World Footy News

Graeme Wilson is a highly qualified and experienced diplomat. He holds a Master of Arts degree in French from the University of Melbourne, and a Master of Arts degree in international relations from the University of Southern California. He speaks French, Spanish and Bislama. He also runs Auskick in the Solomon Islands.

The MAAFL crown was decided this weekend when Nashville Kangaroos met Chicago United in Nashville. The following report comes to us courtesy of Nashville's Alex Benjamin.

The crowd of 315 came together in the 92 degree (farenheit) heat to witness the first ever MAAFL Grand Final on the Kangaroos turf at Heartland Park in Donelson. Chicago came in at 3-2 record and 2-0 in the MAAFL, but their last match was 2 months ago against Milwaukee, in which they won 86-22. The Kangaroos came in at 6-2 and also 2-0 in the MAAFL after the 153-7 massacre against the Ohio Valley River Rats.

Once again this year World Footy News is collating a list of all the Grand Final parties around the world. To have yours added to the list please leave details using the "Post a Comment" feature below or email me by clicking on my name above (you'll need to register with the site).

Last year we had approximately 10,000 views to this list - so make sure that those looking to get to your party can find your event.

Please note: The information is entered here in good faith. worldfootynews.com is not responsible for any incorrect information posted to this story. Wherever possible attempt to check ahead to make sure the party you are planning on attending is still going ahead and has room for you. There have been cases of sell outs and late changes e.g. when a venue could not secure a telecast.

St Kilda today elevated Irishman Tommy Walsh from International rookie to the primary list. He comes onto the list in place of Jesse Smith who is on the long term injury list.

Walsh has been playing well this year (in all 18 games) with the senior side of the club's VFL affiliate Sandringham, mostly in defence but also going forward on a few occasions.

The big Kerry man has looked a natural fit for the Australian game all along, but it would be almost unthinkable that he could still make his debut at St Kilda in what remains of the season. Still stranger things have happened and in the event of injuries in the finals series he provides the club with another back up option.

While the other two new sides to the ARFLI this season are clubs that have reformed, the Midwest Magpies are an entirely new identity. This makes their performances so far all the more impressive.

The Galway-based club started the season with three narrow defeats, however their season was turned around when the Magpies defeated the previously unbeaten South Dublin Swans and backed it up by beating the Midland Tigers by 74 to 26. This fine form continued in a 5 point win against the Leeside Lions only for the Magpies to lose their most recent game by three points to fellow new boys the Clare Crows. Despite this loss the Pies are still very much in the mix for a place in the finals.

Worldfootynews spoke to founder member Tony McAfee about the origins of the club, how the season has gone and about playing basketball against Barry Hall.

This weekend see the MAAFL Grand Final being played in Nashville, Tennessee. Alex Benjamin provides the following preview.

This week is the biggest week in close to 9 years for the Nashville Kangaroos as they are just one win away from winning the MAAFL (Mid-American Australian Football League) Premiership. What is separating them is the 3-time defending champion Chicago United. Whoever wins this game...wins the Premiership.

AFL Fiji is still relatively young, but, the mainstream coverage in the Fiji Times – “Great Talent” continues.

In October 2009, AFL FIJI held a Schools Carnival at Corpus Christi, Suva. Four secondary colleges competed in the 15-a-side competition. Laucala Bay defeated Suva Grammar and received the David Rodan Cup. The carnival also served as a selection process for the the Oceania Cup training squad.

Andrew Cadzow, AFL South Pacific Manager, has been in Fiji again helping to arrange the 2010 instalment of the David Rodan Secondary School AFL competition. It will again be held in October.

The chief executive of the AFL Andrew Demetriou made the announcement in Melbourne. In a first for Australian sport, the Shanghai Media Group (SMG) will televise one AFL match every week live into China on International Channel Shanghai (ICS). The agreement will include the 2010 Toyota AFL finals series, including the Toyota AFL Grand Final, and the Kaspersky Cup – AFL Shanghai Showdown between Melbourne and the Brisbane Lions in Shanghai on October 17.

It will extend into the 2011 Toyota AFL Premiership season to include one AFL match each week. The agreement was made possible after the ABC and SMG recently signed a co-operation agreement between their international channels, Australia Network and ICS. As part of the agreement, ICS will produce a pre-match program to precede the broadcast of each match to give viewers information about AFL.

Collingwood will continue to gamble on Irish talent with the news that they have signed Caolan Mooney and Paul Cribben on two year international rookie deals. Like former Collingwood player Martin Clarke, Mooney hails from County Down but he will not join up with the Pies until the end of 2011 as he in still to finish school. The 17- year old had a month’s trial with the Magpies in June and impressed enough to be offer a full time deal.

Round 22 is here and Canadian Mike Pyke is in the thick of it for the Swans. With Shane Mumford struggling with a strained knee and possibly in doubt even for the first week of finals - Mike Pyke looms as the ruck key for the Swans in a battle for a home final.

Carlton's International rookie Zac Tuohy, has been spending most of the 2010 season learning the game with the Northern Bullants in the VFL alongside PNG's Peter Labi. This video is a post match interview with the Irishman after the club's Round 15 match.

So much continues to happen in PNG, with this article focusing on Junior Footy in Port Moresby, AFL International Manager Tony Woods' recent visit and the interest of the Gold Coast Suns in PNG footy.