World Footy News

AFL Oceania's Andrew Cadzow has put the call out for interested parties to contact him with a view to forming a steering committee to create AFL Fiji, "to be put in place to assist and guide the structure and growth of AFL in Fiji". Early thoughts include Auskick (or Fijikick), Recreational football, community and life skills programs and talent development, with a theme of "Let’s give everybody a go".

There has been plenty to recommend Fiji recently. There has been the athleticism of Fijian-Australian Nick Naitanui (drafted to West Coast at number 2 a few months ago), the ongoing success of David Rodan and Alipate Carlisle with Port Adelaide, and the International Scholarship listing of Inoke Ratu and Solomoni Loki by the Western Bulldogs following a recruitment camp in Suva and Labassa in Fiji.

There's also some history, with Fiji footy gets the ball rolling. Unfortunately that faded out (see Fiji suspends football development), in part due to in-country political problems. But there are good early signs for this new program, with Cadzow saying "Interest is at an all time high and opportunity exists to take the game to Fiji. Already school clinics, talent search and small game blocks have commenced irregularly throughout the Country".

AFL Oceania are looking for people in both Australia and Fiji to get involved, saying "The more the merrier. Exciting times ahead". Interested parties can contact Andrew Cadzow, however we're always reluctant to list email addresses due to "spambots" so we'll be deliberately obscure. The general contact for AFL Oceania is afloceania@aflq.com.au

Setanta o’hAilpin today officially accepted the prescribed four week penalty handed out to him by the AFL for the attack on team mate Cameron Cloke during last Friday’s intraclub match.

Carlton yesterday made the following statement "O'hAilpin's indefinite suspension imposed by the Club last Friday remains in place and this is a matter for discussion between O'hAilpin and the Carlton Football Club, including the player leadership group. These discussions will take place this week and a decision on this club suspension is expected to be known by Friday. During his suspension from the Club, O'hAilpin will not be involved in club activities, including tomorrow's Community Camp in Seymour, and will be required to train with the Northern Bullants. He is also undergoing an anger management course with the Club's Sports Psychologist."

But speaking from the camp today Brett Ratten told afl.com.au "The AFL has gone through its review process and handed out a sanction…we want to get Setanta back as quickly as possible and not leave him in the lurch and try and help him through this time and get back with the boys. We're just waiting for Mick Martin, our sports psych, to give us the all-clear there, but if it takes another three weeks or a month we'll work through that.” So it seems at this stage that we will see Setanta continue his career at some stage this year.

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When the AFL announced that one of the teams partaking in the 2008 International Cup would be comprised of Israelis and Palestinians, a few voices in the international football community expressed skepticism. Whilst football competitions existed previously in Israel, there had been no major football news from the region in years. Some questioned whether the Peace Team's involvement in the tournament would lead to a football presence in Israel and Palestine afterwards or if it was simply an AFL publicity stunt. Positive news from The Peres Centre for Peace today, suggests that the AFL made the right decision.

The East Devonport Swans, who play in the Northern Tasmanian Football League, have scored an early coup in the lead-up to 2009’s NTFL season by signing two exciting players from Papua New Guinea.

Emmaus Wartovo and Willie Aisi were among the stars for the PNG Mosquitoes in last year's AFL International Cup grand final against New Zealand. The pair also played in Queensland last year on international scholarships, but returned home to PNG during the summer. According to an article by Martin Agatyn in local paper, The Advocate, “They are expected to arrive in Tasmania by mid- February, once details of their sporting visas are finalised. It is believed the signings will be the first time PNG nationals have played football for a Tasmanian club. Aisi is reported to be a speedy on-baller, while Wartovo is a handy forward who can kick goals.”

The Convicts concept sees teams of Australian footballers heading overseas for tours that involve football matches and sight seeing. We've followed their adventures closely, as they've travelled from South Africa to Europe to North America.

However 2009 is set to be a quiet one with no tours planned, after an initial look at China was scrapped. The Convicts' Anthony Nanfra told WFN that "I dont think it prudent to have a tour this year given the state of the economy", noting that players from Western Australia have been a big part of the tours and there are major employment worries from that group. Instead he is looking into some domestic opportunities and investigating options for 2010. We'll let you know when their plans solidify.

