World Footy News

The Fiji Tribe has been named for IC11. Making their debut at senior level, the squad is dominated by youth, with an average age of just 20 years. Many of the youngsters from their recent youth sides (pictured at left) are included in the team.

Coached by Lawrie Woodman (AFL) and Glen Butler (AusAID Development Officer), people will be keen to see if the team brings with it the athleticism seen in players such as Nic Naitanui (West Coast Eagles). The side is by no means filled with giants, with only four players registering in the 190+cm range (6'3") and an average height less than 183 cm (6 foot). But if that quartet are solid players and can fill key positions then it should give the Tribe a good structure to build their running game around.

We now look at one of the International Cup's debutantes, Fiji. Everyone is familiar with such AFL talent as Nic Naitanui, David Rodan and Alipate Carlisle, all of Fijian descent, and the South Pacific nation will be keenly watched to see what fresh talent it brings to the competition.

The Tribe has spoken

IC11 will not just be their first attempt at International Cups but their first senior matches altogether. As such the team needed a name. That was left to the players, their families and friends. A few suggestions had been made and following a training session, AFL Fiji invited all the players and families to attend a small meeting and conducted a simple vote. This was met with immediate enthusiasm. The vote was unanimous in fact - the Fiji Tribe.

The target date set for the launch of an AFL backed national televised Women’s Australian Football League is 2020.

The date was originally set at 2013, with four to eight planned women’s teams set to become part of existing AFL teams, but after considering the amount of groundwork needed to organise it, and protests from Gold Coast and GWS that they would not have time to submit their bids in full, this was withdrawn. However, the AFL’s Female Football Development Manager, Jan Cooper, suggests that steps towards creating the competition need to be taken much earlier, with a trial run still possible in 2013.

The ultimate aim is to have an exciting product with skilled girls entertaining stadium goers and television audiences. In order to produce the talent level required, proper football pathways for women in every state need to be put in place years earlier, and the numbers of female coaches and umpires also needs to increase to support this. But there still has to be a viable competition structure for those left behind. There is a real possibility that without proper planning, existing local women’s leagues and clubs will face difficulties or even be forced to fold if they lose too many of their best players.

AFL Victoria is looking for 10 women aged 18 or over to join the AMI (Australian Multicultural/Indigenous) Team that will take part in the 2011 AFL International Cup Women’s Division this August in Sydney and Melbourne. The women’s games will run from the 15th to the 26th of August and all costs will be covered by the AFL.

Applicants do not need to be experienced at playing football, but should be interested in playing sports and have good fitness. Successful applicants will have the opportunity to play against female football players from all over the world.

If you are interested, please contact AFL Victoria’s Chyloe Kurdas by email chyloe.kurdas@aflvic.com.au or by phone 03 8341 6042

Saturday July 16th, 2011 saw the 2nd ever AFL Italia Grand Final played at the Capitolina Rugby Stadium in Rome, with the Genova Dockers overcoming the home-town Roma Blues to lift the cup.

The Roma Football Club were clear favourites going into the match, after having finished 1st on the ladder, with the Genova Dockers finishing 2nd. Notably both sides were made up entirely of local Italian talent, with not a single Australian taking the pitch.

Both teams had shown during the season that they played the best footy among the AFLI clubs, combining strength and agility with notable improvement in skills and technical ability and the introduction of tactical solutions and schemes by the coaches that allowed the respective teams great flowing passages of play.

Queensland will host its first International Rules series match between Ireland and Australia at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast in November. The event is set to deliver a boost to the local tourism industry and reinforce the city's reputation as a world-class sporting events destination.

Sports Minister Phil Reeves made the announcement this morning with key AFL players and representatives from the Gold Coast Suns. "This means the second match in the two-match International Rules Series for the Cormac McAnallen trophy will be played right here at Metricon Stadium on November 4.

We're closing in on the 2011 fourth instalment of the AFL International Cup and the world's footy nations are gathering for an assault on the Cup. Our previews continue with the 2005 champions and 2008 runner up, New Zealand.

After finishing third to Ireland in 2002, winning in 2005 and being the runner up in 2008 to PNG in a wonderful game of footy, NZ will be continuing their trend of sending a younger team to try and regain the title. The squad has an average height of 184cm, weight of 85kg and an average age of a touch over 23 years.

The squad has a mix of veterans and youth including old-stagers Mike Tagg who is 30 and Richard Bradley who is 29 and returning for his 4th International Cup. Youth in the squad is highlighted by teenagers including the Hawthorn-listed Rhys Panui-Leth, GWS-listed Charlton Brown, former New Zealand Under age Captain Sam Tuitupou, Vandyn Hartman, Troy Lavery, Lukas Swart and the likes of Cantabrian youngster Justin Clark.

Clark is in only his second year of Australian Football but has made an impact. Justin represented New Zealand for the Under 20’s against VAFA last year and followed this with selection in the Senior team in the Pacific Cup series against Tonga in November last year. At 192cm, his speed and fitness are fantastic attributes. Covering the 3km time trial for initial testing at 10 minutes 30 seconds, he can play any position on the field.

