World Footy News

Melbourne daily newspaper The Age today reported that a development squad of 22 young Australian Aboriginal footballers would tour South Africa next month, under the leadership of indigenous AFL stars Adam Goodes and Michael Long. The squad will leave on February 19, spending two weeks visiting black communities in the North West Province and playing three matches.

New South African coach Mtutu Hlomela (pictured) was a strong player for the Buffaloes at the 2005 International Cup and afterwards stayed on to learn about AFL operations. He also toured other states, building up relationships in the Australian Football community. During Mtutu's stay the concept of an Aboriginal tour was worked out and it is tremendous news that it is occurring so quickly.

Ben Graham, punter for the New York Jets and former long-kicking defender for the AFL's Geelong Cats, has been confirmed as an attendee of the New York Magpies' Longest Kick competition, an annual Australia Day social event and fundraiser for the Aussie Rules community in the Big Apple.

The Aussie All comers team has defeated the US Revolution team by 37 points at the UCLA today on a playing surface roughly the same size as the SCG. The match was played in front of a sell out crowd, as the curtain raiser to the Sydney V Kangaroos exhibition match, which the Kangaroos won by 48 points. Australian celebrities joined the the capacity crowd including, Olivia Newtown-John, Layne Beachley and Hugh Jackman. Australian Federal Treasurer Peter Costello, and former politicians John Olsen and Tim Fischer were also present.

Match reports to follow as they come in. Photos of the Aussie All-comers side added courtesy of Mark McParland.

In the lead-up to this weekend's exhibition match between Sydney and the Kangaroos in LA, a training session was held for USAFL players with members of the AFL teams and dignitaries from the world of footy such as Ron Barassi - introduced to the American audience as being the "Vince Lombardi of Australian Football". Michael “Scuba” Russell reports for us from UCLA.

Alan Johnson is the Managing Director of the Ramada Inn in West Hollywood. He has strong links with the Australian Expat community in L.A. and with the North Melbourne Kangaroos as the ex-Chairman of the North Melbourne Football Club. His drive to make an AFL exhibition game happen as part of the Australia Week 2006 festivities will see Hollywood play host to AFL and USAFL football followed by a week long salute to Australia's other fine exports including the arts, food and wine, fashion. The local support is stong and it appears that the match will be a sell out. Here we preview the event and talk to first-time US coach Tom Ellis.

Disclaimer: The opinions in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the USAFL, its board, its member clubs or WFN.

While it is all well and good to say that developing footy internationally is important or to say the U.S. is an important market for talent and supporters, developing footy in the U.S. takes money. How much money? Does the AFL need to bear the burden of the funding? Is USFooty self-sustaining?

The GAA community in Ireland, a far from small slice of the Irish population, continues to be abuzz with debate about the International Rules Series, months after the losses to Australia in Perth and Melbourne. A high level meeting between the GAA and the AFL is scheduled for January. This article highlights some of the issues, plus Gaelic football's own embryonic international expansion.

AFL General Manager of Marketing and Communications, Dr. Colin McLeod, has issued the following press release on the TV rights.

The biggest story in AFL circles in recent weeks has been which television networks will secure the broadcast rights to the Australian Football League for the next 5 years. The total size of the bids have been big increases on the previous record deal, which should see a major increase in money flowing into the game. There have already been calls for increases to clubs, grass-roots footy, player wages and of course international footy development organisations will be putting up their hands.

In breaking news Channel 10 has announced that the Channel 7 and 10 groups have increased their offer to the AFL for the TV rights, matching the massive AU$780 million over 5 years of the Channel 9 bid.

There have been numerous mainstream Australian media reports that have some bearing on international Aussie Rules in the last week or so. Here we draw our readers' attention to a few of those stories.

With another year gone WFN looks back at some of the big events and interesting stories for 2005. By no means an exhaustive list, we nevertheless review where the international game went and ponder emerging trends. Obviously the key story of the year was the build up towards and then playing of the second International Cup. It was also a year when funding to South Africa was significantly increased, several new countries put their toe in the water of footy, and hopes for others faded. International interest from AFL clubs was unprecedented and there were many new signs of promise. As always there were a few setbacks but overall the game appeared to march forward with increasing speed. With so much happening in 2005 a succinct summary has proved impossible, but if you're feeling fresh then read on for WFN's end of year wrap.