The NAB Challenge for 2015 has been in swing for a few days now. First cab off the rank was Collingwood defeating Hawthorn at Aurora Stadium in Launceston, Tasmania. Friday night saw the West Coast Eagles dispose of Carlton at Mandurah, south of Perth. The Saturday games saw the Brisbane Lions just hold on against St Kilda at Burpengary, a northern suburb of Brisbane whilst at the old Whitten Oval in Footscray the modern day Western Bulldogs comfortably accounted for Richmond.

But today was the second biggest AFL day in North Queensland when Townsville hosted their own NAB Challenge match at Tony Ireland Stadium. In a fixture that has now been in place for three years, the largest city north of Brisbane once again came alive to the sounds of sirens, cheering, trampled hot chips and umpire whistles.

In front of a crowd well over 4000 people, and on a hot day with 32 degrees and light winds, it was an undermanned Gold Coast Suns that got the biscuits, downing the Geelong Cats by 8 points in the end. Two late goals from Cat recruit, Mitch Clark, just made the score more respectable, but it was the Suns’ day.

For Sam Michael, a former Cairns junior, the current misfortune at Essendon in the wake of the suspension of players under ASADA investigation for the NAB Challenge might be a lifeline. The situation has offered Sam a chance to be a “top-up player” for the Bombers, and if he makes the most of the chance, Sam might find his way back onto an AFL list.

Sam recently told http://www.afl.com.au that “I've still got aspirations of playing at the highest level so it's the perfect opportunity for me and [I'm] grateful that Essendon came to me and offered it.” He went on to add that if his services were needed beyond the NAB Challenge he would be happy to play for the Bombers.

In recent years the Far North Queensland city has had its own small production line of AFL players. Back in the late 1970’s future Essendon premiership star Leon Baker played in Cairns, though not a born and raised northerner at the time. Former Brisbane Lion, Troy Clarke, who sadly passed away in 2013, was another who played in Cairns. Both won Crathern Medals, the local equivalent of the Brownlow.

(Picture: Sam Michael in his Brisbane Lions days - now Essendon bound, briefly)

Footy is back. Well in the pre-season NAB Challenge format at least. The NAB Challenge will be officially launched today and will see the first match played on Thursday night (Melbourne time) at Aurora Stadium in Launceston where powerhouse Collingwood will take on reigning AFL Premiers Hawthorn.

We bring you the international broadcast schedule (below). Notably missing is NZ coverage. Free to air digital channel Sommet Sports http://sommetsports.co.nz/ that provided possibly the best free to air coverage of AFL football in the world in 2014 has collapsed financially. It seems that funds promised to the network did not come through and they have ceased broadcasting late in 2014. At the moment they are following some expressions of interest to revive their service, but at this stage that would likely be a streaming service if they are to return at all (and no guarantee they will have AFL rights).  It looks at this stage that there will be one match per week broadcast on Sky as in previous seasons for NZ unless further deals can be done.

At a time where the full impact of the ASADA investigation into the “Essendon 34” for alleged use of banned peptides is yet to reach a conclusion, news from the neighbouring world of Rugby League regarding the supply and trafficking of Cocaine to other players and members of the public has further hammered the image of the game.

Front and centre in this latest Rugby League furore is former Gold Coast Suns AFL footballer, Karmichael Hunt. Along with lesser known Gold Coast Titans players, and separate investigations into past great players, a new cloud has fallen over professional Australian team football codes, which is sure to have further implications as the net of investigation gets cast wider.

Most disturbing for Australian Rules football are the charges laid against former AFL footballer, Hunt, whose legacy as a code-hopper made a wonderful story of possibility for future generations. With the formation of the Gold Coast Suns, Hunt signed on with the fledgling club in 2009 for a seven figure sum to become a poster boy for the new entity. After becoming a start Rugby League player for the Brisbane Broncos, playing State Of Origin football for Queensland and being selected to play for the Australian Kangaroos, Hunt sought a different direction.

(Picture: Karmichael Hunt's match winning goal after the siren against Richmond in Cairns, 2012)

Our thoughts are with the communities of the Northern Territory, particularly those on the northern coast and islands adjacent to Arnhem Land. The dangerous tropical storm is expected to hit those remote communities overnight.

Amongst those communities to be affected are Maningrida, Gapuwiyak and Nhulunbuy on the mainland coast and also Galiwinku on Elcho Island. Groote Eylandt in the Gulf of Carpentaria is also in the warning zone. All communities are lovers of Australian Rules football with very strong following of the game across the entire region.

