World Footy News

Dunedin, the capital of the Otago Province in the South Island of New Zealand has seen a lot. Maori settlement was followed by the arrival of the Scots, who saw the hills which reminded themselves so much of home that they named their new town the "Edinburgh of the South" through to the goldrush years during the 1800's that brought many prospecting Aussies to their goldfields. Australian rules is now being reborn here, hoping to capitalise on a large student population from all over NZ, including former juniors from leagues further north.

Following from their match against Melbourne-Vietnam the previous weekend, the All-Japan Samurai continued their 2007 Australian tour this weekend with a match against top Melbourne amateur side St Bernard's Old Collegians. The Samurai stayed close to the Bernards all day, thrilling the local crowd with their intensity before going down 14.8.92 to 11.10.76.

Saturday 25th August saw the Austria Kangaroos, Czech Lions and Croatian Knights descend on Prague for the second leg of 2007's Central Europe Tri-nations. The battle-hardened Croatian squad, featuring a few Croatian-Australians with experience kicking the footy down under, again proved too strong for the Czech and Austrian sides, although the Austrians were notably improved and broke through for their maiden tri-series win over the Czechs.

Aussie Rules competitions all around the world, including in Australia, often struggle to find enough umpires. Perhaps we haven't been looking in the right places. In another example of innovation in growing Australian Football, AFL South Africa (North West Province) is commencing a program of delivering training in the coaching, umpiring and playing of footy into four correctional centres - Klerksdorp, Christiana, Wolmaranstad and Potchefstroom. No one doubts that the country faces many large challenges as its economy and people continue to overcome the legacy of apatheid and the weight of HIV/AIDS. But it does so with a strong sense of energy and reconciliation, and clearly this extends to its correctional system which has a policy of rehabilitating inmates.

Melbourne-Vietnam tonight defeated Japan in what is becoming an annual match between the two sides. Around 50 people braved very cold conditions in Melbourne to see the home side run out 13-7-85 to 6-9-45 victors, at Elgar Park in Box Hill.

The Vietnamese squad, comprised mostly of Elgar Park Dragons players performed strongly, but were frequently tested by a Samurais outfit keen to avenge last year’s 103 point drubbing. Recognition should be given to the Japanese players, their coaching and support staff and Troy Beard on the side’s continually improving performances.

A full report on the Samurais tour will follow in the next few weeks.

The Baltimore Washington Eagles (4) took their hard running game to New York and defeated the Magpies (3) 11.11 (77) to 4.8 (32). The win puts the Eagles in the box seat for the Eastern Australian Football League title and a high seed in the USFooty National Championship Tournament. The Eagles finish their regular season next week against the Philadelphia Hawks and New York host their arch rivals the Boston Demons (8).

Check out You Tube for video highlights.

The AFL Papua New Guinea, who oversee PNG’s junior programmes, and the AFLPNG Rules Council, who oversee the senior competitions, have announced their representative weekends for September. From these competitions the national squads will be formed to take part in the Queensland State Championships 2008 at junior level and for the International Cup 2008 at senior level.

We're pleased to announce the winners of our Footy Darts packages (see Footy Darts - chance to win for your club). An Ultimate Footy Pack will soon be on the way to the Denver Bulldogs in Colorado, USA and the North Delta Junior AFL in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, courtesy of Dale Wilson from Sports Darts. Read on to hear more about their entries.

As young Gaelic stars continue to be drawn into the front end of the AFL system, aging veterans are moving out the other end and on to the NFL retirement plan circuit as punters. Sav Rocca today confirmed that he had been successful in making the final 53-man roster for the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles. This sets the stage for Rocca’s arrival in the first NFL game of the year to be heralded in the media across the U.S as the oldest rookie ever to take the field.

In the second part of our preview of the 2007 EU Cup and emerging nations of European Aussie Rules, we spoke to Germany's Malte Schudlich and Austria's Ben Chick. The 5 teams of the AFLG and the Vienna Kangaroos in the capital of Austria give a total six teams in the German-speaking areas of Europe, with at least one more on the cards for 2008.

Update - The report now also has an interview with England Dragonslayers' coach Rob Fielder.