World Footy News

One of the fantastic benefits of an enduring sports club is an active social scene - the chance to make new friends, catch up with past players and celebrate another year of enjoying sport. Few are the clubs in any sport which do not take the chance to get together annually and enjoy an evening of banter and reminiscence.

The Wandsworth Demons are no exception and, at the 20th anniversary of the club's beginnings, it was decided that this should be something special - a celebration of two decades of footy in the English capital - held in the Crown Casino, on the other side of the world in Melbourne at the end of October.

Four talented young South Africans have been in Canberra at Australia's Institute of Sport as part of their Mtutuzeli Hlomela Scholarships. The scheme is named after the current AFL South Africa Talent Manager, who is also the most successful Aussie Rules footballer to so far emerge from their domestic program.

Three of the four young men come from the FootyWILD ROAR Talent squads recently named - Bayanda Sobetwa, Thembisile Oupaster and Prince Nematswerani. The fourth recipient is Chesney Botha, with very little Australian football background but regarded as an exciting athlete.

The players have made the trip to Australia to participate in the annual AIS/AFL Academy Camp, giving AFL talent scouts the chance to assess their ability against the cream of Australia’s youth.

Toronto, Ontario: The Ontario Australian Rules Football League “The OAFL” held its Annual General Meeting on November 22nd where it elected a new President and Board of Directors. The election of this new Board comes at a time where the OAFL is experiencing rapid growth and has begun to initiate junior development programs across Southern Ontario.

There has been growing disquiet amongst Australia's AFL clubs as details trickle out regarding the country's bid for the 2018 or 2022 soccer World Cups. Because soccer generates little revenue in Australia, few large stadia are built for the round ball code - this means it needs the venues of other sports to stage the Cup. The major sporting codes have generally backed the plan, in principle, because the real politik of the situation is that the Federal Government wants the tournament as do many Australians. Despite Association Football being the major long term threat to Australian football Down Under, to run interference would be to alienate many Aussies and lose a strong supporter in the national Government. Potential stadia upgrades are another spinoff that could be lost.

However, details of exactly what the AFL will have to give up seem to be becoming more and more dramatic by the week. Soccer's governing body in Australia, the FFA, has made it clear that they want the MCG and major stadia in the other capitals. FIFA rules also apparently prevent other codes playing their matches in the same cities for the duration of the tournament. It seemed the AFL was prepared to accept all that to be seen to be playing nice, provided adequate compensation was provided. But now there are reports the whole AFL season could be in jeopardy.

After South Africa's second provincial championships in late September 2009 the talent managers selected two squads to carry the country forward over the next few years. The Inland (North West and Gauteng) and Coastal (KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape) squads feature a mix of the country's best senior and youth talent,

Stewart Edge, an AFL talent expert spending an extended period in-country, said “We were really pleased by the improved standard of play at this year's Nationals and thrilled to announce two squads that will regularly attend intensive weekend camps and play more often against quality opposition”.

Clearly the AFLSA brains trust have identified regular quality matches as a key to advancing their national program. For players not selected, there is hope. “The squads will be fluid with players coming in and out of contention based on two measurable criteria - ability and effort,” said Edge, when speaking to the players at the Nationals. “The three areas you will need to improve on to maintain your place in the squad include physical fitness, skill development and knowledge of the game”.

The first camps will take place in November with both squads set to play the Flying Boomerangs Indigenous Youth team when they tour early next year.

Despite being unable to secure a rookie contract with the Western Bulldogs for Season 2010, Gaelic footballer Aidan O’Shea still believes he can forge a career for himself in the AFL. O’Shea who plays for County Mayo, will return to Ireland over the weekend and Senior Coach Rodney Eade says the Bulldogs will keep an eye on the key position prospect.

“Aidan will follow a fitness and skills program set out by the Football Department over the next twelve months and we will be monitoring his progress,” Eade said. The 19 year old says he is looking forward to working hard throughout 2010 to give himself every chance of being offered a contract with the Western Bulldogs.

