World Footy News

A day before the match, the AFL and the GAA hope for a crowded house at the MCG for the second International Rules series contest between Australia and Ireland even given predicted showers.

At the same time, the game exists in another crowded environment.

October is the time of Australia-India Test cricket from India, V8 Super Car racing, this year a Wallabies’ Bledisloe Cup match against New Zealand in Hong Kong, the soccer and basketball seasons, the Rugby League World Cup in Sydney and, via pay TV and news reports, the MLB World Series and the English Premier League.

Above all, in Melbourne, is the spring racing carnival.

While International Rules has to compete for media attention, in a sense the crowding problem demonstrates the need for Australian Football to have an international dimension.

Andrew Cadzow has wasted no time in the new position of AFL Oceania Development Manager. His appointment started in late April 2008 after sustained success by himself and others with Papua New Guinea. In July he undertook a study tour of the region, meeting with people such as the Australian High Commission, local football committees, media outlets, Olympic committees and AVI (Volunteers abroad), and producing a report on the current situation and opportunities.

At the 2008 International Cup the region performed very well, with PNG finishing 1st, New Zealand 2nd, Nauru 5th, Samoa 10th, and Tonga appearing for the first time, playing in the adjunct Multicultural Challenge.

During the tournament officials from the Oceania nations took part in an Oceania meeting, in addition to the International Forum. Cadzow has released the Oceania Plan 2009 - 2011. It discusses a three to five year vision and continues on the theme of increasing participation, identifying and providing pathways for potential AFL talent, determining funding streams, and events and promotion. Further details follow.

After recently sending a partial squad of Timorese nationals to the NTAFL's preseason community tournament, the Crocs are entering a team in the Bali 9s to be held this weekend. Crocs are coming from Timor-Leste, as well as some players travelling from Melbourne, Sydney and Darwin.

As Luke Gosling explains, "these Australian-based players are all connected with Timor-Leste through previous work in the country on capacity building and a wide range of development projects from music and cultural exchanges, financial systems development, water projects and health."

The Timor Crocs would also like to recognise the support of 'The Tradie' Magazine as a new sponsor to the club. Their support will enable some additional shorts for the team.

Joining the Crocs in this tournament will be local opposition from Jakarta and the Borneo Bears, as well as hosts the Bali Geckos.

Read on for some photos of training on the beach in Dili with a few of the Crocs.

Illustrating once again that the hybrid code fills a bigger niche than just at elite AFL v GAA level, in the first half of October, an under-23 representative squad from the 4 "traditional" Australian football states (members of the Australian Amateur Football Council), toured Ireland to play 4 International Rules matches against some prominent local Irish GAA clubs. This tour follows on from a similar tour in 2005 as reported on WFN. Also planned was a match against an All-star side from the Irish Aussie Rules leagues, but sadly that did not go ahead. The following is a summary of the AAFC tour.

Australian Squad

South Australia
Shane Jordan, Toby Haseldine (Salisbury North) Fraser Pinkney (Pembroke Old Scholars) Martin Wilson (Plympton High Old Scholars Camden) Ryan Richter (Broadview)

Tasmania
Allan O’Sign (North Launceston) Daniel Ellis (Launceston) Nicholas Buller (South Launceston) Nick McKenna, Jesse Wells (Burnie Dockers)

Victoria
Jack Watts (University Blues) Ben Dowd (St Kevin’s Old Boys) Brendan Iezzi (Old Trinity Grammarians) Andrew McGuinness (Old Brighton Grammarians) Peter McGettigan (St Bedes Mentone)

Western Australia
Steven Wood, Simon Jones (University) Brad Wedgwood (North Fremantle) Scott Horsburgh (Wesley Curtin) Jarrad Heller (Collegians)

As expected, the Brisbane Lions have cut Irishman Colm Begley from their list. Begley was rookie listed at the end of 2005, debuted late in 2006, and played 19 games in 2007 leading him to be named the Lions' rookie of the year. In a demonstration of just how quickly life can turn against an AFL player, 2008 was spent mostly off the field with a quad injury and with a change of coach Begley's career, with the Lions at least, was ended.

The sudden death decision would seem to be quite harsh given Begley's on field form and may be based more on coach Michael Voss' perception of other aspects of the player. The 22 year old will most likely enter the upcoming drafts in an attempt to continue in the AFL, and must surely be a reasonable bet with a late draft pick, given he has shown he can play the game but would still have some improvement in him.

Up and coming 19 year old Irishman Pearce Hanley, who ironically replaced Begley in Brisbane's side on debut, remains on the club's list.

