World Footy News

The inaugural season of the AFL England National University League came to a close last weekend with the Oxford University team taking the honours in the men’s grand final, whilst the University of Birmingham women’s team won their title.

The grand finals bring to an end a season of fun and enjoyment for the university teams of Oxford, Cambridge, Birmingham and southern Wales, but more than that it was a showcase of talent within the universities. Players who are not already aligned with clubs for the upcoming season now have a pipeline in place with a successful first season at university level.

The success of the program has already prompted interest from other university-based teams across England and beyond and it will be interesting to see whether the competition expands further next season.

The Round Six NAB AFL Women's Rising Star Nominees are Carlton's Georgia Gee, 19 and the Brisbane Lions' Jacqui Yorston, 18.

These two midfield nominations have come from the same match over the weekend.

Gee was selected by the Blues in the 2017 NAB AFL Draft at pick no.12 from Beaconsfield JFC and Dandenong Stingrays.

Gee's nomination has been coming for weeks now, as she has had many solid performances for her Blues throughout the season.

Image Source: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images & Herald Sun

In Round Six, Gee accumulated 12 disposals, eight kicks and two tackles in the Blues 16-point win over the Lions at Ikon Park last Sunday afternoon.

Carlton secured a 16-point win over the Brisbane Lions on a typical Melbourne weather day with rain and shine at Ikon Park.

In a match that was similar to a elimination final for Conference B, the contest was hot all day.

The Blues decisive win was steered by Maddie Prespakis, Amelia Mullane and Tilly Lucas-Rodd.

This win was set up by the Blues in the second half, where the Blues took full control over the Lions scoring four goals to two.

Image Source: @FoxFooty

The mighty Adelaide Crows thumped a bold Greater Western Sydney Giants by 32 points in hot conditions at Unley Oval.

It was the first ever AFLW match played at Unley Oval.

The Giants took it right up to the formidable Crows outfit making for an entertaining contest.

In the second half of the match, the Crows ran away with the match especially in the final term where they scored four goals to the Giants none.

The young guns of the Crows in Danielle Ponter, Anne Hatchard and Chloe Scheer handled the high-pressured match extremely well.

Image Source: Mark Brake

Both the Paris Cockerels and the ALFA Lions have strengthened their chances to play in the CNFA Leo Legrange finals series later this year, coming away from their trips to Toulouse with victories. It was a tough day for both Stade Toulousain teams with defeats that will certainly put pressure on their own finals chances.

In the opening match, the Paris Cockerels were too good for the Stade Toulousain 1 team, winning by 22 points. The victory certainly puts the Cockerels into flag favouritism and a chance to seek back to back titles. Despite a hiccup when they went down narrowly to the Bordeaux Bombers, the Cockerels have looked the goods again this season.

The ALFA Lions have been determined to put their rollercoaster journey behind them. After winning the 2016/17 flag and missing the finals altogether in 2017/18, the Lions have worked hard to get back into finals contention. Their victory against the Stade Toulousain A team by 24 points keeps them inside the top four and a good chance to hold their ground throughout the remainder of the season and play finals.

Next Saturday the NTFL Premier League season will come to a close when the Southern Districts Crocs attempt to retain their title and win back to back flags. Their demolition of the Tiwi Bombers last night at TIO Stadium saw them back into another big dance with a chance to seek their fourth flag.

Just last weekend, the Tigers trounced the Bombers to advance to the grand final. They looked a shade better than the rest. But Southern Districts have sounded an ominous warning to the Tigers after a blistering second half against the Bombers – they have told the Tigers outright that to win the flag you have to beat us.

After a tight first term, the Crocs got a little break on the Bombers by half time – a five goal break and a big rescue mission for the Bombers if they wanted to get back in the game. The 31-point deficit for the Bombers was significant, but not insurmountable.

“I played both club and school soccer through U17’s. During my youth games, I ran in the mids/forwards and was a natural goal scorer. After exceeding a score limit set by my coach, I was put into goalkeeper, so everyone had an equal opportunity to play.

"During one game, I was so bored in goal, I was cartwheeling, dancing and leg-swinging to the point I got my cleat stuck behind my body in the net of the goal. In attempt to free myself, I also managed to pin both my arms in the net.”

“My mom loves to describe the next part of the story with enthusiasm, because as one might guess, the other team had a sudden chipped ball over the last defender and is then on a breakaway toward me. With a lot of struggle and some miracle, I yanked my body from the net in time to make a diving save. I remember the eruption of parents on the sideline, and the deep scolding I got after the fact.