In recent times Kevin Sheedy has visited Galiwinku and other remote communities as have players from many AFL teams to help grow and promote the game further. A major footy carnival is held within the region once a year which brings most of these settlements together.

(Left: Footy on the beach - Courtesy Maningrida Footy)

The final round of the NTFL home and away season today decide the 2014/15 finalists, but also left question marks hanging over the longevity of some of those teams contesting.

After the Round 18 matches completed today, St Mary’s found themselves four and a half games clear on top of the ladder – miles ahead of their nearest rivals, Southern District. Their emphatic 107 point win over fellow finals aspirants, Tiwi Bombers, further confirmed their premiership status in their quest for a three peat effort. For the Tiwi Bombers, they will need to regroup very quickly before their elimination final next week against Wanderers.

St Marys 20 20 140 d Tiwi Bombers 5 3 33

Wanderers, last year’s grand finalists, defied the pundits after two consecutive losses to beat Palmerston and snare fifth place. They will now take on Tiwi in the Elimination Final with a momentum they had lost but is now reignited at the right time. For Palmerston, their campaign came to a crushing end after having stayed in the finals race until the final round.

Linda Dessau was yesterday named as Victoria's new Governor. For those outside Australia the Victorian Governor is the representative of Queen Elizabeth II (Australia's head of state) in the state of Victoria. The position is largely ceremonial with the day to day running of the state by the elected Premier and his/her government.

In footy circles Linda (pictured far left with fellow Commisioners at IC14 Women's Grand Final) is best known as one of the current AFL Commissioners. From an international footy perspective Linda has been a visible presence at IC11 and IC14 matches and official functions. Linda also contributed financially to the St Alban's Spurs playing tour to the US in 2014. The support of individuals on the AFL Commission no doubt shapes the resources and attention given to the game outside Australia, so it disappointing from that point of view to lose her.

AFL Commission Chairman Mike Fitzpatrick today said the appointment of Commissioner Linda Dessau as Governor-elect of Victoria recognises her outstanding contribution to the community in various roles, including her legal career, and was a great honour for the wider football community.

A battle royale looms in the Northern Territory Football League over the remaining two rounds of the 2014/15 season. With the “Call To Arms” round being played this weekend, Round 17, that just leaves this weekend and next for teams to jostle for positions for the finals.

Currently three teams – the Tiwi Bombers (4th), Palmerston Magpies (5th) and last year’s grand finalists Wanderers (6th) are each locked on 32 points. Only two of them can make the finals, and the cull starts today.

Perennial league leaders, St Mary’s, still hold top spot safely, three and a half games clear of any rival. Nightcliff and Southern Districts hold second and third spots, though both had a case of the wobbles last weekend. Nightcliff crashed badly, thrashed by Saints. Southern District made their job harder losing to bottom placed Waratah. They are probably safe though, a game clear of the pursuing three.

Reports came through last week that the Brisbane Lions’ vice-captain, Pearce Hanley, had injured himself and could miss up to 12 weeks. A visit to the surgeon, however, found that the hip cartilage damage was worse than originally thought and the star player would not return until about Round 14.

Hanley had been carrying the injury, but when it became too uncomfortable to bear it was decided to have a cartilage clean-up. This procedure unearthed additional damage that would require more comprehensive surgery than first thought.

The Brisbane Lions club and fans would be disappointed, especially as Hanley had been enjoying a “promising” pre-season in readiness for being a key part of the club’s 2015 assault on a hoped for finals berth.

 

Below is a press release from the AFLNT which details their own Cancer Council’s Call To Arms round this weekend to highlight the impacts of cancer on all Australians - in this case the people of the Northern Territory.

 

According to the Cancer Council’s own website, “in 2006, despite a decision by the Australian Football League (AFL) to the contrary, Essendon Football Club players wore yellow armbands, in the inaugural Clash For Cancer match against Melbourne Football Club, to support team-mate Adam Ramanauskas who was undergoing intensive treatment for yet another cancer diagnosis.

 

The AFL fined Essendon $20,000 for wearing the armbands, and later agreed that the fine could be donated to Cancer Council, Essendon's preferred charity.

 

In 2007, the AFL agreed to allow yellow armbands to be incorporated into the sleeve of the Essendon jumper for subsequent Clash For Cancer matches.