Once again, due in part due to the involvement of a second country with a large diaspora, and perhaps the recent history of violence, the International Rules Series seems to have a growing international audience, perhaps rivalling the AFL Grand Final in terms of overall interest, not just on television but also internet coverage, YouTube and media interest.

Here are the Australian and international television broadcast details for the 2nd IR test which will be held between Australia vs Ireland in Melbourne on Friday 31st October at MCG 7:45pm AEDT.

The Herald Sun published an interesting article about David Banda, the Malawian boy adopted by American singer Madonna and his favourite piece of clothing - a Hawthorn Hawks AFL jumper. A most unlikely combination.

The article Madonna's boy David Banda is Hawthorn's latest fan appears here.

International Rules continues to be the focus of the Australian foobtall off-season.

Masters (over 35) level International Rules has been played between Ireland and Australia for 6 years, more recently named the Paddy Gaffney Cup in memory of an Irish footballer who died during a junior club match.

Australia has never won the series, but this year have pulled out the big guns. Former AFL players Gavin Wanganeen, Richard Champion, Adrian Fletcher, Paul Dimattina, Shaun Smith, Brad Sholl and Paul Hudson took on Ireland's over 35s in the first of a two game series.

Following the domestic NSW Thrilling match in Sydney and the international senior match also being decided by a point, the contest should no doubt be close.

This year the series came to the Gold Coast for the first time with a match played at Len Peak Oval, Kirra on the 26th October. The decider will be played on November 1 in Melbourne.

There has been a flurry of activity in seeking to draft Irish Gaelic footballers into the AFL in recent years, and with the Ricky Nixon trials held in Ireland, it seems like the numbers will continue to rise.

However it should be acknowledged that there have been many Irish players drafted with late picks in the past, with few of them establishing AFL careers. These days the process is handled better via club rookie lists, but despite that recently there have been a lot of Irishmen leave their clubs - voluntarily or otherwise. In the last few months Carlton has ended Aisake O'hAilpin's time, team-mate Michael Shields decided Australian football was not for him, and now there is speculation that Brisbane's Colm Begley is not in favour with the new Michael Voss-led regime.

Begley appeared to make the transition to Aussie Rules in record time, with 2007 his best year, but was hampered by injury this past season and reports are that he has not been offered a contract for 2009. It seems his time at the Lions is not definitely up, but his management is looking elsewhere on the assumption that the odds are now against him. Meanwhile Begley is giving his full attention to representing Ireland in the International Rules series.

More information at Former Lion takes the field in International Rules and Begley focused on next fortnight.

Sporting chess reached another high last night as the Irish held back a fast advancing Australian side to win by one point the first International Rules match, 45-44, before a crowd of 35,000 at an occasionally wet Subiaco.

As expected, with superior understanding of the floating round ball, the Irish went out to a big lead early, particularly finding the net for 6 points which the Australians had trouble doing. However, by half time, aided by superior fitness, the Australians had brought the score back to a one point deficit of 18-19.

Australia has named its placed squad for the International Rules Test against Ireland in Perth tonight.

Adelaide's Nathan Bock gets the crucial and unfamiliar role of goal-keeper. The final team is based on player availability and those deemed suited to the hybrid game, and sees remarkably few (just one) Geelong players, despite their AFL dominance up until the 2008 Grand Final.

Australia

GK: Nathan Bock (Adelaide)
B: Michael Firrito (North Melbourne), Brad Sewell (Hawthorn), Campbell Brown (Hawthorn)
HB: Ryan Crowley (Fremantle), Drew Petrie (North Melbourne), Adam Selwood (West Coast)
M: Brent Harvey (North Melbourne), Scott Thompson (Adelaide)
HF: Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood), Daniel Motlop (Port Adelaide), David Rodan (Port Adelaide)
F: Michael Osborne (Hawthorn), Shaun Burgoyne (Port Adelaide), Matt Campbell (North Melbourne)

I/C (one to be omitted): Matthew Boyd (Western Bulldogs), Jared Brennan (Brisbane Lions), Nathan Foley (Richmond), Roger Hayden (Fremantle), Leigh Montagna (St Kilda), Marc Murphy (Carlton), Max Rooke (Geelong), Kade Simpson (Carlton), Dale Thomas (Collingwood), Daniel Wells (North Melbourne)

Ireland's unplaced full squad is listed below.

International Rules - A Fifty Year Tradition and the cynics of the press

It is now over 50 years since Harry Beitzel took the Galahs to Ireland and New York, and since they defeated one of the top GAA teams at their own game, in the biggest shock to hit Gaelic football in a long while.

Every few years we have had series, playing exciting versions of the hybrid game, International Rules, which combines Aussie Rules with Gaelic football. The next instalment begins tonight.