World Footy News

The North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos thrashed Carlton by 36 points in a beautiful day down in Hobart. It was North Melbourne’s historic first win in their inaugural AFLW match against Carlton at Hobart Oval. North Melbourne really showed the rest of the competition that they would be a tough team to beat in AFLW 3.0 with their hard running, attacking football and the way they support and gel together as a team. 

Image Source: AFL Women's 

Adelaide hosted the Western Bulldogs at Norwood Oval in front of 7,830 fans. It was a tight tussle from both teams who gave it their all in a high pressured and exciting contest. Adelaide’s woeful kicking towards goal cost them in the end in a narrow one-point loss to the reigning premiers the Western Bulldogs. It was a memorable win for the Western Bulldogs who had never registered a win against Adelaide.

Image Source: @Western Bulldogs AFLW

A grandstand finish for Geelong’s women’s team on a historic night for the club who pulled off a one point victory in front of their home crowd faithful. AFLW 3.0 opened at the home of newcomers Geelong Cats, GMHBA stadium who hosted Collingwood in front of 18,429 adoring Aussie Rules fans. 

Image Source: Geelong Advertiser

We are not publishing an international broadcast schedule for Round 1 of the AFLW season.  The AFL informs us that international deals are still being finalised so a schedule is not being released this week.  
 
Fox Sports USA and Australia Plus in Asia/Pacific will be broadcasting matches this week so please check local guides.  As always we recommend the AFANA website for all the most current and detailed information for the broadcast of AFL/AFLW in North America 

Fans can also get two weeks free on Watch AFL if they register before 28th March (full paid subscription will cover all the AFL and AFLW season).  AFLW matches will be available to stream through this service outside Australia.

It may be possible to also stream via the new http://womens.afl website or their app but whether this is available outside Australia is yet unknown.

Date: Sunday, 27 January 2019  Time: 8.50 am  Venue: Canadian Academy, Kobe, Japan

Osaka Dingoes’ first footy match in 2019 was played in freezing conditions - zero degree and occasionally snowing.

Due to numbers of available players for both sides, it was a seven-player game. Two forwards, two midfielders, a ruckman and two defenders on the field.

The Lions demonstrated good ball passes, but the Dingoes tackled and pushed hard. The guest Dingo, Ryan Archer, who is an exchange university student, found open space and ran into the goal square. He scored the first goal of the game.

 By Lisa 'Kiwi' Roper

On the eve of the new AFLW season, we have quite an Irish flavor across the competition this season. We know all about 11 time All-Ireland start Cora Staunton who will be back in the GWS Giants colors, and this year we will also get to marvel at the magic from Mayo in Sarah Rowe.

A former junior soccer star, and later Mayo Gaelic player, she came across towards during our winter footy season and was almost shopped around to various clubs, to find a fit and find a club that may appreciate the talent she had to offer. Collingwood Magpies has become her home away from home.

It's exciting knowing that this time tomorrow AFLW 3.0 will be back and it sure is great to have football back for 2019!

If the first two seasons of the AFLW are anything to go by as far as the growth of women’s sport and crowd attendances, then AFLW 3.0 will be biggest and best season yet with the inclusion of two new AFLW teams and the new conference format. The Lions will be out to prove themselves after being the team to beat in the first two seasons, as they made the grand final for two consecutive years but did not come away with the premiership, so will AFLW 3.0 be the season they finally finish the season on a high as AFLW premiers.

Image Source: AFL Women's 

The Western Bulldogs will be the hunted this season after an incredible grand final upset win over the Lions, but the question is can the Dogs win back to back or will another team make history and win their first AFLW premiershipω In AFLW 3.0 the inclusion of North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos and the Geelong Cats is massive. There is a lot of speculation that North Melbourne will provide headaches for the rest of the competition due to the amount of stars they have picked up from other clubs in the AFLW expansion including former Western Bulldogs captain and premiership player Emma Kearney and classy Lions trio Kaitlyn Ashmore, Brittany Gibson and Tahlia Randall. 

