World Footy News

After a series of articles the final worldfootynews.com unofficial World Rankings for 2008 have been compiled. The list is a result of voting from six of our writers and taking into account discussion in the articles leading up to the vote. We're well aware that no system can be perfect, especially given arguments on issues such as whether to consider professional players (Australian, Irish), where to rank entities not necessarily widely acknowledged as countries (Catalonia versus Spain, the Peace Team), and whether to consider the best side a nation might put forward or just who was available, not to mention the lack of international matches and vagaries of the IC08 pool system. Nevertheless, it would seem to be a worthwhile outcome to be able to look back on the most recently completely year and to be able to point fans, players and people new to international footy at a table that is a reasonable attempt to rank the world's Australian football playing nations. Here is that list:

The folowing is contributed by Chris McNeil.

The Southern California Australian Football League (SCAFL) is hosting a charity exhibition match this Sunday, February 22, in Santa Monica CA, in aid of victims of the recent bushfires in Victoria.The SCAFL is the organizing body of Australian Rules Football in the greater Los Angeles area, which is made up of 4 clubs that compete in a local 9-a-side competition. Those clubs; Riverside Raiders, LA Swans, Beachside Sharks and the OC Jets, combine to form the Orange County Bombers in National 18-a-side matches. SCAFL president, Corey Irwin, who originally proposed the idea, has since worked tirelessly to make the event happen.

”The game is free to attend, but you are asked to make a donation.” Irwin said. “All monetary contributions given at the event will help those whose lives have been torn apart by the recent tragedy. Given the current economic climate, we realize not everyone is in a financial position to donate money. With that in mind, the SCAFL will also be accepting donations of used clothing to help those in need.” SCAFL players will be on hand to help out with everything from manning the donation booth, to conducting a kids clinic, to playing in the match itself.

Many clubs in Asia have close affiliations with football clubs in Victoria and many have been moved by the tragic events of the past few weeks. The Bali Geckos Australian Rules Football Club have responded to the recent horrific bushfires that wreaked havoc on the state of Victoria by donating to an Australian Rules football league in the heart of the affected areas. The Geckos will donate US$500 to the Yarra Valley Mountain District Football League, which includes the townships of Kinglake and Marysville, both of which were basically wiped out by the fires.

While Mike Pyke may not be a flag bearer for the Canadian Northwind, he is nevertheless a key example - should he succeed - of the potential for slightly mature-age prospects to 'convert' to Australian football and make the AFL. From the International Cup, we've seen comments, especially from members of the US Revolution indicating they wondered how good they may have been with an earlier uptake of the game. Should Pyke succeed, does that open the door - just a fraction - to a more serious look at talented 21-23 year olds? The answer - perhaps, but only if they play Union (a vaguely similar sport), can run, jump, aren't too bulked up, and kick the ball better than average.

AFL London are staging their first All Star game on Clapham Common this Saturday 21st February in support of those affected by the bushfires in Victoria and to raise money to assist the Red Cross response. Ben Gellie of the London Swans and Coach of the North All-Star team said, "Many of the league's players, former players and supporters are personally affected by the disaster, we really see this as a great way to come together as a community a long way away from home to share our emotions, and hopefully at the end of the day to be able to make a difference." The league’s traditional rivalries will be on hold with the Swans, Lions and Wildcats banding together to make up the Northern team and Putney, Wimbledon and Wandsworth making up the Southern push. Despite the winter weather and the possibility that some may be slightly underdone, the game promises to be a very interesting showcase of the undoubted amount of talent that is present in London football.

In January the Kingdom of Tonga's first ever Australia Day Challenge took place with Tongatapu (the largest island) defeating Vava'u in a tough match at Teufaiva Stadium in Nuku'alofa, the nation's capital. The following is based on information courtesy of Michael O'Shannassy.

The Australian High Commissioner H.E. Dr. Bruce Hunt watched the entire game enthusiastically along with a crowd of about 100. He greeted the players beforehand with a handshake and afterwards as well as posing for photos with the Vava'u team. His speech recalled how Aussie Rules was founded 151 years ago and it was between two teams just like today. He also said he hoped it would be the start of many more games, especially on Australia Day.

The game was played in tough conditions - the ground was hard, grass uncut and a very strong wind blowing to one end. In the end Tongatapu won out (61-55), however Vava'u probably kicked themselves out of the game in the last quarter with many missed opportunities. The game was played in great spirit with plenty of the famous "Tongan Sidestep" to keep the players honest.

The AFL Commission had their first 2009 meeting yesterday and on the agenda was expansion, in particular the proposed licences for the Gold Coast (17th, nominally 2011) and Western Sydney (18th, nominally 2012) and a strong push from Tasmania, led by their state government, for inclusion in the AFL.

With dire economic times there are various reports that the AFL are increasingly cautious about expansion, however CEO Andrew Demetriou remained publically upbeat, saying "We are very confident in what we have seen, and 2011 and 2012 (for western Sydney), for us, are still on track for our expansion".