“I have been given a fitness program by the Club and some skill drills that I will be doing at home, so if I stick to it hopefully I will be able to make the transition next year,” O’Shea said. O’Shea says that his two week trial at the Whitten Oval provided him with a valuable insight into the demands of AFL football. “It was enjoyable but tough at the same time. There was a lot of sleeping after training so I did not see too much of Melbourne after the first week but it was fantastic,” O’Shea said.

Former Sydney Swans champion Michael O’Loughlin has been named the 2009 AFL Players’ Association Madden Medallist. O’Loughlin received the award in recognition of his on-field brilliance, outstanding off-field achievements, personal growth and community spirit shown throughout his 15 season career. Now in its third year, the AFLPA Madden Medal is named in honour of former AFLPA presidents and champion Essendon and Carlton players, brothers Simon and Justin Madden. The 2009 Madden Medal was presented to Michael O’Loughlin by the Madden brothers at a gala lunch event earlier today.

The AFLPA Executive committee faced a difficult task in choosing the winner, given the high calibre of AFL players retiring in 2009. O’Loughlin was selected as the 2009 Madden Medallist over retiring champions Matthew Richardson, Leo Barry, Matthew Lloyd, Tom Harley, David Wirrpanda, Adam Simpson, Jared Crouch and Joel Bowden.

On October 3rd the Toronto Eagles won their third premiership in four years, defeating the Etobicoke Kangaroos with a complete performance in the 2009 Ontario Australian Football League grand final. The Roos finished the regular season undefeated with 14 wins but the Eagles are one of the most domimant clubs in world footy and to be feared in any premiershio decider.

The day also saw the Quebec Saints travel to Ontario to contest the Division Two flag against the Broadview Hawks' second side.

President Jeff Kennett, Senior Coach Alastair Clarkson and a number of Hawthorn players, coaches and staff – including former President Ian Dicker – will fly to Port Moresby tomorrow morning to trek the Kokoda Track.

This will be the third time the Club has undertaken the journey to Papua New Guinea, which is an integral part of Hawthorn Football Club’s cultural experience.

There is no indication at this stage that there will be any interaction with the local footy scene in PNG.

Saturday 21st November saw the Canterbury AFL's two best teams of 2009, the Christchurch Bulldogs and University Cougars face off. This in itself must be considered as demonstrative of the evening up of the competition as it must be many seasons since the powerhouse team of the competition, the Eastern Blues, missed playing on the last day of the season.

The game was played in hot, windy conditions with the strong nor’wester providing a 3 goal advantage to the City end of Westminster Park. The Bulldogs won the toss and kicked with the breeze and this proved beneficial with Dan Oliver winning the first hit-out to Toby Bennie who kicked to Tom Sattherwaite 15m out from goal. He then duly slotted the first major of the game.

The Western Cape region of South Africa appears to be quickly establishing themselves as South Africa's top football province. This may well come as something of a shock to the older regions of North West and Gauteng provinces. The Western Province, aligned with Collingwood Football Club, recently claimed their first provincial championship, despite being new to the sport.

It was the second National Provincial Championships staged since AFL South Africa expanded into four provinces under 3 years ago. In their first attempt in 2008 the Westerners made the senior grand final, losing comfortably to North West, the original heartland of footy on the continent, 65 points to 33 (reminisce with North West Dockers take open crown, but new guns surprise). Yet just 12 months later they turned the tables. In a later story we'll explore how, but below is a review of the day's action.

Stephen Alomes, an Australian academic and occasional contributor to World Footy News, recently concluded one of many trips to Europe. Below he discusses some thoughts on how Australian football is developing and what is needed to push it forward.

Village and Uni to Continent and World – the View from the Far North and how Aussies can help

A glimpse from local footy stories – Turku, Finland and south western France to the continental and intercontinental map.

Stories of local recruiting, Euro competition, Aussie expertise, the need for links