World Footy News

Footy is back on in earnest around Britain, with perennial power club the West London Wildcats again topping the ladder in the London Premiership. The Cats however had a shock loss last weekend, going down to the Putney Magpies 48-44 in the biggest upset of the season so far.

Also in London, the Dulwich Dragons have become the first club to be created in the city's south-east suburbs and took the field for the first time recently. The Dragons planned to launch for the 2009 season, but fast-tracked plans to get together players for the London Social league this year.

Fellow new club, the Chippenham Redbacks, had their maiden victory a few weeks ago against the Brighton Black Swans in the ARUK Southern division. The Redbacks were formed by Dragonslayers captain Rob Fielder this season, with a number of players from the now-defunct Swindon Devils club.

Portland Power have their first home tournament this weekend and will play as a stand-alone 18 a side team for the first time. It is a great step forward for a club that has taken it’s time to develop since it first took shape in 1998. As previously covered the club has played little brother to the Seattle club for a number of years but now is getting ready to show what they have to offer standing on their own. Attending the tournament will be Seattle Grizzlies, Denver Bulldogs and Vancouver Cougars.

Canada's premier league, the Ontario AFL, is leading the way in promoting the local clubs via a web-based footy show, featuring regular host Lockie McDonald and "panel" members Salvatore Capoferri and Emile Studham. Each episode features footage from the previous week's games, general footy gossip and plugs for the league's sponsors.

Recently, in episode four, the guys interviewed Canada's national coach, the Northwind's Mark Block. Currently also the Toronto Eagles coach and formerly the Northwind's captain at the 2002 International Cup, Block was very clear that he leads his side Down Under with the intention of winning the third Cup. Not surprisingly Papua New Guinea were seen as the biggest obstacle, and another bout with the United States was keenly anticipated.

It was also great to see the respect that Block had for a few "heritage" items from past Cups - something that will only be truly appreciated in the future. And speaking of the future, the clip also features first word of a new club forming, either the Quebec or Montreal Saints.

The episode can be viewed here, with the chat to Block starting around 18:35.

USFootyNews.com and WorldFootyNews.com have joined forces to put together the 3rd unofficial USFooty Top 10 Poll of 2008. Despite a few games across the country, according to our voters there hasn't been a lot of movement at the top of the ladder. Curiously one team has sneaked in without taking the field yet. Look for more movement when the season gets into full swing.

Further to our story that the former Gaelic footballer Jim Stynes might be the Melbourne Football Club's saviour (see Irishman to save AFL's oldest club?), the comedy duo at the Footywrap recorded an "exclusive" interview with big Jim. The boys manage to pack in a tremendous array of stereotypes (and not one Irish county) in their two minute skit.

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More from the Footywrap: Former Brownlow medallist Jim Stynes is set to become the new president of the Melbourne Demons on Thursday night. Stynes played 264 games from 1987-98 for Melbourne and won the 1991 Brownlow Medal. The Footywrap caught up with him in an exclusive interview before the Queens Birthday clash. The beloved Irishman has a huge task ahead of him. Despite a spirited performance against Collingwood on Monday, the Dees have already notched up 10 losses for season 2008 and have debts totalling $4 million.

The Melbourne Football club celebrated it's 150th birthday on the weekend, giving it some claim to being the oldest sporting club in the world. It's 20 years older than Manchester United and 44 years older than the New York Yankees. The legends of the club like Stynes, Robbie Flower and Ron Barassi who gathered for the event said it was a great night. Garry Lyon, who spoke at the function implored them all to throw more support behind their embattled club. Stynes, at least, has answered the call: 'All I can say is we're going to be in for an exciting time because we've got some great people that want to really help... On Thursday night, if all goes well, we'll start to roll out our plan and let the members know what we're about.' The planting of 150 potatoes in honour of the Demons heroes of the past is yet to be confirmed.

The 2008 Manila Cup has been run and won, with the Philippine Eagles, Hong Kong Dragons, Malaysian Warriors, China Reds (Beijing/Shanghai) and the Hongila Dogs (extra players from Hong Kong and the Philippines) fighting it out in sweltering conditions.