Saturday week ago, several parts of Victoria recorded their hottest temperature on record, including 46.4 degrees Celsius in Melbourne, the highest temperature recorded in an Australian capital city. Several bushfires broke out in the state with major blazes in the Churchill, Kinglake and Marysville areas. So bad were conditions (not just the heat but strong, unpredictable winds) that as of today 200 people are dead, hundreds of properties have been destroyed, thousands of residents displaced and hundreds of thousands of acres of land scorched. And sadly those figures are set to rise. In terms of lives lost, it is Australia's worst bushfires, surpassing major fires on Ash Wednesday (1983) and Black Friday (1939). Several of Saturday's fires (although now controlled) still continue some ten days on.

Numerous fundraising efforts have been launched to assist those who have lost everything. Companies have chipped in up to two million dollars each, everyday Australians touched by the stories of loss are giving generously out of their own pockets and several sporting bodies have held matches to raise money for the Bushfire vicitms. The AFL shifted the preseason match between Essendon and Western Bulldogs (two Victorian teams) from Darwin to Melbourne in one such example, with all money donated to the Victorian Government’s Bushfire Appeal Fund.

More than 35,000 fans turned up for the event which managed to raise more than 1.2 million dollars. The two teams had promised an exciting contest and didn't disappoint, with Essendon winning by the slimmest of margins.

Essendon 1.8.13 (70)
Western Bulldogs 1.8.12 (69)
Preseason competition includes the nine-point "supergoal" for goals scored outside the fifty-metre arc, on top of goals and behinds.

Click here to donate to the Red Cross' Bush Fire Appeal.

The Carlton Football Club has lifted the suspension on Setanta O’hAilpin and he returned to training at Visy Park earlier today. “Setanta was invited to return to the club and resume training with his team-mates following further discussions with the coaching staff and the playing group and a clearance from our Sports Psychologist,” said Carlton CEO Greg Swann. O’hAilpin addressed the playing group prior to the training session at Visy Park this afternoon and he was welcomed back by everyone at the club. He will continue to undertake ongoing counseling from the Club’s Psychologist.

“There has been much said about what was an unacceptable incident and the matter has been dealt with by the AFL in regards to a suspension from playing,,” added Swann. O’hAilpin has been training with the Northern Bullants while he has been suspended from Carlton. Carlton’s next training session will be at Visy Park at 9:30am on Thursday.

When Australian Football was starting to ramp up again in South Africa in 2005 a talented young Rugby Union player was introduced to the foreign sport, suiting up for what was then the South African Buffaloes to play against the touring Convicts, a mixed bag of Australian footballers on tour for footy and fun.

The player in question was Duane Vermeulen, already a mountain of a young man. Although new to Aussie Rules he showed tremendous promise at fullback, winning the best player award in the Convicts versus Gauteng Province match. Vermeulen was in training for the 2005 International Cup but according to then coach Steve Harrison, he "broke his hand a couple of weeks before we named the final squad". Harrison had no doubt the young man had talent to burn. "I was spewing because he was a gun".

South African footy was keen to keep Vermeulen as a Buffalo (or under the new image today he would've become a Lion). But in a Rugby mad nation, particularly amongst the white population, and with the IC2005 opportunity gone, it was always likely that he would pursue greater opportunities in Rugby. And so it was that he quickly progressed to become a key player for the Cheetahs in the Rugby Super 14s, the peak southern hemisphere Union club competition that pits 5 clubs from South Africa against 5 from New Zealand and 4 from Australia.

Vermeulen, who plays as a No. 8, has now been head-hunted to Western Cape's Stormers, and has at times been talked about as possibly being called up to South Africa's national Rugby side in future. That would make him the Buffalo/Lion who became a Cheetah and a Springbok. But for AFL South Africa he's a case of the one that got away.

One of the best drivers for Australian football development across Oceania has been the use of AYAD positions. There are now an unprecedented 5 positions up for grabs across Australia's neighbours, with one spot in each of Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa and Indonesia.

The Tongan, Samoan and Indonesian positions are somewhat urgent, with June/July intakes are positions closing soon, and the others for September. AYAD is the Australian Government's Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development program. They provide great opportunities for Australians to visit other countries, expenses paid, earn a modest wage, help other communities, gain new skills and assist in spreading the great Australian game.

We believe all the listed countries have had AYADs at various stages, with the exception of Fiji. The new round of positions come with the added coordinated support of AFL Oceania. Most positions are for 12 months and are open to Australians 18 to 30 years.

More details can be found on the Tongan website and the AYAD website - however note not all positions are listed yet. The Indonesian position will work with the Jakarta Bintangs clubs and details are listed here. There is also now more information on the AFL website.

If the criteria fit, have a go yourself, or tell your mates about it. Expressions of interest can be emailed to afloceania@aflq.com.au.

Former players and staff from the Fremantle Football Club crossed the Indian Ocean early today for a week long AFL community camp in the North West Province of South Africa.

The club has called on past players Troy Cook, Justin Longmuir and Luke Webster to assist Fremantle’s Community Development staff in the further development of AFL football in Fremantle’s allocated province.

Cook, Longmuir and Webster will work with the club’s Community Development staff to teach young children in South Africa the necessary skills to compete in the South African Auskick-equivalent ‘FootyWild’.

The travelling party will also have the opportunity to review the development of the North West Province’s talented senior players during a training session on Saturday 14 February. Players will travel from all around the region to participate in this session.