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Andrew McLeod's speech to UN forum

  • Thursday, January 27 2011 @ 02:13 pm ACDT
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Europe

An AFL delegation, led by former Adelaide Crows champion Andrew McLeod, has addressed a United Nations forum on racism in sport. Andrew McLeod, a dual Norm Smith Medalist and premiership player, and the AFL’s National Community Engagement Manager Jason Mifsud spoke at the forum on `Combating Racism in Sport’ at the UN Palais des Nations in Geneva on Australia Day.

The following is a transcript of Andrew McLeod’s address.

Hull Mariners taking first steps in Junior development

  • Thursday, January 27 2011 @ 07:03 am ACDT
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Europe

The Hull Mariners are one of England's newest Aussie rules clubs, and in addition to kicking off senior football in the town, the club is getting straight into junior development.

As part of the growth of Hull Mariners Australian Rules FC, Development officers Dan Beardshaw and Carl Hagar have being working hard to lay down firm roots within the local schools throughout the city of Hull.

“After initially contacting P.E. staff throughout the city, we were happy that we had the interest to put together our own school system, one that would suit anybody who wants to take the field," says Hagar.

“Whilst many players are happy to just play for their school, some may want to try and test themselves and play at a higher level and we want to give them the opportunity to not only represent their school, but the local community as well."

Demetriou's address to UN forum

  • Wednesday, January 26 2011 @ 01:29 pm ACDT
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General News

AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou's pre-recorded address to the UN forum can be watched by clicking "Watch" on the video below. Footage of international teams and matches are included in the video. The importance of the international competitions to the game overall can be felt in the video and among Andrew's words.

South America still in scouts' sights

  • Wednesday, January 26 2011 @ 07:47 am ACDT
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South America

Last year AFL talent scouts had their first look at South America, with trials held in Buenos Aires (see Search for talent in Argentina).

The initial outcome was two players featuring in the World XVIII that played in the NAB AFL Under 16 Championships last year.  It seems the search may now turn to Brazil.

Jon Pierik in the Sydney Morning Heralds reports that player agent Peter Jess is hoping to interest Collingwood in growing the program in 2011.  ''I will be talking to Collingwood next week about holding some camps there [Brazil],'' Jess said. ''There will be a group of people working within Brazil, members of the Brazilian Olympic Committee, who have agreed to act as talent scouts for us.''  See The Boys From Brazil for the full article. 

Bunji to address racism in sport forum at UN

  • Tuesday, January 25 2011 @ 03:01 pm ACDT
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Europe An AFL delegation, led by former Adelaide Crows champion Andrew McLeod, has been invited to address a forum on racism in sport at the United Nations in Geneva on Australia Day. The high level, interactive panel discussion on `Combating Racism Through Sport’ will be held next Wednesday, January 26, at the UN Palais des Nations in Geneva.

Panelists will include dual Norm Smith medalist and Adelaide premiership player Andrew McLeod, the AFL’s National Community Engagement Manager Jason Mifsud, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Mick Gooda Andrew McLeod joined the AFL as Community Engagement and Talent Co-ordinator and coach of the Flying Boomerangs in 2010 after a career spanning 340 games and two premierships with the Adelaide Crows. He is also a member of the Australian Football Indigenous Team of the Century.

Croatia seeking sponsors to get them to IC11

  • Tuesday, January 25 2011 @ 07:18 am ACDT
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Europe

The Croatian Knights are seeking sponsors for their 2011 International Cup campaign, with team manager Kolja Koracak currently rating his team only about a 25% chance to be able to attend.

"We never had big sponsors, but now we have none. We would stay with people in the Croatian community in Sydney and Melbourne, but have no funds for travel expenses, as most of my players are students, or recent graduates still unemployed," says Koracak.

There are about 40 active players in Croatia, although Koracak says that selection will be made mainly by who can travel. "There are 7 guys that will go no matter what, even if Croatia doesn't field a team they'll come to watch. And there are 10 guys that can go for sure if travel expenses get covered. We also plan to find few Croatian blokes in Australia that fit the criteria of eligibility," Koracak says.

The coaching panel is led by head coach Adam Loncar and assistant coach Josip Kravar, both of whom led the Knights at the European Championships and Euro Cup last year. Added are Josip Josipovic as a conditioning coach and Matija Mamic.

Croatia has been one of European footy newer power sides, performing strongly at the EU Cup and making their full-field footy debut at the European Championships in 2010. There has also been some strong domestic growth, with a fourth local club aligned with the West Coast Eagles to join the Zagreb Hawks, Agram Power and Velika Gorica Bombers in 2011.

