World Footy News

The International and Passionate Game  

This is the first of two articles on themes in IC11. It takes up the subject of the diversity suggested by the word ‘international’ in our global world and the way in which footy differs from soccer and other sports in its capacity to transcend individualism. If journalism is ‘history’s first draft’, this is in between… a brief reflection.

An article ‘Behind the International Cup Two… The Volunteers and The Lighter Side’ will follow later.

The International Game

There are even more stories in international footy than there are in the big city. The Cup IS very international, as it reflects the way people move in the global world.

Stateside Footy presents more of the 2011 Boston Demons "Zaidee's Rainbow" Metro Competition. This episode features a "Metro-style" modified Australian Rules Football match played on August 16, 2011 in Woburn, MA. This match is between the River Rats and the Lobstermen. Stateside Footy is a cable access TV show produced with the assistance of WCTV - Wilmington Community Television in Wilmington, MA. It features Aussie Rules Football as it is played in the U.S.A.

Stateside Footy presents a two-part Aussie Rules extravaganza. The show begins with a game from the 2011 Boston Demons Metro Competition, played on July 23 2011 in Woburn, MA. This match features a Mixed Metro modified Australian Rules Football match featuring players from both the Boston Demons and the Boston Lady Demons.

The Victorian Women's Football League (VWFL) Premier Division is the top level of senior women’s football in Australia, and has been in existence since 1981. The Premier Division Grand Final was on August 27th, unfortunately clashing with the Men’s Division 1 Grand Final of the International Cup.

Whilst Ireland made history at the MCG, across town at Coburg City Oval, football history was also being made as VU St Albans Spurs broke the Darebin Falcons’ undefeated premierships record of 5 years to become the new WVFL champions, winning 16.6(102) to 3.5(23).

The day started with the Grand Final of the VWFL Premier Reserves Division between the reserves teams fielded by the same two clubs, Darebin and VU St Albans, but proved not to be prophetic with Darebin Falcons winning 6.12(48) to 3.4(22). After this spectacular curtain raiser, the main event, the VWFL Premiers Division Grand Final, was started by Western Bulldogs’ board member Sue Alberti, after whom the Premiership cup is named, who tossed the coin.

The massive crowd also included other AFL identities, including Cameron Schwab, David Nietz, Chris Connolly and Karen Hayes from Melbourne Football Club, AFL Club sponsor of the VWFL, and the game was also filmed by The Local Footy Show. There was also coverage of the game on Chanel 10 and ABC News.

With the 2011 AFL International Cup still fresh in our minds this author has reviewed each of the 23 competing teams, offering some brief personal thoughts on how each side went relative to expectations.

The article also summarises the finishing position and seeding of each nation, and compared it with the worldfootynews.com staff consolidated prediction (votes of the authors) published just prior to the tournament.

On August 26th the Women's and Men's Division 2 International Cup competitions wrapped up with victories to Ireland's women (over Canada) and Fiji's men (over France).  Both nations then received their trophies in front of the gathered crowd at Ransford Oval in Melbourne.  Here's a few more pictures from the afternoon's celebrations.

Shae McNamara has led the way for Americans to switch sports and try their luck in Aussie rules in Australia. He has been successful at VFL level so far and did play in the NAB cup for the Collingwood club, but has not been elevated to the senior list in his first two seasons.

Today's NT News reported that two more American basketballers have come to Australian football in Australia (never playing the game in their own country first). Andre Moss from Anchorage Alaska and Buster Perkins from Little Rock Arkansas, have been playing basketball in Darwin and have been recruited by the Darwin Buffaloes in the NTFL and are reported to be 195cm in height.

When a footy evening includes a video presentation depicting the Japanese tsunami, Christchurch earthquake and a reminder of a murdered team manager on the eve of a tournament; it's obvious it's not your run of the mill footy evening.  The International Cup Gala Dinner on Friday August 26th paid tribute to two memebers of the Japanese Samurai's lost earlier in the year, and to the NZ Hawks who attended despite the Christchurch earthquake - and of course the tragic death of PNG's Peter Meli.

Although the IC11 Grand Final the following day officially concluded the competition, for most teams the Gala Dinner was the opportunity to relax and soak up the camaraderie of international footy, as the players and officials let their hair down, relaxed, mingled, and sung and danced just a little.

Highlights of the night included the naming of the World Teams, the DFAT player of the tournament nominations and the awarding of International Merit Awards.

More photos of the AFL IC11 Men's Division 1 grand final at the MCG, thanks to Troy Thompson and John Corrigan.  And many more in our photo gallery.

"Stateside Footy" is the Public Access Program that brings you Australian Rules Football played in the
United States. New episodes are still on the way, not to mention including coverage of the Boston Demons
and Lady Demons in the upcoming USAFL Nationals Tournament.

The latest episode of "Stateside Footy" features the Demons playing host to the Philadelphia Hawks in one
of the most exciting, fast-paced matches of the season.
 

Congratulations to Derryn (from Australia) for winning our IC11 tipping competition.  Withstanding the pressure of leading from start, he stayed 2 matches clear to score a superb 58 from 66 games (88%).  He wins a Burley Premier football recommended retail price AUD$109.95.

Runner up was Seth (from USA), with 56.  He wins a Burley Match football RRP AUD$39.95.

worldfootynews.com will contact you both shortly to send you your prizes.

To split any ties we required margins be tipped for each game of the final round, the aggregate being used to split ties.  The worst results were awarded to anyone not supplying margins (as with all tipping competitions, we had a few drop out along the way, possibly as Derryn pulled clear).

Thanks to everyone who competed, we hope it brought a little extra fun to the tournament.  Special thanks to John Hamilton for running this competition for us and to our great supporters Burley-Sekem.

Final tallies below, with margin aggregates in brackets.  Players marked with * are WFN staff and were ineligible for the prizes (not that we finished top two anyway).