World Footy News

Yesterday in the AFL Cairns competition, the Cairns City Lions defeated the Cairns Saints by 11 points. It was their first flag for a little less that 13,000 days (for those who like to count such things), but there was something far more significant about this win. This time we only need to go back a bit over four years to complete a remarkable footy story.

(Image: AFL Cairns)

I was lucky enough (in a sense) to be on the field back in late 2017 wearing a Cairns City Lions jumper as they went down horribly by 290 points to the South Cairns Cutters. That day I played mainly forward or bench. Either way I was in a great position to watch a massacre that many would see as the nadir for the Lions. It was the day that a crossroad became real. The club had people like myself and some other Pyramid Power lads fill in to ensure they fielded a team. They had no reserve grade. With less than 20 players on their list, a terrible season on the scoreboard and potentially some sponsorship fallout, the future, that day, was grim.

History Made In Hungary-First Aussie Rules Match Played In Hungary

History was made on 28th August 2021 when the Budapest Bats AFL club hosted the Sesvete Double Blues from Croatia in the city of Esztergom, Hungary. 

Read the following AFL Europe Article.

Reporter for AFL Hungary, Zoltan Marosy.

Two weeks on from their debut at the AFL Europe Festival of Football, the Budapest Bats and AFL Hungary have made history yet again.

On the 28th of August, AFL Hungary and the Bats hosted their first-ever game of Australian Football.

Held in the beautiful city of Esztergom, the match between the Hungarian and Croatian sides was watched on by curious locals, who had never seen a sport quite like this before.

The picturesque venue was situated under the imposing Esztergom Cathedral and next to the River Danube, which is also the Slovakian border.

The Bats showed as much grit and determination as you could ask for from a team playing only its second game.

Midfield bulls, Károly and Gergő Petrányi, often took the opposition by surprise with their fierce tackling and courageous marking, while experienced on-baller, Tom Wayman, collected plenty of possessions and kicked the only goal on the day for the Bats.

A tough day for the Hungarian defence, led by skipper Zoltan Marosy, with star backman, Mark Ryan, out missing through injury.

It was a weekend to remember for the Sesvete Double Blues, as they took home the perpetual trophy for the first time.

Star ruckman, Josip Karadža, dominated most of the stoppages, while half-forward, Tomislav Cvetko, left the Hungarian defenders helpless with his low and hard passes. Forward duo, Robert Jeličić and Ronan Moran (playing as a guest from Ireland) both had days out, kicking 15 goals between them.

Overall, it was a successful day for the sport in Hungary and we look forward to many more matches to come for the Bats.

Final Score: Budapest Bats 1.4. (10) defeated by Sesvete Double Blues 23. 20. (158).

I wonder what Les Murray (SBS commentator & Soccer promoter) would have thought about this match being played in the country of his birth? The term 'rolled over in his grave' comes to mind.

 

Whilst the term "drought breaker" has a far more serious meaning across the world in these times of global warming, the 21st has been a drought-breaker so far for a large number of AFL clubs. A brief look unearths:

• In 2001 Lions win first flag for 57 years

• in 2004 Power wins first ever (in AFL)

• in 2005 Swans win first flag for 72 years

• in 2007 Cats win first flag for 44 years

• in 2016 Dogs win first flag for 62 years

• in 2017 Tigers win first flag for 37 years

• in 2021 Demons win first flag for 57 years ??

 

Round 6 of the AFL PNG competiton was completed last weekend with Concept Koboni defeating the Alavana Swans by 12 goals on Saturday and the Lamana Dockers held onto second place on the ladder when they defeated the Gereka Bombers on Sunday by 65 points.

In the reserves Concept Koboni were also winners, while it was the Gereka Bombers who took the four points aginst the Lamana Dockers..

In the Women's Divsion, on the Saturday West Eagles were eight point winners over the 13 PLUS Marlins, and the Alavana Swans forfeited to Concept Koboni.  On Sunday Lamana Dockers were 62 point winners over the scoreless Gereka Bombers.  The three winners from the weekend are tied on 12-points in the first three places on the ladder.

 

In another Covid-19 dominated year that has played havoc with footy competitions around the world, it was pleasing that the AFL Nauru season was completed with the finals of all three grades completed last weekend. 

Image Left: AFL Nauru Facebook

The Lions won the A-Grade Division of the Digicel Cup defeating the Tigers by 53 points at Linkbelt Oval.   Tiiana Waidabu, veteran of Nauru footy and national representative with the Nauru Chiefs at the 2008, 2011, 2014 and 2017 International Cups, was best on ground in the Grand Final. 

Panzer were B-Grade Premiers and Tigers took out the C Grade.