The 12-a-side competition saw the five teams play each other once, with the Hong Kong team (pictured) undefeated to finish top, on the way knocking over the Malaysian club, giving them their only loss. That left the scene set for the Grand Final, with the Dragons going in favourites, and they duly delivered, winning by 7.4 (46) to 2.1 (13).

The organisers are looking to go again in 2009 whilst avoiding clashing with any other tournaments, and will most likely stage it in the last weekend in May. Clubs from across Asia or anywhere else are welcome.

Full tournament report on the Philippines Australian Football League website.

The first US women's footy games of the year were held on Saturday (2nd June) with the inaugural 'Duel in the Desert' tournament hosted by the Arizona Lady Hawks. With temperatures expected to rise into the triple digits it was an early start with games starting not long after 8.00am. At the event were the newly formed Denver Lady Bulldogs and the Atlanta Lady Kookaburras as well as the hosts of course the Lady Hawks, runners-up at last years Nationals in Louisville.

The International Rules Series returns this October with Test matches between Ireland and Australia at Subiaco Oval in Perth and the MCG in Melbourne. But an interesting story from the Sydney Morning Herald notes that the AFL wanted to play a match in Sydney at either the SCG or ANZ stadium on the eve of the Rugby League world cup.

Australian Rugby League chairman Colin Love said he “would be extremely disappointed if it was the aim of the AFL to rain on our parade." However AFL CEO, Andrew Demetriou, noted that the GAA was keen for the game to go on in Sydney because of calls in the past from the Irish diaspora there for a match to be played.

The ARL chairman’s comments seem a bit precious, perhaps he should’ve thought of the 2003 Rugby Union World Cup when on the same weekend thousands of Irish men and women decended on Melbourne and 60,000 attended the International Rules Test at the MCG and 56,000 the Rugby WC match at Telstra Dome. The more the merrier seemed the theme that weekend.

Meanwhile Melbourne’s Herald Sun reports Pies firm on Dublin game on Collingwood taking on Dublin as soon as this November. The match would mean a busy end of year to Collingwood players who would be hoping for late September finals action, and several of whom would be likely selections for the national side in the International Rules in October. This game featured earlier on WFN Magpies to play Sky Blues.

While there is general consensus among the chiefs at the AFL that South Africans will be recruited to the AFL in the next 3-5 years the question is how? Although there has been plenty of development action and visits from Australia, the biggest issue facing the growth of the code in the African country could be a clearly defined pathway.

Further to our recent story on the South Australia versus Victoria state league match, the West Australian Football League has again demonstrated their status at number three, proving too good for the Sunshine state. Played in northern Queensland's Townsville at Tony Ireland Stadium, the Sandgropers were jumped in the first quarter, trailing by 17 points at the first change. By half-time they were in front and the contest was done and dusted by the last change. The last four goals of the game made the margin a very comfortable 73 points, WAFL 24.20 (164) to AFLQ 14.7 (91).

Who would have thought, back in 1984, that when arguably the oldest football club in Australia, the Melbourne Football Club, approached a young Irish Gaelic footballer to come play their foreign game Down Under, that the young man might go on to be the club's salvation?

That's now quite a possibility, with Jim Stynes tipped to become the next Chairman of the Melbourne FC. After a distinguished career on the field Stynes stayed in touch with football but also involved himself in anti-racial vilification and youth charity work in Australia, leading to him being named Victorian of the Year in 2003.

Melbourne have struggled both on the field and financially for many years now and have survived on AFL hand-outs. The current administration has had some success, but not enough to guarantee long term survival. Stynes, now very much well-connected and well-respected in Victoria's business community, has been mentioned more and more this year as the man to put together an off-field team to lead the Demons to stability. It looks like he will now make his move.

The AFL has confirmed that talented Queensland teenagers will be given the chance to opt out of the next national draft, to instead sign up for the new Gold Coast franchise. The initial development squad will play in the Victorian elite Under 18 TAC Cup in 2009 and the VFL in 2010, before entering the AFL in 2011.