Since the inaugural AFLW season, Emma Zielke has been a household name at the Brisbane Lions with her leadership and star talent.

Zielke captained the Lions in the first two seasons after she was signed as a priority access player in August 2016 before the inaugural AFLW season in 2017. “It was one of the best memories so far, I was extremely grateful and excited for the opportunity.”

 Zielke handed over the captaincy to Leah Kaslar for AFLW 3.0.

 “Leah is a great leader, being the Vice Captain the past two seasons I have leant on her in both seasons,” Zielke said. “I know she will be great, she gives it her all every time she steps out on the track and is fearless. I look forward to running out behind her this season!”

Image Source: Jason O'Brien/Getty Images AsiaPac

In recent years, the Fitzpatrick Cup has been owned by Cork’s UCC Bombers. Not only have they had some home ground advantage, they have simply been the best team – men’s and women’s. This year, travelling to Oxford, will challenge their domination, but according to this report from www.afleurope.org the Bombers and Crusaders are up for that challenge.

From AFL Europe: UCC aiming to win Fitzpatrick Cup again.

Looking to win the Fitzpatrick Cup again, UCC knows they will be facing tough competition with this year’s edition of the tournament being played on English soil.

The UCC men’s side is looking to record a three-peat, while the women’s side, the UCC Crusaders, are looking to win their fourth Fitzpatrick Cup in a row.

Image Source: AFL Women's 

The AFLW is finally back for it's third season and it promises to be the best season of the AFLW yet with two new teams North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos and Geelong Cats making history and joining the competition. First match of the season will commence this Saturday at the cattery and this match will be a history breaking match for the Geelong Cats, a team playing their first ever AFLW match. 

Round 1 extended team lists have been released below

Geelong Cats vs Collingwood, Saturday 2nd February 6:45pm at GMBHA Stadium

Geelong Squad 

Position	Name	#	Name	#	Name	#
Backs	A.Teague	40	R.Goring - C	44	C.Blakeway	4
Half Backs	D.Taylor	28	M.McDonald	11	R.Webster	21
Centreline			R.Garing	12
Half Forwards	S.Van De Heuvel	27	M.Boyd	26	N.Morrison	9
Forwards	K.Darby	8	P.McWilliams	23	J.Ivey	5
Followers	A.O'Connor	14	J.Crockett-Grills	6	O.Purcell	16
Interchange	D.Orr	2	M.Keryk	45	M.McMahon	24
	M.Fogas	13	M.Clifford	7
Emergencies	G.Rankin	10	R.Caris	1
	EMG4	EMG4_NO

In: - A.Teague, R.Goring, C.Blakeway, D.Taylor, M.McDonald, R.Webster, R.Garing, S.Van De Heuvel, M.Boyd, N.Morrison, K.Darby, P.McWilliams, J.Ivey, A.O'Connor, J.Crockett-Grills, O.Purcell, D.Orr, M.Keryk, M.McMahon, M.Fogas, M.Clifford

Out: - None

 Collingwood Squad

Position	Name	#	Name	#	Name	#
Backs	J.Allen	6	A.Brazill	10	I.Ross	21
Half Backs	S.Livingstone	12	S.Casey	22	E.Grant	5
Centreline			B.Bonnici	8
Half Forwards	L.Butler	23	S.D'Arcy	4	M.Cann	25
Forwards	S.Rowe	7	S.Alexander	24	C.McIntosh	20
Followers	S.Layton	1	S.Chiocci - C	17	J.Lambert	13
Interchange	R.Schleicher	18	G.Gourlay	32	S.Dargan	46
	K.Stratton	41	E.Fowler	15
Emergencies	H.Whitford	28	K.Lynch	16
	EMG4	EMG4_NO

 

 