AFL Nauru is now calling for players to register for this year's AFL Nauru Women's Digicel Cup competiton which will begin on September 25th.  

Toby Greene just has to go down for six weeks (at the very least) after his deliberate bump on umpire Matt Stevic in last weekend’s Elimination Final between the Greater Western Sydney Giants and the Sydney Swans in Launceston. There is no doubt that Greene is a terrific footballer in terms of physical skills and a game play footballing brain. But in terms of his thought processes outside of that, such as his irrational reactions, he is in danger of derailing his career.

However, in that respect he is no different really to a legion of players across the years such as Carl Ditterich, Phil Carmen, Robert Muir, “Mopsy” Fraser, Bob Chitty, David Rhys-Jones and others. Across the past century, these names are described as amongst the “toughest” yet often the most undisciplined players the game has seen. It’s fine to walk the edge of “tough” and “rough”, but constantly crossing the line harms the game.

Funny thing is, regardless of what has happened to those players over the years, there is another audience present, watching on with great interest as their role models or club heroes slug it out, so to speak.

For the greater good, kids and the game’s future, Toby Greene just has to go down with the severest penalty possible.

The AFL has today announced that Optus Stadium in Perth will host the 2021 Toyota AFL Grand Final.  However the start time is yet to be determined.  While he timeslot is likely to be determined by the biggest audience in the eastern Australian states,  many around the world eagerly await that timeslot to see when the match will start for them.

Grand Finals parties are an important part of the calendar for footy clubs around the world who use the event to fund raise and to build their footy community far from the home of the Australian game.  At any rate there are few places outside of Asia/Pacific that the time is hospitable, but the sooner clubs know the sooner they can promote the event, book venues and sell tickets.       
 
The announcement comes after the Victorian Government agreed to the Grand Final being relocated from the MCG for the second year running due to the ongoing effects of the pandemic.

When Port Adelaide defender, Aliir Aliir, was named as Centre Half Back in the 2021 All-Australian team last week, it signalled a new dawn in footy. Not only had the brilliant defender arrived as an immense talent – and possibly a lynch-pin for a sustained era of success at Port Adelaide – he also became the player who once and for all sent a message to all aspiring African-heritage kids that they can follow him to succeed: whether they be from Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe or any other African nation.

The seeds were sown when in 2014 North Melbourne took a risk on Majak Daw (even though Aliir was drafted the previous year). With a physique that left one in fear, but without the tank to match sometimes, Majak was a pioneer for players of African descent – most especially the generation of kids who had families flee from war-torn nations like Sudan and resettled in a strange new environment with an equally strange national game.

(Picture Credit: AFL Queensland)

Collingwood defender Anton Tohill has made the decision to part ways with Collingwood to resume his medical degree.

Tohill put his medical studies on hold to see out three campaigns in the black and white. Unable to defer his studies any further the 21-year-old will return to Ireland.

After postponing the originally scheduled IC20 tournament to 2021 and then later indicating the tournament would be likely held in 2022 or 2023, the AFL has now confirmed they have set their sites on hosting the tournament in 2023.

While giving no further details as to whether the event would still be hosted on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, it at least provides some certainty to players and organisations as to the likely timeline, and indeed that the AFL still intends to continue to hold the tournament. 

AFL Executive General Manager Game Development Andrew Dillon, said it was important to provide certainty for International participants and stakeholders

"Given the challenges around the reopening of borders and need for international teams and organizers to proceed with planning the International Cup, we have made a decision that 2023 is the ideal year in which to host the next event."

It was certainly a bittersweet day at the Gold Coast Suns today. Trounced by 87 points by a rampant Sydney Swans, the club had no choice but to wear the defeat and then put 2021 behind them – reset for 2022.

Part of that reset was a changing of the guard as old made way for new. On the same day as youngsters in Joel Jeffrey, Jeremy Sharp and Jy Farrar strutted their stuff in their first seasons, Zac Smith said farewell.

But of major importance for north Queenslanders, it was the day that Jarrod Harbrow retired after 262 games for the Suns and the Western Bulldogs. The former Cairns junior – playing for both the Manunda Hawks and South Cairns Cutters – went on to have an illustrious career as a hard-running, courageous defender from 2007 to 2021; 15 seasons at the highest level. Along the way he was a Suns’ club champion and holds club records for most possessions and most wins.

Picture Credit: afl.com

The AFL Commission today announced all 18 clubs will field a NAB AFL Women’s team from the 2022-2023 season onwards, with the final four AFL clubs Essendon, Hawthorn, Port Adelaide and the Sydney Swans all granted a license to enter the Competition in Season Seven.
 
The four clubs provided submissions on their readiness to enter the national competition, including detailing their resourcing, team build strategy, corporate support, and investment into their AFLW program, fan base growth and facilities.