World Footy News

Now the wind and rain have settled back into the British Isles, there is a chance to look back at a manically busy year of footy in Great Britain. Alongside a steadily developing raft of domestic competitions, 2008 saw huge growth in international footy being played and planned for the near future, with adult and junior fixtures being played in Britain, mainland Europe and Australia.

Probably foremost in many minds was the International Cup (IC), the tri-annual event attended by footy playing nations from across the globe and a chance for the best of the Brits to test themselves against their peers from 4 continents.

Focused preparation had been underway for over a year, giving the coaching staff opportunities to see many more players in action and decide where they could fit into the game plan.

A benefit of this was the chance to look outside the traditional recruiting grounds of the London-based competitions, with 12 players selected from clubs across regional England and the fledgling Welsh league – a real endorsement of the development of British players outside the Aussie-laden and more experienced clubs in London.

The license bid team pushing for a Tasmanian side in the AFL is due to present its case to the AFL Commission on Friday, led by Tasmania's political leader, Premier David Bartlett. The widespread belief is that the AFL will receive the bid but proceed with their plans for Gold Coast and West Sydney sides (the latter perhaps on a slower timetable). In which case the Tasmanians will have to watch on, frustrated again.

Perhaps that reality is already causing frustration. In previewing their case, key bid member and ANZ Chief Economist Saul Eslake stirred up the debate by referring to the West Sydney region, in some respects seen as Tasmania's competition, as Boganville. That's a suggestion that the people of West Sydney are bogans (a derogatory term suggesting they lack sophistication or class). It also has cache because it sounds very much like Bougainville, a semi-autonamous island of Papua New Guinea that was often in the news a few years back. It's a strange call by Eslake, who is very much the public face of ANZ, one of Australia's biggest banks - one wonders what other ANZ staff and shareholders think of their Chief Economist alienating potentially 2 million customers in the western suburbs of Australia's biggest city?

The first game of former AFL player Ben Graham for the Arizona Cardinals today saw him punt 3 times against the St Louis Rams. His first punt of 38 yards was inside the ten with no return yards. He held well for kicker Neil Rakers two successful field goal attempts, from 44 and 22 yards. In the last quarter he punted 50 yards to the St Louis 11 yard line, but the punt was returned 33 yards. His last punt was also a 38 yarder which was not returned following a fair catch at the St Louis 13 yard line. He also held for Rakers' four successful extra point conversions. All up three punts at an average of 41 yards, but only 31 net yards – with all three punts inside the 20 yards line.

Via considerable media coverage Graham again put the game of Australian Rules Football front and centre in another US state as his background was explained to the fans of his new team. It is hoped that he has done enough to impress his new team (which needed Graham to perform as both punter and holder), as they now have secured a playoff spot as they cannot be headed in their division.

The AFL have released some promotion for the upcoming Collingwood versus West Coast match in Cape Town. Pleasingly the video launched via their website features a background on the South African national side, which should serve to educate fans in both Australia and South Africa that the sport is now on the ground in South African communities. No word yet as to whether the commercial will be aired on television in Cape Town.

The game is scheduled for 12:10pm South African time on Saturday 7th February 2009 at Sahara Park, Newlands, Cape Town, and is the start of the 2009 NAB Cup. After the match, locals sides Khayelitsha and Nyanga go head-to-head.

The advert and further information directing people to the AFL South Africa website can be viewed at: www.afl.com.au/southafrica

Robert Harvey was today named the 2008 AFLPA Madden Medalist. The medal recognizes his outstanding on field performance and off-field football achievements, personal growth and community spirit throughout his 21 seasons at the St Kilda Football Club. The medal was presented at a gala lunch at the Peninsula in the Docklands today. Harvey edged out Peter Bell, Shane Crawford, Scott West, David Neitz, Mal Michael and Nigel Lappin for the top honour.

The Top three votes breakdown for the four awards was as follows.

The Madden Medal Presented by AMP
Robert Harvey 28 Votes
Peter Bell 16 Votes
Shane Crawford 15 Votes

Earlier in the day Peter Bell spoke of his football journey after winning The Open Universities Australia Personal Development Award. The award comes on the back of his achievements including obtaining a law degree from the University of Melbourne and serve as AFLPA President from 2002-2007, in between captaining a football club and winning AFL Premiership’s. He is currently CEO of Simpking International Consultants.

Footy is not a new sport in Perpignan, anyone who follows footy in France remembers the game organised between the French national team and a selection of English players back in 2005 that brought 500 spectators to the ground. But soon after that, the local Saint Estève Saints disappeared and footy in the south of France with it.

But during the summer of 2008, a young ex-rugby player decided to bring footy back to life on the Mediterranean shores. After discovering the game on TV and realising that the St Estève team no longer existed, he decided to give it a go, and contacted the Saints former president to start the club again.

“At first I found footy fun, but I did not understand any of the rules" says young Tigers president But after reading them he realised that "Aussie rules is a great sport that deserves more recognition".

In the process the Saint Estève Saints became the Perpignan Tigers. For now no players from the Saints have joined the Tigers, but there's no doubt that some of them will bring their knowledge to the young team.

Damien, the Tigers president, tried to organise a tournament in November with the help of the nearby Montpellier team, but unfortunately he was forced to cancel the event. There is no doubt that the Tigers will play a major part in the future of footy in France.

Ed: World Footy News welcomes Olivier Tresca to our team of reporters. Olivier was a pioneer of French footy, as well as more recent experience in Scotland.

The Madden Medal award recognizes both the well documented on-field success but also the achievements that AFL players have had in their community and personal development endeavours. Two players that are retiring this year that are up for a number of the awards are Peter Bell and Mal Michael, both of whom have received plenty of coverage on this site in terms of their backgrounds and international connections.

