World Footy News

Many countries have military forces in Afghanistan as part of the ongoing conflict, under the banner of the International Security Assistance Force.

Australian Sergeant Darrin Tapp is a Physical Training Instructor (PTI) in the Royal Australian Air Force in Afghanistan. "One of my roles here is to keep up morale and fitness levels for the 2000+ troops from 40 different nations around the world. One of these ways, and to bring a bit of Australian culture to HQ ISAF is to allow several nations to experience our great game of Australian Rules Football".

So Sergeant Tapp undertook the process of getting a tournament going in Kabul, Afghanistan's capital, with the aim of linking it in with ANZAC Day, including inviting players to a service and to watch a telecast of the Collingwood versus Essendon clash from the MCG.

ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps and is commemorated each year on April 25th by Australia and New Zealand to remember those who have served in their armed forces.

Among the crop of new clubs on the English Aussie Rules scene this year are the Liverpool Eagles, a side hoping to bring footy to the Merseyside.

Although the Eagles actually already played their first game late last year, a friendly against the Manchester Mosquitoes, the nature of a mainly student-based club means they are back to recruiting a fresh squad for 2009.

World Footy News spoke with Eagles organiser Chris Thompson about the challenges associated with getting the club off the ground.

Richard Pratt has died after a long battle with prostate cancer. He was 74. In a media release from the AFL, Chief Executive Officer Andrew Demetriou last night said the AFL commission and Staff wished to pass on their sincere condolences to the family of the late Richard Pratt.

Mr. Demetriou said Mr. Pratt had made an enormous contribution to Australian life and his work within football was often not realised by the wider community. “Mr. Pratt played a pivotal role in forming and bringing out the Peace Team last year (pictured) to play in the AFL International Cup. This team brought together Palestinians and Israelis on the sporting field for the first time -- a monumental achievement."

Saturday April 18th was a perfect day for football, with the sun shining and barely a cloud in the sky for the 6 teams from around Wales and England who competed for the inaugural Cardiff British Clwb Challenge in Cardiff hosted by the WARFL at the picturesque Llandaff Fields.

The Nottingham Scorpions were the favourites to take out the cup, however a pumped-up Manchester Mosquitoes side, along with the two WARFL development composite teams at home thought otherwise. ARUK’s Huddersfield Rams, playing in their first competition since their formation this year was also keen to impress, along with the Bristol Dockers who always put a competitive team on the park.

The whole day saw some very tight contests, with no side completing the tournament undefeated and Nottingham winning only by percentage over the Manchester Mozzies.

Thanks to Bryce Stone from the Welsh Australian Rules Football League for this report.

With the success of the Calgary Kangaroos Australian Football Club and their cross-town associates the Calgary Kookaburras at last year’s US Nationals, Alberta is looking to branch into local schools in an effort to attract youths to Australian football.

The "Downunder Travel" Alberta Footy Schools Program is a new development in Calgary which began in October last year. It is a program which Alberta Footy believes will revolutionize footy in Alberta by introducing children to the sport.

The program consists of sending dedicated football development officers into schools to facilitate skills acquisition and to build a relationship between students and Alberta football clubs. The facilitators will return to the same schools every week for five weeks, gradually introducing more-complicated football concepts to the students.

Former PNG Mosquito Emmaus Wartovo has clinched Best on Ground in each of the first 3 games played by his East Devonport Football Club in Northern Tasmania. The addition of Wartovo has seen the Club viewed as a genuine chance to play finals footy. EDFC club secretary Pettina Borlini said “Emmaus’ exceptional speed, ball skills and goal kicking ability have proved to be a great asset for the EDFC."

“His good form so far this season has him in contention to play in two representative games. If he performs well in the two games, he is likely to be selected in the Tasmanian under-23 side, which plays in a carnival in Adelaide in July. The best 25 players in this carnival are then selected to play for Australia in an international game against Ireland, later in the year,” Borlini said.

Those involved in international footy have long known the potential was there for success such as this - it has been more about the opportunity and a pathway. Awareness has now grown and with the increased exposure of international footy through the International Cup, the youth tours to places such as South Africa, Ireland and PNG, appointment of internationally-focused staff such as Andrew Cadzow by the AFL and now the AFL International Scholarships, the work done by many in laying the foundations now seems certain to lead to something beyond many of our wildest expectations.

For more, see this article in PNG newspaper "The National".

