World Footy News

New Zealand: The 36th Auckland football season since the resumption of play in 1975 kicked into life on Sunday 29th September 2010, despite some of the worst underfoot conditions seen for many years. The usual daily downpours during August combined with pretty much undrained fields at Mountford Park Manurewa to produce a mudfest. Never the less the traditional season opener, the Lightning Premiership, was keenly contested by the six Auckland clubs, the same six who have contested every AAFL Premiership since 1990. The Lightning Premiership was introduced in 1994 as the season opening event when the Premiership was reduced from 15 to 10 rounds.

This Sunday Hong Kong will host the China Cup. It is the first time the tournament has been played outside Mainland China.

The Turku Dockers have made it two out of two by claiming their second premiership in the Finland AFL in their second year of existence. The Dockers, coached by Australian ex-pat and two-time EU Cup all star Grant Siermans, beat the all-Finnish Salo Juggernauts 19.17(131) to 8.5(53).

Although the Dockers went into the match as favourites, having beaten the Juggernauts on all three encounters during the home and away season, injuries to several key Dockers players (as a result of EC2010 duty) combined with recent reinforcements to the Juggernauts squad via their high-school recruitment program suggested that the grand final could be a different story. But it wasn’t to be.

Report courtesy of Craig Primmer, photos by Antti Lipsanen.

More like a black hole than a sun, players who are out of contract are drawn to lucrative contract offers from the Gold Coast Suns. The Suns are allowed to offer up a contract to one player from each existing club that have a player out of contract as of the end of this season.

All Australian Defender Nathan Bock and exciting young defender Nathan Krakouer are the first two of these transfers to have signed with the Gold Coast SUNS for its inaugural AFL season. More will be announced in the coming weeks.

Whether it’s the work of the martians or the seagulls, Kevin Sheedy is not often backward in coming forward. For a plumber – he can be somewhat lateral. His latest suggestion is reported in the IrishExaminer Sheedy proposes novel ‘tri-series’ idea.

Last year it was Sydney Swan Tadgh Kennelly who returned to Ireland and led his county Kerry to the All Ireland GAA Gaelic Football final against Cork – and ultimate victory to win the Sam Maguire Cup.

This year, it remains to be seen if a win can be achieved; however, former Collingwood player Martin Clarke has helped his County Down side to make the All-Ireland final for the first time since 1994.

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.