The winners of the awards have been determined by the Executive Committee of the AFL Players’ Association who all cast votes on a 3, 2, 1 basis for each award. The Madden Medal committee consists of the AFLPA Executive; Joel Bowden (President), Brett Burton (Vice-President), Luke Ball, Adam Goodes, Tom Harley, Nick Maxwell, Robert Murphy, Luke Power, Ashley Hansen AFLPA CEO Brendon Gale, and past player representative Simon Madden. The awards will take place this Friday in Melbourne and the achievements by all the retiring players below are worth noting.

The North Melbourne Football Club has added Irishman Conor Meredith to its rookie list for 2009. The 19 year old is one of Gaelic Football’s brightest prospects and was identified by List Manager Cameron Joyce during a special training camp held in Ireland in August. He then travelled to Melbourne for trials with the Kangaroos and Richmond.

“Conor showed good speed at the camp. He is a good height and in time could play half back, half forward or even through the midfield. The one thing that stood out was his ability to kick the AFL ball pretty well, which for me is half the battle,” Joyce said.

After an impressive showing, despite being unfamiliar with the oval-shaped football, Meredith from County Laois was given a two year deal. “We are delighted to have Conor on our rookie list for the next two years. The coaches are excited and looking forward to working with him and want to give him the best possible chance to reach his potential in the sport,” Joyce added.

While it looks like former Geelong captain Ben Graham is coming to Arizona (as punter for the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals), it was current day players that impressed the footy locals in the Grand Canyon state recently.

The Western Bulldogs AFL team were in Phoenix on their preseason high altitude trip to Arizona and were closely observed by members of the Arizona Hawks and Ladyhawks teams. The USAFL players were able to take part in some drills with the Doggies and legendary Carlton Premiership player, and Bulldogs Assistant Coach, Peter Dean was kind enough to take the Hawks players for a few drills and impart some words of wisdom from his own fifteen year playing career with the Blues.

Arizona Hawks' Adam Smark told us “Witnessing the amazing work ethic and dedication of players at the elite level was a great experience for those present and the chance to meet and talk to the players was an amazing opportunity. There are fans of the club everywhere who would cherish such an experience and the Hawks and LadyHawks who were in attendance certainly appreciated the time in the presence of the Bulldogs."

"Thanks to the Western Bulldogs, Hawks President Laki Kondylas and club legend and AZAFL premiership captain Darren Toohey for giving the Arizona clubs the chance to experience such an event, and good luck to the Western Bulldogs for 2009.”

He went on to add “It was certainly an eye opener for the US folks since you would be hard pressed to find a team of elite sportsmen here in the US willing to let people at our level of involvement in the sport actually take part in drills and be so welcoming to everyone. I can’t speak highly enough of how great the Bulldogs were and how inviting they were to share the experience with us.”

"Dogs hit skies for Phoenix" which appeared on the Bulldog's website gives some background to the trip.

It has been a wild ride for former Geelong captain Ben Graham in the NFL this year. After being dumped by the New York Jets early in the season, then brought back in for two more games he then shopped his talents around the country until being picked up for one game with the New Orleans Saints who then moved Graham on.

Ben was invited for tryout with the Green Bay Packers this week but turned down the audition when he received a solid job offer.

That came from the Arizona Cardinals who have sacked Dirk Johnson, the punter who was replaced by Sav Rocca at the Philadelphia Eagles. Johnson and Rocca went head to head in the last round as the Eagles defeated the Cardinals 48-20 and Rocca averaged 42.7 yards compared to Johnson 33.5 yards.

The length of Ben’s tenure at the Cardinals is unknown and while he will be disappointed to be missing out on the Jets' massive turnaround led by Brett Favre, if he can settle in at the Cardinals he should be part of the play-offs as the Cardinals lead the NFC West with just four rounds to play.

The total number of international players now listed by AFL clubs has reached an all-time high at 12. This follows the submission of AFL lists for the 2009 season, with four clubs welcoming aboard new Irish players to their Rookie Lists, as well as Sydney listing Canadian Rugby international Mike Pyke (see Swans use international rookie list - for Canadian Rugby player and Pyke aims for 2009 debut).

The four new Irish players are all Gaelic footballers who had been trialling with the AFL clubs. Adelaide have listed Brian Donnelly from County Louth, Essendon has gone for Michael Quinn from County Longford, North Melbourne have given a chance to Conor Meredith from County Laois, and Sydney have added Kyle Coney of County Tyrone.

Sydney are the stand-out in giving international talent a chance, with Coney and Canadian Pyke joining Irishmen Brendan Murphy (Rookie List) and Tadhg Kennelly (full list) at the Swans.

The additions come on top Colm Begley getting picked up by St Kilda after being de-listed by Brisbane, although Aisake O'hAilpin was not given a second chance after being cut by Carlton. The full list of internationals is given below.

AFL Oceania Development Manager Andrew Cadzow has confirmed the identities of the four young players selected for the November AIS-AFL Camp, as discussed in Oceania young talent to be tested at AIS. The players were the two previously reported, 16 year old Liam Ackland from New Zealand and 17 year old Tienan Carbry from Papua New Guinea (both representatives of their countries at the 2008 International Cup) and the two Fijians International Scholarship Listed by the Western Bulldogs recently. Cadzow also alludes to plans in 2009 for a Junior Oceania Cup.

The four players are not the first to have been exposed to this program, as previously reported by worldfootynews.com, with talent from PNG, Japan, Great Britain and NZ previously tested. As Cadzow explained, "The AFL’s strong, progressive and innovative talent program headed by Kevin Sheehan, Alan McConnell, and the AFL Talented Player Pathway staff have continued to present opportunities for International boys to attend the annual November AIS Academy camp as one part of the Academy program".