World Footy News

This week the 5th AFL Youth Oceania Cup will take place. Previous winners since the inaugural event in 2009 have been Tonga, PNG, New Zealand and last year Fiji. The pathway has changed somewhat with last years the first tournament without either of New Zealand or PNG involved in this phase. Next year the Oceania side will again take on PNG and NZ in the South Pacific Cup.

Below is a media release from the AFL

Fiji will host the 2013 Youth AFL Oceania Cup from December 10 to 14.

 The following interview aired on Radio Australia last week.

 

Jason Lassey of Bigfooty Media interviews James Moore, Development Officer with the Jakarta Bintangs.

GWS Giants chief executive Dave Matthews says the club may look at playing matches for premiership points in the coming years, with China, India and the USA mentioned in an article that appeared in Melbourne newspaper The Age this morning.

Mr Matthews praised the NZ venture that saw St Kilda and Melbourne clash in Wellington this year, and says the Giants may be interested in also taking matches offshore.

However, he also mentioned that Giants home games could not be transferred, with an agreement in place with the ACT government to play 3 home-and-away matches in Canberra each year until 2021, and the remainder to stay at the Sydney Showgrounds.

This raises the possibility of another AFL club to move an otherwise low-drawing home game against the Giants overseas, if a financial incentive presents itself.

For more, read AFL Team Giants keen to play in China, US and India.

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.