World Footy News

In its continuous effort to promote footy in France the CNFA is releasing a DVD explaining the basic skills of aussie rules. The DVD features Cyril Talon and Pall Finnsson demonstrating how to ruck or kick the footy.

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AFL New Zealand is attempting to increase the number of teams in schools, at the same time as the leading Australian clubs are starting to look across the Tasman for new talent.

"The Australian clubs originally looked to Ireland – because of the similarity to gaelic football – for their international talent but finally are seeing see the merits of searching closer to home [in New Zealand]," AFL NZ national youth coach James Terry said.

According to Terry, four New Zealand boys were signed up for AFL scholarships last year and nine Australian clubs had observers at a training camp and game in Wellington last month. So far there has not been a Wellingtonian signed to an AFL scholarship and they have also not had much of a presence in the national sides recently.

Terry agrees to the widely held belief of those with experience of NZ football that "The games we play here – rugby, soccer, league and basketball – produce the type of athletic kids the AFL clubs are after and it can be a pathway to a very lucrative career."

Australian Rules is pitched as a summer game in New Zealand, so it is seen as an adjunct to rugby, soccer and league, rather than a competitor.

Five Wellington secondary schools fielded teams in AFL competitions last year and Terry hopes a bigger number will be involved in the senior Hawks Cup, a schools tournament that will be staged in Wellington in March, with a North Island schools tournament scheduled in late March.

Wellington schoolboys have already made an impression in AFL with Kade Riddell (Hutt Valley), Hugo Phillips (Wellington College), Fletcher Barclay (Paraparaumu), Jordan Mueller (Hutt Valley), Craig Morgan (Hutt Valley), Josh Thompson (St Pat's Town) and Mitchell Purvis (HIBS) all selected for the New Zealand under-16 side.

In addition, Riddell, Phillips and Barclay are in the Oceania under-16 squad that will play in Sydney at Easter at the Australian U16 Championships.

For more, see Aussie Rules scouts at Wellington schools.

In early February Richmond Football Club CEO Brendon Gale spoke to Melbourne sports radio station SEN and without prompting took discussion down the path of playing an exhibition game in India. Not often do things move so quickly – that now, 3 weeks later we see reports of plans coming together for Richmond to ‘host’ Greater Western Sydney Giants in Mumbai perhaps as soon as February 2013.

It was reported last Friday in Fairfax press that Tadhg Kennelly’s new AFL ambassadorial role had upset the Irish GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association), following the hosting of an Australian (rules) Football recruiting ‘camp’ (combine) in Dublin.

The article suggested that the GAA had been uneasy about it and that the GAA bosses repudiated a claim that they had been informed. Stating that it had been reported in Ireland that the GAA bosses “denied receiving any formal notification of Kennelly's new role or the AFL's strategy on the recruitment of amateur Gaelic footballers”. Even if this is the case, the question really is how big a deal is it?

Over the last few years we've featured several reports on Aussie X, an initiative in Canada to promote Australian football whilst making a positive social impact.  The latest publicity regarded an appearance on the Canadian version of TV program Dragons' Den.  So what is the primary motivation for Aussie X, is it really impacting Aussie Rules in Canada, what does the future hold and will we see it spreading across the world?  worldfootynews.com talked to founder Emile Studham above this growing project.

The first AFL tournament in Samoa will be held on Saturday 25 of February. AFL Samoa will be holding a competition for village schools across Upolu. Five schools will be competing for the inaugural Aaron Edwards Cup. The competition is named after the one and only Samoan AFL star playing with the North Melbourne Football Club.

Mr Gabel Stathis, development officer for AFL in Samoa is excited about the prospect of bringing the game of AFL to Samoans. “This is an exciting time for Australian football in Samoa as it’s another step forward in the development of the game. It is a game which I think Samoans will excel at because it requires flair, agility and endurance,” Mr Stathis said.

Once again worldfootynew.com is putting out the call for help in covering footy in Asia.

We're looking for someone to write articles on all or part of the region.  It includes the expat-based clubs in some nations through to the League in Japan and the exciting expansion in China.

No prior experience necessary, we can help you out with contacts and ideas.  You just need some basic writing skills, passion for footy and the willingness to spend some time each week developing stories.  The amount you put in is really up to you.

Contact Brett Northey for more information through our About Us - Contact Us page (or click on my name above and follow the links).

Richmond international rookie John Heslin has returned home to Ireland indefinitely. The 19-year-old was selected by the Tigers with pick 90 in the 2011 Rookie Draft, and played in Ireland's winning 2011 International Cup team.

“It’s never easy for young players to relocate to a new country, a long away from their family and friends. John found that transition difficult, and has experienced homesickness,” Richmond FC general manager of football Craig Cameron said.

“We have worked hard to support John and will continue to do so, but we understand his decision to return home at this time.”

With the AFL's recent push into the South Pacific region we've heard less out of South Africa, but development work continues there and recently an Australian School Boy side toured the country.

The All-Australian team (minus South Australia and Tasmania) met in January for a pre-season training camp in Perth before setting off for South Africa.

Samoa has had a mixed modern history in Aussie Rules.  A small band of dedicated volunteers has kept the flame flickering, but at times apparent development perhaps appeared more deep seated than it was with Rugby players taking up the sport in short stints.  These issues came to a head with Samoa's absence from IC11 and the recent Youth Oceania Cup.

Happily we can report that Gable Stathis is in Samoa as an Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development (AYAD) posting, filling the role of AFL Samoa development officer.  One of his successes has been to organise this weekend's MOTOR1 Aaron Edwards Cup.

The tournament is a village schools lightning carnival to be held between six schools from all around Upulo. The competition is a chance to further develop the game in Samoa and locals are welcome to attend as a perfect opportunity to come and see Australia’s great game in Samoa.  Games are on Saturday 25th February 9am to 430pm at Lepa/Lotofaga.  Supported by MOTOR1 Samoa and Sa' Moana Resort.  The weekend will also includes AFL Samoa stalwarts such as Bernie and Ben Woodland arriving for the AGM.

See also AFL Samoa update for our recent update.

AFL PNG is currently advertising the roles of Operations Manager – Senior Football; and Operations Manager – Development. Advertised in PNG’s Post Courier last week – the closing date for applications has been extended a week and now is COB Friday February 24th.

Find below the text of the advertisement :

The AFL Europe has announced its under 23 Legion and open-age Titans squads to take on the AIS/AFL Academy touring squad this Easter,

The Legion are a predominantly under 20 team, with provision for 8 of the 24-man squad to be Under 23. Twelve of the twenty-four members also took the field in 2011's AFL/AIS tour match.

Ben McCormack from the AFL Europe says "We are very excited to have players from Italy, Germany and Finland for the first time. Young Italian Filippo Alloisio was voted as player of the 2011 Euro Cup and now gets his chance to impress on the big stage. The selection of 7 Danish players is a testament to their focus on junior development and the blooding of young talent at IC11."

Peter Schwab, Tadhg Kennelly and Glenn Lovett are involved in coaching the team, along with Swedish National coach Dan McClaer.

The open-age Titans team includes many players with extensive International experience at ICs, Euro Cups and the European Championships. European stalwart Ciaran O'Hara (Ireland) will coach the team, with Troy Pedder (Germany), Armando Colombo (Italy) and Cyril Talon (France) all confirmed as Assistant Coaches.

Full squads and schedule below.