"The moral of the story, continuing to affect my sporting career, is to stay involved in the play and the closer I am to impacting the ball, the better.”

Melbourne were victorious in a one point heartstopper over the Western Bulldogs under the roof at Marvel Stadium.

The Dees inaccurate goal kicking almost cost them the win, but they’re still in finals contention this season.

It was an entertaining contest from two quality teams, as they played amazing football.

The match had lots of ebbs and flows and was one of the best AFLW matches this season.

Image Source: Michael Wilson

The North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos crushed a fearless Collingwood by 22 points under the roof at Marvel Stadium.

It was a marvellous win by North and this win from North is massive to keep their top two chances in Conference A well and truly alive.

After quarter time, North showed their superiority over the Magpies and it was led by their elite midfield.

Jasmine Garner, Jenna Bruton and Jamie Stanton were the standouts for North in the match.

Image Source: Michael Wilson

Fremantle put on a strong performance in fine conditions, as they thumped Geelong by 36 points at the GMHBA Stadium.

The Dockers ran away with the match in the second half keeping the Cats scoreless and the Cats could not get the football pass the centre line. 

The dynamic Dockers forward line caused headaches for the Cats.

Image Source: Scott Barbour

Image Source: AFL Women's 

Round 6 teams have been released below

Geelong vs Fremantle, Saturday 9th March 2:35pm at GMHBA Stadium

Geelong Cats Squad

Position	Name	#	Name	#	Name	#
Backs	A.Teague	40	R.Goring	44	M.McMahon	24
Half Backs	M.Hickey	18	M.McDonald	11	D.Taylor	27
Centreline			R.Cranston	30
Half Forwards	D.Orr	2	K.Darby	8	S.Van De Heuvel	27
Forwards	M.Clifford	7	P.McWilliams	23	J.Ivey	5
Followers	E.Hoare	46	R.Garing	12	O.Purcell	16
Interchange	R.Caris	1	M.Keryk	45	J.Crockett-Grills	6
	M.Boyd	26	C.Blakeway	4
Emergencies	G.Rankin	10	G.Clarke	17
	EMG4	EMG4_NO

In: - M.Boyd

Out: - G.Clarke

Fremantle Dockers Squad 

Position	Name	#	Name	#	Name	#
Backs	L.Mascall	14	T.Bresland	5	A.Stannett	24
Half Backs	A.Williams	9	E.Antonio	12	P.Seth	18
Centreline			K.Bowers	2
Half Forwards	G.O'Sullivan	22	A.Sharp	1	H.Miller	19
Forwards	K.Donnellan - C	15	G.Houghton	27	S.Duffy	6
Followers	P.Laurie	11	D.Hooker	17	S.Cain	20
Interchange	E.Gooch	8	A.Janz	30	A.Atkins	37
	M.Sergeant	23	M.Caulfield	10
Emergencies	L.Pugh	32	K.Grieve	13
	EMG4	EMG4_NO

In: - E.Gooch, A.Atkins

Out: - K.Gibson (injured), L.Pugh

Collingwood vs North Melbourne, Saturday 9th March 4:45pm at Marvel Stadium

Collingwood Squad

Position	Name	#	Name	#	Name	#
Backs	J.Allen	6	S.Casey	22	I.Ross	21
Half Backs	E.Grant	5	S.Livingstone	12	A.Brazill	10
Centreline			B.Bonnici	8
Half Forwards	D.Guttridge	34	J.Membrey	31	S.Dargan	46
Forwards	S.Rowe	7	S.D'Arcy	4	K.Lynch	16
Followers	E.Hyne	11	S.Chiocci - C	17	J.Lambert	13
Interchange	S.Layton	1	K.Stratton	41	R.Schleicher	18
	M.Shevlin	35	G.Gourlay	32
Emergencies	L.Butler	23	M.Cann	25
	EMG4	EMG4_NO

In: - S.D'Arcy, G.Gourlay

Out: - M.Kuys, S.Alexander

 

Anthony Redmond has compiled the following list of Irish players for the Sports News Ireland website. Whilst the information on each player is brief, the link to the original article is valuable as it contains a small video story about each player. The original article can be accessed by clicking on the following link: https://www.sportsnewsireland.com/other_sports/aussie-rules-list-of-irish-players-in-the-afl-2019/  

The article does not look into the Irish women playing in the AFLW, though this may be investigated in a future article.

We have the growing list of Irish players in AFL, there will be 14 players in 2019 with various Australian Rules clubs. 

We have decided to look at the current inter-county players who are currently plying their trade in Australia.