The Carlton Football Club has suspended Irishman Setanta O’hAilpin indefinitely following an incident where he was reported to have punched and kicked team-mate Cameron Cloke during today’s intra-club practice match at Visy Park. Setanta finished the 2008 season with an injury and questions over whether the club would take him into 2009, and his brother Aisake was de-listed. Setanta stayed on the Blues' list but now it appears he will face a significant period on the sidelines. The following is from a statement from the Carlton Football Club:

“Setanta’s actions were totally unacceptable, on or off the field, and we are bitterly disappointed in the incident with Cameron Cloke,” said Carlton CEO Greg Swann. O’hAilpin has been suspended from the Club until further notice pending an AFL investigation. He will not be involved in any club activities and will be required to train with the Northern Bullants while he is suspended. In addition he will undergo an anger management course with the Club Sports Psychologist.

Setanta is remorseful about the incident and has spoken with Cameron to apologise for his actions. He is aware that such an incident is completely unacceptable and, in particular, is a poor example to junior footballers. The Carlton leadership group was involved in the decision to suspend Setanta and have spoken to him in relation to the matter.

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Go to USFootyNews.com for the top 10 US footy photos of 2008.

Not only was 2008 a big struggle for football in Tonga as the Tongan Australian Football Association (TAFA) attempted to get a team to the 2008 International Cup, but the fledgling league also suffered the cruellest of blows when two of its players suffered horrific injuries in a car accident just weeks before the trip to Australia. Both young men sustained life-changing injuries and have been the subject of fundraising efforts. Meanwhile TAFA ended up sending a side to the Cup but the decision was too late for the main event.

Sweden's Karlstad Dragons and Queensland's Noosa Tigers have teamed up to start the first player exchange program for an individual Swedish footy club.

While a few Swedes also played footy in Australia via a partnership between Powerhouse FC and the DAFL, the first Swede from a northern club to travel down under to hone his footballing skills under this agreement will be Mattias Ewald, who will arrive in Queensland in early February. Ewald's journey has created some interest in the local press, with the Värmlands Folkblad and online version of the Nya Wermlands-Tidningen both publishing articles in the past few days.

The Noosa Tigers, based on the Sunshine Coast north of Brisbane, play in the AFL Queensland state league. The AFLQ has grown in recent years to be the strongest league in the northern "rugby states", with a number of former AFL players playing or coaching.

The exchange was organised by former Dragons coach Kevin Anderson while visiting relatives last year, and supported by his company Maloo Inc.

Mattias will become the third Scandinavian we know of currently visiting down under for a kick of the footy, with Nicolai Secher and Chris Campion from the Denmark Vikings' IC08 squad currently in Geelong playing with the Thomson FC for 2009.

Despite the transfer of the West Coast versus Collingwood NAB Cup match from Cape Town to Subiaco, Perth, the two Western Australian AFL clubs, West Coast and Fremantle, are still keen to play an official match in South Africa in 2010.

In WA clubs set sights on African adventure by Digby Beacham in The West Australian, both clubs have put their case that they should return. The article states that:

The AFL is hoping to return to South Africa in 2010, although a final decision on whether a sanctioned fixture can take place overseas won’t be made until later this year.

and

Fremantle strategic partnerships general manager, Darren Beazley, has secured commercial partnerships with Nkwe Platinum, Continental Capital and Air Mauritius and [Fremantle chief executive] Rosich said the club intended to foster those contacts.

and

"We are sending a community development team to South Africa to our province, the North-West province, from February 12 to 16 and that will include a coaching clinic in the Limpopo province".

That's interesting, because Freo's zone, the North West Province, is a long way from Limpopo which borders Kruger National Park in the north east.

The Australian Football Association of North America (AFANA) is undergoing a change of leadership with Rob de Santos (Chairman) and Ann Solomon (Editor-in-Chief) leaving those roles after 13 years with the organisation.

Both have been there since the start, as AFANA has sought to promote Australian Football in North America and in particular has been a focal point for lobbying efforts to improve television coverage of AFL matches. de Santos and Solomon leave with coverage in North America in very good shape, via Setanta Sports and MHz Networks.