In: - J.Allen, A.Brazill, I.Ross, S.Livingstone, S.Casey, E.Grant, B.Bonnici, L.Butler, S.D'Arcy, M.Cann, S.Rowe, S.Alexander, C.McIntosh, S.Layton, S.Chiocci, J.Lambert, R.Schleicher, G.Gourlay, S.Dargan, K.Stratton, E.Fowler

Out: - None

 

Adelaide Crows vs Western Bulldogs, Saturday 2nd February 7:40pm at Norwood Oval

Adelaide Crows Squad 

Position	Name	#	Name	#	Name	#
Backs	R.Forth	27	S.Allan	39	C.Cramey	22
Half Backs	A.Foley	3	C.Randall	26	S.Thompson	14
Centreline			E.Marinoff	10
Half Forwards	D.Varnhagen	9	A.Hatchard	33	C.Scheer	4
Forwards	E.Jones	2	M.Rajcic	32	J.Mules	23
Followers	J.Foley	24	E.Phillips - C	13	D.Cox	31
Interchange	M.Nankivell	12	H.Martin	6	J.McCormick	5
	A.Considine	16	S.Li	19
Emergencies	S.Riley	8	D.Ponter	15
	EMG4	EMG4_NO

In: - R.Forth, S.Allan, C.Cramey, A.Foley, C.Randall, S.Thompson, E.Marinoff, D.Varnhagen, A.Hatchard, C.Scheer, E.Jones, M.Rajcic, J.Mules, J.Foley, E.Phillips, D.Cox, M.Nankivell, H.Martin, J.McCormick, A.Considine, S.Li

Out: - None

Western Bulldogs Squad

Position	Name	#	Name	#	Name	#
Backs	L.Birch	18	L.Spark	11	B.Hunt	21
Half Backs	N.Callinan	10	T.Ernst	19	H.Scott	22
Centreline			B.Smith	12
Half Forwards	N.Ferres	16	K.Brennan - C	3	M.Conti	8
Forwards	K.McLeod	6	E.Mackie	25	A.Utri	23
Followers	K.Rennie	24	K.Lamb	27	E.Blackburn	2
Interchange	B.Toogood	28	C.Moody	13	E.Brown	9
	A.Gogos	36	D.Berry	7
Emergencies	A.McCarthy	15	S.Karlson	26
	EMG4	EMG4_NO

In: - L.Birch, L.Spark, B.Hunt, N.Callinan, T.Ernst, H.Scott, B.Smith, N.Ferres, K.Brennan, M.Conti, K.McLeod, E.Mackie, A.Utri, K.Rennie, K.Lamb, E.Blackburn, B.Toogood, C.Moody, E.Brown, A.Gogos, D.Berry

Out: - None

Angus Boyle from http://www.afleurope.org takes a look at the upcoming Fitzpatrick Cup to be held in Oxford. From humble beginnings, the Fitzpatrick Cup has grown in size, scope and importance and the 2019 edition is sure to be a huge affair to get the 2019 season in motion.

The first major AFL Europe tournament for 2019 will see five universities from Ireland and England battle it out on Saturday 2nd of February for the Fitzpatrick Cup. Premiers in the men’s divison back in 2015 and 2016, Birmingham University are looking to take both the men’s and women’s Cup back to the Midlands.

Both sides have been in impressive form recently, with the men still unbeaten and both teams on top of their respective National Universities League competions.

The men’s side currently have a big percentage, showing their attacking prowess and they are confident of maintaining that 100% win record.

Gaelic star Ailish Considine’s dream of playing in the AFLW has truly become a reality.

Considine signed with the Adelaide Crows as a rookie and as the club's first International women’s player at the end of 2018.

“It’s a pretty amazing feeling to be honest. Being able to be a part of history in such a great club is special,” Considine said.

“Still don’t have words to describe it. When I signed the contract I didn’t even read it I was so excited! It didn’t feel like real life! Probably one of the best days of my life so far, it’s a dream come true. I’m so grateful for the opportunity.”

Image Source: Adelaide Football Club