World Footy News

The following is a press release from the Sacramento Australian Football Club

May 15, 2012, Sacramento, CA – The Sacramento Australian Football Club (SAFC) is pleased to announce that the men’s and women’s representative teams are now officially named the Sacramento Suns.

The SAFC is excited that the club will now boast both a men’s and women’s, nicknamed the Lady Suns, representative team that will participate in the 2012 USAFL National Tournament to be held in Mason, OH, during the weekend of October 13-14.
 

The 2012 Welsh Australian Rules Football League season got off to an explosive start over the weekend as the first round of matches saw two massive scores posted as the Cardiff Panthers and Swansea Magpies looked to assert their dominance.

Having won the WARFL Premiership for the last 3 years, and having gone for all of 2011 undefeated, the Panthers picked up where they left off with a huge win over the Vale Warriors.

The Panthers started the game at a fast pace and scored their first goal within seconds of the opening bounce. Great Britain ruckman Chris James knocked the ball forward and Brian Sparkes, making his Panthers debut got the first goal of the game.

The goals then continued to flow for the Panthers as the relatively inexperienced Warriors team struggled to keep pace with the Panthers European, British, Welsh and Scottish international players.

Calum Newman kept working hard for the Warriors and was rewarded for his ruck play with 2 goals. However, Owain Rylands, playing his first ever Aussie Rules game, scored 5 goals as the Panthers dominated and despite some positive play from the Vale and the match drew on, the Panthers won 34.12.205 – 7.7.49

2009 and 2010 Grand Finalists also won big on the weekend, as they defeated the visiting Cardiff Double Blues. Having struggled to even field a team at times last year, the Magpie seem to be back to their winning ways as they won 22.22.154 – 3.3.21 against an inexperienced Blues side.

The Double Blues fielded 7 debutants in the game as the Magpies looked to reassert the authority they held in the league two seasons ago.

The weekend's other scheduled game, Bristol Dockers vs Bridgend Eagles is due to be rearranged due to a waterlogged pitch.

The much hyped about AFL recruitment of NRL ‘converts’ Karmichael Hunt and Israel Folau has unabashedly been very heavily weighted to the promotional benefits for the code. No matter how good a player that Karmichael Hunt has already become – his on field value to the Gold Coast Suns Football Club is now measured differently to his initial promotional value both to the club and to the AFL. The increased awareness of Australian Football in new markets and new demographics has been much talked about – and perhaps recent Dandenong Stingrays debutant Agape Patolo may be amongst the first of many to give the game a go - who may otherwise not have - and perhaps make a career from it.

The third Under 18’s Youth Girls National Championships will commence on Tuesday 15th of May, with matches taking place throughout Adelaide. The final will be played at the AAMI Stadium as a curtain raiser to the Port Adelaide v North Melbourne game on Saturday 19th.

Teams are selected from local Youth Girls clubs and school teams, and include Indigenous girls who will take part in the launch ceremony wearing their uniforms. From the teams, an All-Australian Youth Girls team, coach and field umpire will be selected.

 As a continuation of the AFL PNG affiliation with AFL Queensland, the Under 16 Binatangs squad has just returned home after competing in the 2012 Queensland State Championships.  This years championships were held at the AFL QLD HQ at Leyshon Park, Yeronga, as well as O’Callaghan Park at Zillmere.

 

 

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.

2012 TOYOTA AFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 5 INTERNATIONAL BROADCAST SCHEDULE Friday 11 May – Monday 14 May

 

In an interesting article, Wellington's Dominion Post discusses further the drive for AFL to be played in Wellington. In an article that picks up on many aspects already covered in WFN articles it also highlights some of the rules of the game for the uninitiated and looks at the game as a prospective professional career through the eyes of Oceania and Wellington U16 Rep Kade Riddell and through Wellington's AFLNZ Development Manager James Terry.

The idea continues to develop and for more on this topic read the article.

AFL Canada is the recognized representative organization of Australian Football in Canada and is seeking to fill the Head Coaching position for Canada Northwind, the national representative team for Australian Football. Applications are due no later than June 1, 2012. 

The Greater Western Sydney GIANTS today confirmed that injured forward Setanta O’hAilpin has decided to have a traditional knee reconstruction to treat his ruptured anterior cruciate ligament. O’hAilpin will undergo surgery early next week and this unfortunately will rule him out for the remainder for the 2012 season.

General Manager of Football Graeme Allan said O’hAilpin’s injury was a blow for the club. “It is a cruel blow for Setanta after just one game with the GIANTS and we wish him all the best with his recovery,” he said. “He has been a great influence on our young playing list since he joined the club and we look forward to his continued presence around the club over the rest of this season as he undergoes rehabilitation.”

Setanta O'hAilpin returned to the AFL debuting yesterday with the GWS Giants against his old club Carlton. The video below shows a great reverse torpedo goal from Setanta, but the joy of his return to footy was short lived as he injured his knee. Early reports suggest that he may miss the rest of the season.

With the new AFL season well underway, this weekend on the other side of the globe, the AFL Ontario’s 2012 season begins. Considered as one of the premier and largest leagues outside Australia, 2012 is shaping up to be an intriguing season with all 10 teams a chance to win the flag.

During the off season the AFL Ontario (AFLO) has being working hard to make 2012 their biggest and best seasons to date.