Editor (Brett): I will temper that just a little by noting that although The National report seems to suggest Wartovo was best on ground in each match, the Northern Tasmanian Football League website only has him amongst the best each week. Still, an excellent effort, especially 4 goals in round 3 in a 19 point come from behind win, given he's a non key position player. He has also been noted in other media as scoring votes in two games, so he's definitely getting recognition.

As we move toward the start of the 2009 season, USFootyNews.com will be previewing the Top 10 teams in USFooty as voted in the preseason USFootyNews.com and WorldFootyNews.com poll.

At No. 7 is the Seattle Grizzlies. Seattle finished the 2008 season as USFooty Division II National Champions, 6-4 in the regular season and 7th in the last Top 10 poll. Obviously, the victory over the Calgary Kangaroos (pictured) for the National Title, was the highlight of the 2008 season.

Some are calling it the greatest debut since Guns & Roses emerged with Appetite for Destruction. Others are saying that a new dawn has broken. However you choose to describe it, the April 18th debut of the "Aberdingoes" against the Glasgow Sharks was a hugely impressive display from the newest team in the Scottish Australian Rules Football League, dominating the game to win 103-16.

It was a great day for the fledgling club, and an even better day for their fearsome full forward Andy "Plugger Dicko" Dickson who put away 9 goals on debut to stamp his name as a dominant spearhead in Scottish footy. Even more astonishing was that he managed this haul all before the 10 minute mark of the 3rd quarter, when tiring legs and a resurgent Sharks ebbed the flow forward for the Aberdeen side.

This report courtesy of the SARFL.

Despite mixed success with the O'hAilpins, and Michael Shields returning home at the end of last year, Carlton have continued with the Irish experiment, signing up 18 year old Ciaran Sheehan as an international rookie. The Herald Sun has reported that the Blues will bring the Cork youngster over for a while in July once his school year finishes in June. Sheehan is expected to become a midfielder, and comes via camps run by Gerard Sholly, who has reportedly been following the player since he was 15.

The Manchester Mosquitoes have a busy year in front of them, competing in not one, but two leagues. While remaining committed to the AFL Britain's Social League, the Mozzies will also compete on a social basis in Aussie Rules UK's new Central division, together with a growing crop of fellow local clubs across the Merseyside, Midlands and Yorkshire regions.

Manchester president Kat Wheeler told WFN "We have been trying to work with ARUK in the region to get the new clubs off the ground. The Huddersfield Rams are doing really well and have a couple of really enthusiastic people running the show up there. We have some pretty strong links established with the Rams and it's fantastic to have a new local rival! We have had some training together and are planning a few games and social events for the year. The Rams are definitely here to stay."

"We are playing in the AFL Britain social league again but we are also playing with the ARUK Central clubs on a social basis fitting in games where possible and providing a central point for the new clubs to get information and experience."

"This may change next year depending on how that league goes. If a strong enough league emerges we will definitely be in it."

"I've had contact with Liverpool and Birmingham who are looking forward to having a few friendlies with us and apparently Leeds has now sorted out a team. It's going to be interesting to see what happens up here in ARUK this year, whether all these clubs can get it together and get a real league sorted. In the meantime, Manchester are trying to help the new clubs as best we can whilst still being committed to AFL Britain."

The Mozzies won't be hosting a club tournament this year, however they are planning a trip to Ireland, where they will take on new Irish regional club the Mayo Mariners in September.

This year the Birmingham Bears are bringing footy in Britain's second-largest city out of its 15-year hibernation, set to compete in Aussie Rules UK's new central division in addition to friendlies against other local clubs.

Despite being Britain's second-largest city, Birmingham hasn't yet made a mark on the English footy scene. The city had a side known as the Crows back in the early 1990s, but the club disappeared after only a little over a season.

The new side, sharing its colours and Bears mascot with local county cricket side Warwickshire, is lead by local Mat Mitchell, who got hooked on the game while playing cricket with expat Australians. WFN spoke to Mitchell about how the club is progressing in the lead-up to its debut season.

Carlton's fiery Irishman Setanta O'hAilpin is back in the Blues' side for the first time in 2009. Suspended by the AFL and then kept in the VFL after his infamous pre-season indiscretion (striking and kicking a team-mate in an internal trial), big "Carlos" will be looking to make the most of what could be his last chance to remain in the AFL. He has been named on the bench.

The AFL's pseudo-British connection, Brad Moran, has been named as an emergency for Adelaide. Similarly Irishman Pearce Hanley is an emergency for Brisbane. No call up yet for Canadian Mike Pyke at Sydney.