World Footy News

The AFL continues to put in place opportunities for athletes around the world to be exposed to Aussie Rules and for their abilities to be tested in the style of the new "combines".  This is part of a wider AFL plan to one day see star players emerge from international markets, thus helping promote the game in both those markets and amongst immigrant communities in Australia.

The latest piece in that puzzle is an academy in Guangzhou, China.  Opening on July 9, with a total of 30 athletes to be selected for the two-week program, the AFL will select two players to attend the annual draft combine at Etihad Stadium that follows the AFL Grand Final.

Some recent footage of women's footy in the USA, courtesy of Luke Anderson. Women's Aussie Rules football hit Philadelphia as players from Boston, New York, Montreal, Baltimore and Ontario joined forces to play a 14-a-side match on a full sized field. 

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Long time NEAFL/Queensland State League and Queensland Development Coach David Lake has not taken retirement lightly after finishing a successful 6 year stint coaching Mt Gravatt which included a State League Premiership in 2007. After finishing an encouraging Vultures season with a disappointing 2011 preliminary Final loss to Morningside he has now immersed himself in his expanded South Pacific coaching and mentoring role.

 Please note that these details are correct at the time of publishing. WFN accepts no responsibility for any changes to these times by broadcasters. Please check local guides or afl.com.au. 

Only 6 games this week with byes for Colingwood, Essendon, Fremantle, Geelong, Melbourne and Sydney. 

2012 TOYOTA AFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 12 INTERNATIONAL BROADCAST SCHEDULE Thursday 14 June  – Sunday 17 June.

See below for video from the ABC's 7:30 Report featuring David Rodan and Emmanuel Irra.

PNG is undoubtedly a power in Australian football in the South Pacific-Oceania region. And along with the AFL PNG academy; the best juniors from PNG have access to some exciting opportunities to play representative football. In May, the PNG Coca Cola U/16 Binatangs took on the best young players in QLD in Queensland State Championships; but unfortunately the PNG Women were unable to make it to Cairns for 2012 Kooga AFL Queensland Women’s State Championships due to visa issues.

The Malaysian Warriors at the fourth attempt have taken out the Manila Cup with a 22-point Grand Final win over the Singapore Wombats. Grand Final Malaysian Warriors 7-5 (47) d Singapore Wombats 4-1 (25)

Wins over Philippine Eagles, Jakarta Bintangs and the Wombats and a loss to previous Cup nemesis Hong Kong Dragons in the preliminary round robin games were enough to put them thru to the Final with a rematch against the Wombats.

With representative footy a recent hot topic in AFL circles - it's timely for the big Solomon Islands East vs West rep game this Saturday. To be held at the King George VI oval in Honiara.

The following is a press release from the SIAFL:

East versus West: AFL rep game this Saturday at King George VI school oval

The Malaysian Warriors have broken the stranglehold the Hong Kong Dragons have had on the Manila Cup competition for the past four years by defeating the Singapore Wombats in the Grand Final. Played in searing heat the Warriors were too strong to win by 22 points, Warriors 7-5 (47) d. Wombats 4-1 (25). 

Played at the Nomad Sports Club, ‘headquarters’ of the Philippine AFL under clear blue skies and roasting sunshine the player’s skills were on show although the energy sapping heat kept the ‘interchange gate’ very busy. All the teams put in great efforts and despite a couple of blowouts the sizable crowd were witness to an exciting day’s footy with four matches decided by less than a goal. 

Last Saturday AFL Samoa celebrated Samoa’s 50th Anniversary of Independence with a footy match between the Samoan Kangaroos and the Australian Navy crew of the HMAS Darwin. The social game was played in excellent spirits by both teams.

The following article was provided by AFL Samoa Development officer Gabel Stathis.

Everyone's favourite American at Collingwood, this week turned interviewer and posed some lighthearted questions to his magpie team mates.

The AFL is pleased to announce Andrew McLeod and Phil Narkle will coach the Flying Boomerangs and the Western Australia North-West teams respectively in the upcoming 2012 NAB AFL Under-16 Championships.

AFL Community Engagement Manager Jason Mifsud said for the first time the two teams will play along with the World XVIII and South Pacific in an expanded division three section of the championships.

“This is another significant milestone in providing young Indigenous players the opportunity to compete in our talented player pathway under the leadership of experienced mentors,” he said.