Another young veteran by New Zealand standards is Andriu Sucu. Playing his first senior game at the age of 14, he is now an integral part of the national team seven years later. The captain of the 2010 Hawks U20 team is versatile player that can play key position roles at both ends of the field. Outstanding skills and a long kick ensure that Andriu will play a big part in the success of this year’s International Cup campaign.

The Grand Finalists for the 2011 Foxtel Cup have been decided.

VFL powerhouse Williamstown Seagulls has smashed East Perth at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne to cruise into the final round, winning by 71 points. WAFL 2010 runners-up Claremont eased past SANFL strugglers Port Magpies by 16 points at Patersons Stadium in Perth.

The final will be played Saturday 6th August at Patersons Stadium but on form it looks like Williamstown will be far too strong for the home side.

Semi-final results

Williamstown 6.4 10.5 13.5 16.7 (103)
East Perth 0.2 1.3 2.7 4.8 (32)

Claremont 5.3 6.4 10.4 11.7 (73)

Port Adelaide 0.2 2.3 5.6 8.9 (57)



Footy in GB

Although small in geography Great Britain has a relatively large population of 60 million and slowly but surely Australian football is marking its mark all over the isles. Footy in Britain exploded from its early years as purely London-based, to now being played in all corners of England, Wales and Scotland. Some regional cities can boast clubs that have now begun to show longevity, being established for 5 to 10 years. As well as promoting the growth of the sport, this has also given rise to a much larger pool of players for the Bulldogs' coaches to choose from - and made for a lot more travel around the country to do so!

Competition for squad spots has increased and from a coaching point of view, it's been great to see the dedication that players have shown to improve their game in pursuit of this opportunity to represent their country. The growth of the game around the country and the increased number of juniors beginning to get exposure to the sport should support its continued development and provide a pipeline of new players in years to come.
Perhaps the most remarkable statistic is that Great Britain has only one returning player from the 2008 Cup campaign, something that suggests a fresh new group but will also come with challenges in terms of experience.

Stephen Alomes is an Associate Professor at Deakin University, with particular interest in sport and culture.  Below is an article published in J. Senyard & P. Burke eds, Behind the Game, Maribyrnong Press, 2008.  It looks at the role women have played in Australian football since its inception, both on and off the field.  Although a weighty academic article it is a thorough lead in to an upcoming article by Tobietta Rhyman about the future of women's footy.

Since Australian Football’s beginnings women have always been involved in the game. This gender difference distinguishes it from other forms of football:  the traditional all-male crowds at many English and European soccer matches, and the massive male predominance at rugby league and rugby union matches. At the same time, women have been on the margins, outside the sacred turf found inside the boundary line, or not allowed into the inner sanctum of the male clubrooms. 

Three women in Edmonton tried out Aussie Rules at their local club, the Edmonton Emus. Two of them are now competing in this year’s International Cup Women’s Division with the Canadian Northern Lights.

Karyn Huxley was more familiar with Canadian football - she was a member of the Edmonton Eskimos cheer team for three years. But after marrying her Aussie husband, Cameron, she was introduced to a new kind of football. After becoming bored with dancing, Huxley wanted to try something different and gave footy a go. She accepts that as a contact sport Aussie rules has a physical aspect, but for her footy is fun game, more about stamina and running. There’s also the social and community aspect of football, and she really likes the family vibe at the Emus.

Also playing with Edmonton are Neda Dalili and Lucy Nolan. Nolan was born in Australia but was unfamiliar with the rules and had never played the game before moving to Canada. She started playing out of curiosity after meeting coach Tristan Waldock having a kick about in her local park, and soon found the game addictive. Unlike non-contact sports which she found frustrating, Nolan found the perfect sport in Aussie Rules, and likes how everyone gets to kick, catch, pass and tackle.

The GWS Giants have arrived in Prague with master coach Kevin “Sheeds” Sheedy and CEO Dale Holmes landing on Sunday 17th July for 3 days. Kevin is making this special trip thanks to GWS Giants co major partner Skoda whose head office is based in Prague.

“It’s important to the future of this partnership that we can meet with the heads of Skoda and show them the passion and vision we have for the game and importantly the GIANTS and our hopes of turning this partnership into the best and most successful in the AFL” Sheedy said.

Importantly Sheedy feels trips such as this give him an opportunity to share his love for the growth and wider development of the game, particularly in new markets. “I’m excited to see first-hand the brilliant work being done by the local AFL Czech group and the support of AFL Europe” Sheedy continued.

AFL Europe General Manager, Ben MacCormack views the visit as a growing recognition of the opportunities that Europe presents both AFL clubs such as the Giants and the AFL itself. “Commercially Europe offers the AFL brand many opportunities and AFL Europe are continually on the lookout for partners to help promote the growth of the game in Europe” MacCormack said.

The trip will consist of a training night with the AFL Czech Lions, Skoda based events, Czech Ice Hockey training visit with an eye open on finding the first big thing out of the Czech Republic for the AFL.