World Footy News

In the first semi final match of AFLIC11 Game Day 7 the reigning champions PNG took on the resurgent USA on Ransford Oval in Parkville. At stake the chance to play for this year’s championship on the MCG on Saturday. The two teams have only ever met once before in the preliminary final at IC05 and on that occasion PNG defeated the US by just one point.

Since that time football has grown in both countries, but PNG growth has been based on junior development while the US growth has been a growth in senior numbers and a focus on sending better players to Australia to enhance their raw talent with solid Australian week in week out senior competition.

A sunny Wednesday late winter afternoon in Melbourne, signs of spring and finals footy, and unofficially this match was a final.

The US Freedom had to win to advance to the Women's final after their defeat at the hands of the Northern Lights the previous week. For Ireland the incentive was to keep their opponents down and finish the minor round undefeated.

Naturally the US came out hard, determined to show the Irish who was the better team and having mostly played lower sides until then, the Banshees appeared to be taken by surprise.  The Freedom duly got the opening goal they needed. After that the game was very tough as the Banshees tried to wrestle back control but the two teams were tied for intensity and matched for skill. The USA girls then got another chance from a free kick that was quickly relayed into the Banshees' defensive 50m, but it went through for a behind.

To grab a grand final spot Canada's Northern Lights went into today's game against the Australian Indigenous Multicultural team needing a win to go ahead of the US in the Women's Division and then have the US lose to Ireland, else rely on an unlikely percentage outcome.

Given the form of the Australian IM side in Sydney this should have been straight forward, but there was always a suspicion the Aussies would have some added depth available in Melbourne.  Indeed they looked a totally different outfit when they came onto the field, and not just because they’d been bolstered by a few VWFL girls who hadn’t been in Sydney. They by far looked the more dangerous team at first, but after they’d finally conceded a behind, Canada's Northern Lights regained their confidence from last week’s win against the USA Freedom, and came back strong. They got the opening goal, and looked threatening for the rest of the quarter, but despite their many chances, they also came away with 5 behinds at quarter time.

In the second quarter, the Australians slammed straight into the game, determined to show what a few extra players could do and got their first goal.  Could they shock the North Americans and deny them a spot in the grand final?

In the last match of AFLIC11 Game Day 7 the luckless Canadians took on the plucky Japanese.  But today it would be good form rather than anything to do with luck that would see Canada home. McAlister Oval in Parkville was in very good condition for fast running football.

Canada got the ball rolling in the first quarter through Heuberger.  It was a tough battle in the first stanza and Japan used their low flat kicking style to good effect, but even so the Canadian backline was able to continually pick the ball off and send it forward again.  After some hard work Kyle Graham eventually gave Canada their second, and 2008 World Team player Scott Fleming added a third on the siren to put Canada 19 points up.  
 

France saw off a comeback from the Peace Team to scrap a 6-point win today, 5.5 (35) to 4.5 (29), and confirmed their spot in the Division Two grand final of the 2011 AFL International Cup.

The game started out as an arm wrestle, with both sides struggling to hit targets under pressure.  France were doing all the attacking, but couldn’t convert until Gregoire Patacq kicked the first goal of the game.

The Peace Team had chances, but couldn’t get on the board, decision making errors such as having a running shot on goal and putting it out on the full, instead of kicking to the man loose in the goalsquare.
 

In the first match of AFL IC11 Game Day 7 the two winless teams looked to open their International Cup winning account.  The Western Oval in Royal Park, Parkville, Melbourne was not looking the best surface after extensive drainage works were done here some weeks ago.  But the weather was fine and warming up to burn off the dew and both sides were keen.

Of course there could be only one winner and today India recorded their historic first ever victory in international Australian football.
 

Apologies for the site disruption today.  We were well aware we would exceed out monthly quota due to the growing popularity of the international footy and we requested an extension well in advance.

Unfortunately our web provider had a key person ill and of course for us the timing was most unlucky.  We wish that person a speedy and full recovery as they have always provided our site with excellent service and he is a greater supporter of footy.

The good news is we should be back on track now and look forward to bringing you match reports from today's games and will be back in action live on Friday for the major finals.

One innovation you may have missed was live audio commentary from 3 matches today (the men's big semi finals and Canada vs Japan) by Troy Thompson.  We'll let you know if he brings out the golden tonsils again on Friday and Saturday.

Scores will be updated every quarter throughout the day. We suggest you refresh your browser regularly to see the latest. Match reports will follow later in the day and into Thursday.

Please note that WFN may suffer a short disruption to our website some time on Wednesday 24th.  It's very unfortunate timing but beyond our control.  If this occurs please check back again soon as we hope that it will be brief.

Wednesday August 24 - Royal Park, Melbourne

Due to the availability of the Victorian Premier there has been a shuffle of the order of games at Ransford Oval.  In addition there will be other events on during the day.

10.00am          Multicultural Clinic on McAlister Oval, Brad Johnson in attendance
11.00am          Victorian Premier Baillieu to toss the coin at USA  v Papua New Guinea on Ransford Oval
11.25am          Premier Baillieu and IC11 Ambassador Brett Kirk will be available to speak with media beside the Ransford Oval
1.15pm            Multicultural Cup (involving primary school-aged children) on Ryder Oval. Collingwood players Dane Swan, Leigh Brown and Shae McNamara in attendance
 

Ransford Oval

9am     Men’s Div 1    Denmark v Nauru
11am   Div 1 Semi      USA v PNG
1pm     Div 1 Semi      Ireland v New Zealand
3pm     Men’s Div 1    South Africa v Great Britain

McAlister Oval

11am   Women’s         Australia v Canada               
1pm     Women’s         Ireland v USA                      
3pm     Men’s Div 1     Canada v Japan

Western Oval

9am     Men’s Div 2    India v Timor-Leste
11am   Men’s Div 2    France v Peace Team
1pm     Men’s Div 2    Fiji v China
3pm     Men’s Div 1    Sweden v Tonga

We reported just prior to the International Cup launch of the tragic death of Papua New Guinea's Peter Meli.  His last activity as Mosquitoes team manager on August 6 had been to ensure that the players got home safely after their farewell BBQ.  Shortly thereafter he was stabbed, and died later in hospital.  AFL PNG has acted rapidly in establishing a Peter Meli Trust for the benefit of his children.

AFL PNG chairman Scott Reid explains “Most probably he did not make provisions for them given the nature of his death. We want to ensure that there is an ongoing way to help them because Meli was always willing to help others while he was with us.”  Reid said the trust would pay school fees, books, uniforms and other related costs direct to schools and suppliers for the children concerned.

The initial Trust has been set up with contributions from AFL PNG, the AFL, Essendon AFL club (with whom son David Meli is listed as an international scholarship player) and AFL Port Moresby.  The trustees will be Reid, Prof Kenneth Sumbuk (an official of Meli’s club, University Tigers) and Walter Yangomina (AFL PNG development manager).

Reid indicated that on the anniversary of Peter’s death every year, AFL PNG would hold a memorial match and a BBQ with proceeds given to the trust.  Further, Meli will also be commemorated through the awarding of the Peter Meli Medal for the best PNG player in the International Cup every year.

Please contact AFL PNG if you wish to assist.

 

USA Revolution captain Dan Sarbarker spoke with SEN radio this morning. Audio can be heard below.  Or follow this link.