World Footy News

At worldfootynews.com we make an effort not to make too much of the sometimes rabid Aussie Rules versus soccer versus Rugby League debate that so often rages in Australia, especially on sports forums.  But we do acknowledge that there is a battle for the hearts and minds of the sporting public.  So back in 2009 we took particular note of a scathing attack on footy by Clive Palmer, one of Australia's richest men and owner of the Gold Coast United soccer club.

When most codes argue that there is room for all and they just want a slice of the action, Palmer ridiculed attempts to establish an AFL club on the Gold Coast, despite a healthy and growing local competition.  Palmer stated in 2009 that "The biggest loser's going to be GC17 and Australian rules itself. I give them three years they'll be gone (by 2014)".  See Football codes continue to position themselves and Palmer sets the bar low for Gold Coast.

So we watched with interest to see whether his soccer club would indeed outperform the Aussie Rules club, and whether the AFL's efforts would succeed.

The soccer club, Gold Coast United, then set about seasons 2010/11 and 2011/12 recording average home crowds of a miniscule 3,900 and 3,400 per game, respectively.  In contrast, GC17, launched as the Gold Coast Suns, averaged around 18,000 per game (for matches at their new stadium in Carrara) in their debut 2011 season.  That's 4 or 5 AFL supporters for every one A League supporter.  Surely a demonstrative win for footy.

But Palmer was also at war with his side's fans, then their coach, and constantly with the FFA.  In terms of viability it seems the club only continued to exist due to his largesse, and now to complete the debacle they have had their licence terminated by the FFA.

A stunning tale of failure for the club whose owner predicted that the AFL would be the big loser on the Gold Coast.  Aussie Rules 1 - soccer nil.
 

Finally Alexander Clark, who has been up for the vote since Jacko's Challenge began, has got his shot at the champ.

With a new member to the commentary team and some new technology to assure viewers of correct decisions, Jacko's Challenge is continuing to grow.

Watch it here.

The next Jacko's Challenge will be back in a few weeks with other programs coming from Sharks T.V.

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.