World Footy News

Another Jacko's Challenge from Sharks TV, this time at Glasgow Green, closer to home for the Challenger Steve Thompson.

Thomo is an Aussie who has the pressure of taking on the undefeated Jacko, while Jacko in the same vein has the added pressure of trying to maintain his unbeaten streak.

Video here.

The India Tigers were somewhat of a surprise appearance at the 2011 International Cup. At their international debut at the same tournament three years earlier, the team failed to win a match and upon their return to India, the governing body disbanded. Whilst interest in the sport amongst the players was strong, channelling this interest into structured clubs participating in regular matches would prove impossible in the short term.

The AFL’s decision to again support an Indian squad, without any visible progress between 2008 and 2011 was controversial. Will this support pay off? We explore the progress football is making in India post IC11.

Sharks TV brings to you Jacko's Challenge number two. After the close finish in the last episode the Champ has been keen to get back out and show what he can do but he will be hard pressed. Challenger Martin Bell who viewers voted for in the last poll has been keen to get a shot at the Champ and now is his chance. Martin is a Scotland International player who is footy mad with winning attitude.

Should be a good contest good luck Martin!

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Media and public speculation seem to have forced North Melbourne's hand in detailing reasons for his suspension announced today. The initial tactic of trying to protect Daw by giving almost no details has backfired with forums and news/sports station being innundated by suggestions as to what Daw's actions may have been.

The following statement is a press release from North Melbourne coach Brad Scott;

“Our main focus is to support Majak wholly and we take his welfare very seriously.  The statement we released was generic for a reason, to attempt to protect Majak.  There were no lies told, there was no cover up.  I’m now being forced to clarify that statement because of disappointing rumours and innuendo.

 

Promising Sudanese rookie Majak Daw has been suspended indefinitely for breaching North Melbourne's team rehabilitation protocols and behaving in a manner unbefitting of the club’s culture and expectations.

North’s new leadership group has determined Majak will train with VFL affiliate Werribee Tigers until further notice. The club would not detail Daw's breaches and says it is not in a position to elaborate.

CEO Eugene Arocca and chief of football Donald McDonald spoke today at the Kensington Boxing Gym today, but gave no further details of the breaches. Daw was not present. The video of the press interview can be seen below.

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Australian expatriate Kate O'Halloran is currently in Berlin, juggling her work as a journalist with completion of a PhD through Sydney University. She also recently came onboard to cover the Australian Football League Germany for World Footy News - read on for her latest article on the AFLG's origins and more recent developments which have seen the national league grow to six teams and the creation of local leagues in three separate cities.

The Sydney Swans would like to congratulate QBE Sydney Swans Academy member Lloyd Perris, who has been awarded the Cameron Ling Medal for most professional player at AIS-AFL Academy. The medal, named after Geelong’s premiership-winning 2011 captain, was voted on by the best young footballers in Australia, who were Perris’ team-mates in the Australian Institute of Sport-AFL Academy squad which has just returned from a tour to New Zealand.

Before the medal was awarded, Ling said he wanted it to go to a young player who worked hard and was selfless, had a strong, positive attitude, and who was a good person. Seventeen-year-old Perris, who goes to Sydney Boys’ High and lives in the Sydney suburb of Cronulla, clearly fit the bill as he won the medal with 47 votes, ahead of runner-up Luke Dunstan from South Australia (36 votes).

Originally from Adelaide, but now based full-time in the UK, Rick Shrowder has been a driving force behind footy in England's North East for some years now.

Besides this, he is also one of the founders of GCS - Global Community Sports, an organisation using Australian rules football to connect with young students both in the UK and India.

Thanks to CNFA for sending us the link to this "Résumé de la saison 2010-11 de football australien en France.".

In the eagerly anticipated first Australian football match between the two countries at any level, the Under-17 AIS-AFL Academy squad overcame the New Zealand Hawks by 91 points at Westpac Stadium in Wellington on Saturday.

After the Kiwis performed a stirring rendition of the haka, they got the jump on the Aussies in the first quarter with former Fremantle Docker forward Adam Campbell helping the home team to a five-point lead at the first break.

The Australians, coached by Brisbane Lions triple-premiership player Chris Johnson, hit back in the second quarter, kicking six goals-to-none to open a 31-point lead at half-time.

Hawks defender Stephen Gilham recently travelled across the Tasman to present the Club's newest International Scholarship holder Ben Miller with his Hawthorn guernsey.

Miller played his first Australian football game for the Otago Boys’ School in 2010 against the university team, Otago Riot. It was in his second game that he took a high mark well above his opponents in the pack and set up several scoring opportunities from the wing where it became clear Ben had potential to play this game. Given that so far Otago has no formal competition with just a University Club, that play spasmodically, and some junior development programmes within a few secondary schools, this is a monumental achievement.

In February 2011 he travelled to Auckland for the NZ under 20 National Provincial Championships playing for Wellington. Showing his potential, Ben was selected to play for the NZ U20's against VAFA and NZ U16 Oceania Cup 2011 where he was instrumental in the team’s success.
 

Shortly after the 2011 AFL Oceania Youth Cup, the Fiji coach, Glen Butler said goodbye. The reason being that his stint as an AYAD officer in Fiji had come to an end. The AYAD program is referenced over and over again in respect to Australian Football in the Pacific. Worldfootynews asked Glen to reflect on his time.