and a long term injury (to a current Hawthorn player so they can be elevated onto the senior list for either of the boys to make their AFL debut.

Tatupu has only played about 20 games of Australian Rules, and spent the year finishing school in Auckland, but at the age of 17 he has convinced the Hawks he can make it at AFL level. The 196cm, 102kg key forward was one of two New Zealand international scholarship holders welcomed on to the club’s playing squad when he and athletic 193cm defender Kurt Heatherley were taken in the AFL rookie draft.

Whether he knows it or not, Abu Dhabi footballer Ali Anmed Alhosani might be the catalyst of change in Middle Eastern Australian Rules football. This season Ali has become the first player born in the United Arab Emirates to play for a club in that country. The Abu Dhabi Falcons selected the 19 year old to play this season, effectively opening the door the more native born players.

Not only does Ali have a good football mind, but after interviewing him this week it is clear that he is one bright cookie with ideas that may influence the future of the game in the region.

His background is very interesting. “I am a 19 year old Emirati local, born and raised in Abu Dhabi. I completed my high school in Melbourne. I am also an independent visual artist, passionate long boarder, and a very good soccer player, but being a visual artist is what I'm known about most.”

Only hours after touching down at Dubai International Airport, after a gruelling 13 hour flight, the Port Adelaide Power players were straight into the grind of pre-season training, putting aside any thoughts of the heat, travel lag or hotel rooms. Such is the magnitude and potential value of this pre-season initiative that newly named rookies have already joined their team mates in Dubai, barely 12 hours after joining the club.

Whilst players have since had the chance to visit the attractions and markets of Dubai, and some even getting in a bit of golf, shopping and dining, the focus of the trip has been improved stamina, resilience and fitness and that began almost immediately the players arrived in the United Arab Emirates.

The two best AFL teams in Auckland are set to go head to head, with the Waitakere Magpies and the Mt Roskill Saints both qualifying for the Auckland AFL final.

The current Premiers are the Mt Roskill Saints, who have also enjoyed a strong season in 2013, finishing top of the table. Young James McKenzie has been a significant presence in the side, and has also recently been part of the Under-18 New Zealand Hawks, along with Saints team-mates Taylor Alaelua and Gray Samuels. Veteran Australian Dan Carman, Michael Boyce, son of AFLNZ legend Peter Boyce, and Matt Kemp will all be players to watch out for too in the final.

This has been an exciting season for the four team top division in Auckland with the two Grand Finalists and the always strong University Blues all a chance for top spot before the commencement of the final round.

A quick look at the list of clubs receiving start up grants from AFL Europe is a reasonable indicator of the slow but steady growth of Australian Rules football across the continent. Some might argue that the true growth is only seen in the number of players listed with clubs. Others might argue that not all of these clubs will see the distance. But one thing that is true is that the line-up of people seeking grants on behalf of fledgling clubs continues.

For some the journey is just beginning. Some are well into their journey, whilst others are little more than a name on an application. But a projection looking forward might see a landscape with more teams, more players and more opportunities than ever before if all goes well.

The Danish AFL has a proud history of Australian football now dating back over 20 years. The DAFL has played host to the likes of Jimmy Bartel and Brett Kirk either on or off the field. However – rarely does the DAFL or Australian Football grab the attention of the Danish public – a shame given the obvious Australian links via Princess Mary.

It was somewhat surprising then that the AFL’s number draft pick Tom Boyd made the news in Denmark.

With Wednesdays’ AFL rookie draft the international focus of AFL clubs continues to expand.
The formalisation of American recruits Jason Holmes (StKilda) and Patrick Mitchell (Sydney) along with Irish pair Ciaran Sheehan and Ciaran Byrne (both to Carlton) and another Irish lad Daniel Flynn to Port are the more traditional speculative ‘code conversion’ pathways for international recruiting typified in the past by names such as Stynes, Wight, Kennelly, Pyke, Tuohy, and Wallace..
Of more interest to Australian Football pathways overseas are the pair of Kiwis in Kurt Heatherley and Shem Tatupu. Both from New Zealand and both have been developing as juniors and have participated in the junior pathways for both New Zealand and regionally for the South Pacific squad.
As it is – the first list lodgement occurred in late October and Hawthorn nominated the pair then so there was no real surprise today – however, it is the formalisation of the process and the next phase can begin and in most cases continue for all of these players.

See below for an overview of the 7 internationals.