World Footy News

As the AFL celebrates 150 years since some of the first games of what was to become Australian football, it is time to ask where to now? I am not going to answer that question because I don’t know the answer. Actually, I don’t know the question. When we look to the future of Australian football, whose interests are we talking about, whose future are we talking about?

Are we talking about the AFL going global with the Seattle Grizzlies competing in the Pacific Division of the WFL? Are we talking about 10,000 Americans kicking a red leather ball around on the weekend by 2020? Are we talking about the West Coast Eagles taking market share of global merchandise sales from Man United? Or are we asking whether my son will have the opportunity to represent his country (the USA) in his favorite sport (footy) against the best players in the world.

Is Carlton going to look like the 2007 San Antonio Spurs with only 60% of the team being native born? Will footy help kids of the South African townships overcome poverty, AIDS and years of institutionalized racism? Are we going to see Chinese signage around the MCG advertising domestic products to the Demons’ large fan base? Is International Rules going to become an Olympic sport? Is USFooty going to become the largest footy league in the world, competing with the AFL for talent from Ireland and South Africa? What is the future? What future do we want?

The 2008 Faststream Spring Invitational will take place on April 12 and 13 at the new Broward County Cricket complex in Lauderhill, Florida, USA. The $US 70m complex was completed in November 07 and this will be the first time that it has seen competitive footy. The tournament will see some of the best matches that we will see before Nationals in Colorado.

The tourney will be the 2008 debut for 2007 National Champions, the Denver Bulldogs, the number 4 team in the country (by our reckoning) the New York Magpies and the number 3 Baltimore Washington Eagles. Taking on 3 of the top 4 USFooty teams will be hosts, the Florida Redbacks (combined with the Fort Lauderdale Fighting Squids). This will also be the final trial for the US Revolution as the coaching staff looks to get the team ready for the AFL International Cup in Melbourne and Warrnambool.

We reported in What support for IC teams? that as per previous tournaments, airfares would be the single biggest issue for the competing nations at the International Cup, which face total event costs of more than AUD$100,000 for each country. The AFL has sourced an arrangement with Qantas and provided contacts for fifteen nations, with Nauru, Samoa and Tonga unfortunately not covered as the airline doesn't fly to those islands. We've now spoken with several countries about whether the offer has made a substantial difference to their costs, and sadly the answer so far is no, though Tonga is hopeful of making their own deal.

The Australian Institute of Sport / Australian Football League elite youth squad has just completed its second tour of South Africa. The following report is courtesy of AFL South Africa, with additional reporting by this author.

“Don’t fence me in” said Kevin Sheedy, as he spoke to the AIS/AFL Academy and South African teams on the eve of the second International game between the two countries this week. One nation has been playing the game for 150 years; the other an emerging country which has only just embraced the Aussie game in the last ten years, with major progress made in the last 12 months. After travelling Australia spruiking the 150 message and talking up international footy, and having visited both the US and Canada previously, we think this was Sheedy's first trip to the AFL's best supported international project.

The message was clear from one of the most visionary men in the game’s history. “The closer the world gets and the more I see other games such as soccer, rugby and American football, the more I am convinced that we have the greatest game on the planet and we should be sharing it with the rest of the world – South Africa is well and truly part of that vision”, said Sheedy at a special function in Potchefstroom in the North West Province on Monday night ahead of Tuesday’s International clash.

NZAFL seem to be ticking a lot of boxes in international footy development whilst the sun is shining very fiercely on South Africa and to a lesser extent PNG and the USA as the future for finding international rookies.

With AFL Clubs each allowed to stockpile up to 24 international rookies over a 3 year period to monitor and support as prospective players, and with Ireland unable to have their players named on this list, the players must be sourced from other markets. With the League stretching to 18 Clubs within a four year period we are looking at the possibility of 432 players being on a list who have been developed offshore. As Paul Kelly, the musician, said “From Little Things Big Things Grow”

This has been recognised by one AFL Club who are currently in the process of developing a key strategic relationship with the NZAFL in identifying and nurturing young talent in New Zealand to possibly rookie list.