Sheeds promoting "Footy 11s"

  • Monday, January 24 2011 @ 06:05 pm ACDT
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General News

Greater Western Sydney coach and high-profile international footy supporter Kevin Sheedy has come out in support of reduced-field footy in Sydney, saying that 11-a-side could be a tool for spreading footy in new territories.

In an article in Melbourne's Herald Sun newspaper today, Sheedy said that he'd been trialling 11-a-side footy at training sessions, and said that he envisioned it being played on soccer and rugby grounds.

With 9-a-side footy having created a niche for itself in the international scene, Sheedy's comments are sure to create some talk in the International footy community. The full article can be read here.

South Pacific talent surprises for the right reason

Oceania

Further to the outcomes of the mid December Oceania Cup under 16s tournament was the positive reaction to the AFL ‘Combine’ that was run as part of the tournament schedule. On Friday December 17th, some of the best talent were tested and able to be benchmarked against AFL draftees current and recent including some of the biggest young names in the AFL.

Apart from the 'Combine', the South Pacific lads had impressed in their defeat of the Flying Boomerangs (who had earlier smashed the PNG'less Oceania side). As reported in PNG's 'the National', PNG coach Walter Yangomina was quoted saying ".. that the win that had the most meaning was the combined Pacific Island, including nine from PNG, which defeated the highly tauted Boomerangs, an ensemble Australia’s best junior talent".  “That win was massive. We got them by about five goals in the end which was a very healthy margin against an Australian side”.

Reported on the AFL website Dec 30, “Recruiters edge closer to South Pacific talent“, this story details some remarkable results from the young men tested, the equal of anything seen in Australian testing.

AFL 2010 runners up to train in NZ

  • Thursday, January 20 2011 @ 02:06 pm ACDT
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Oceania St Kilda Football Club is excited to this year be taking their pre-season training camp overseas, with the Club travelling to New Zealand for a week. Departing for Queenstown this weekend, the Saints will continue their preparation for the 2011 season with an intense training schedule and range of sporting activities to be undertaken along New Zealand’s stunning south island.

As the first overseas training camp for the Club under the guidance of Ross Lyon, the Senior Coach said it was fantastic for the group to embark on the trip to assist their preparation ahead of the 2011 season.“The players will be taken out of their comfort zone and pushed to the limits in order to give them the best opportunity to continue to play Saints Footy throughout the coming season.”

Reviewing PNG's Oceania Cup coverage - the National

Oceania

A quick reminder of the success of the PNG lads in the Oceania U16s tournament in mid December, the following 4 articles tracked their performance in the PNG press via ‘The National’. 

Coverage is very important in PNG as being an aspirational sporting nation, looking to make it into the ICC cricketing top 18 and with a Government looking to take over the national rugby league with a view to establishing a PNG side in Australia’s NRL – it can’t be understated the importance of the PNG ‘AFL’ sides generating coverage.

Dec 17, “AFL Jrs in fine form “

Dec 20, “AFL Juniors in Final”

Dec 21, “PNG Jrs win Cup”

 

A Meeting of Cultures in an International World

  • Thursday, January 20 2011 @ 08:16 am ACDT
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International Rules

Editor: The International Rules series between Australia and Ireland sees the two nations adopt a hybrid set of rules that combines Australian football and Gaelic football to form a new sport that allows the two countries to compete internationally against similar quality opposition. The series has had many ups and downs but has a surprisingly long history.

The following article is an interesting reflection on that history with an emphasis on the cultural aspects of globalisation and opposition to change.  It's by one our writers, Professor Stephen Alomes.  Please note it was first published in 2000, and has not been updated so should be read in that context.

Finland Icebreakers working hard to return to IC in 2011

  • Wednesday, January 19 2011 @ 07:47 am ACDT
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Europe

The Finland Icebreakers are about a 75% chance to be at the 2011 International Cup, according to national team coach Grant Siermans.

The Icebreakers made their IC debut in 2008, but with a small initial squad and a large number of injuries, it was a tough first-up tournament. They eventually broke through for their first win against India, finishing 14th overall from a field of 16 nations. Finland also appeared at the inaugural full-field European Championships in 2010, but finished the tournament without a win.

However, Siermans says there is a core of new Finnish recruits who are keen to represent their country on the world stage, and with some steady growth in domestic Finnish footy since the last IC, they are still hoping to make it down under.

Photo courtesy of Alban Schieber.

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