John James made his senior debut for the Zillmere Eagles in the AFL Queensland last weekend, after recently completing a great tournament in the AFL Queensland U18 State Championships. Not only did his team have a win, but he kicked 2 goals and was named in the best players. Not bad for a 17 year old from Papua New Guinea. For more information view this article and this article.

WorldFootyNews.com and USFootyNews.com are teaming up to present the 2008 USFooty Top 10 Poll. To kick things off we are having a Top 10 Countdown for the Preseason Top 10. Who are the best teams in USFooty?

The New York Magpies are Number 4 in the WFN/USFN Top 10 Poll. New York had a solid season in 2007, finishing 6-2 and Number 4 in the World Footy News Top 10 Poll. Their only two losses came against the Baltimore Washington Eagles and the San Diego Lions.

Catalan footy pioneer Pere Moliner recently mentioned to WFN that he is president of a new "World Australian Football Federation" and that the WAFF is planning a 9-a-side World Cup for later this year. While no location or date has been announced officially, Paris in September-October has been mentioned.

Moliner tells us that in addition to Catalonia, Andorra and France, he has players in the LFAC (the Catalan league) interested in representing Senegal, Brazil and Argentina, who are currently searching for fellow countrymen to put together their teams.

In related news, the Catalans are now in discussions with the AFL about attending the International Cup in Melbourne this year, separate to the possible return of the Madrid-based Spain Bulls. This would be the first time a non-sovereign nation would take part at the IC, but would bring an extra traditional rivalry to the Cup, along with USA-Canada, Tonga-Samoa or PNG-NZ.

The LFAC is back at 4 teams this year, with the Picamuixons Birds replacing the Andorrans who were forced to withdraw from the league due to logistical reasons. Picamuixons is a town not far from Catalonia's footy capital Valls, with three teams now in the Alt Camp region.

October 2008 will see the Canberra Marists College tour NZ and play 3 games against the NZ Under 18s. With the Barassi Youth Tournament postponed until next year it has enabled the Club to gather their resources and travel to NZ instead. The Canberra and NZ association has been fostered for some time now with previous tours in both directions and with NZ Juniors being hosted at Quenbeyan, one of the Canberra league’s top Clubs at different times.

Read on for more on the NZAFL website.

The Australian's Chip Le Grand interviewed Colin Carter as he came to the end of his long stint on the AFL Commission. Carter was one of the key people behind the scenes who directed the evolution of the debt-ridden Victorian Football League through to the vibrant Australian Football League, he pushed for the continued expansion into new areas of Australia, and remains a strong advocate for investment in South Africa. The interview can be found here, but is reproduced below given that it is a rare insight into some of the driving forces behind the sport's radical changes over the past couple of decades.

WorldFootyNews.com and USFootyNews.com are teaming up to present the 2008 USFooty Top 10 Poll. To kick things off we are having a Top 10 Countdown for the Preseason Top 10. Who are the best teams in USFooty?

Golden Gate Roos are Number 5 in the WFN/USFN Top 10 Poll. The Golden Gate Roos finished 2007 5th in the World Footy News Top 10 Poll with a 2-3 record.

After a very successful tournament last year, the Dubai Dingoes along with Specialist Mortgage and Australasian Taxation Services (SMATS Group) will today host the 2008 SMATS Dubai 9s competition. Ten teams will take part, with the Dingoes and the Heat (reigning champion) each splitting into two sides for the event. Last year's surprise-packet the Doha Kangaroos will be back, along with the Airmile Hawks and GAA sides Clann na hOman (as the Muscat Magpies) and the Dubai Celts. The Falcons, who are a new club from Abu Dhabi will make their debut (WFN will reveal more details about the club later in the week). The tournament will be held at the Sharjah Wanderer's Sports Club.

Read on for the match schedule.