Wanderers defeated Waratah Saturday night at TIO Stadium in Darwin to book a place in the 2013/14 grand-final against the raging hot favourites, St Mary’s.

The grand-final that was most likely for most of the season came about through a solid if unspectacular win to the Wanderers in the preliminary final, downing the ‘Tahs by 42 points with a score of 11 11 77 to 4 11 35.

For Wanderers it means the chance to challenge for their “lucky” thirteenth premiership since their formation in 1917. This is almost in contrast to the St Mary’s behemoth which will be aiming for back to back flags and their thirtieth flag since their inception in 1952, which would give then an almost phenomenal rate of close to one flag every two years over their 62 year history.

The GIANTS will once again celebrate cultural diversity in Western Sydney with the Many Cultures match to mark AFL Multicultural Round against Geelong at Spotless Stadium on July 19.

Auburn is the latest club from around Australia and overseas to become affiliated with the GIANTS. Recently the Dartmoor Swans became the Dartmoor GIANTS and last year Concord became the first junior club in Western Sydney to adopt the GIANTS name and colours.

AFL NSW/ACT General Manager Craig Bolton said: “The Auburn GIANTS represent what the AFL is building. An inclusive code that welcomes people from all backgrounds.

The Edmund Rice Lions are holding a Registration Carnival this Sunday, 9 March at Barry Britton Reserve in Balga (Western Australia).

They are inviting all families, footy lovers and kids down for an afternoon of fun activities and a chance for those who would love to play with the Edmund Rice Lions Football team this year to sign up.

The Edmund Rice Lions are an Australian Football Team of individuals aged 6 – 23 from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CaLD) backgrounds.

“This free carnival welcomes all members of the public to increase awareness around opportunities for children coming from low socio-economic areas and CaLD backgrounds,” says Natasha Hanham from the Department of Sport and Recreation (DSR).

No practice game is ever a waste, and the critics who see the NAB Challenge as a series of glorified practice games are probably right, though missing the point. Three points, actually.

Firstly, players got to show their wares as they jostle for starting positions in senior AFL line-ups for Round One in just two weeks’ time. They also gained valuable match fitness and awareness prior to the real show beginning.

Secondly, the fans who had patiently or impatiently waited since last September to watch their beloved game waited no more. It might not have been the start of the real deal, but a game with your own club to support is cherished by fans of all clubs. Practice match or not it is a wonderful experience for the footy tragic when they see or hear their team in actions again after such a long and seemingly endless wait. 

Alice Springs’ own TIO Traeger Park shone today, as did the blazing Centralian sky, as Geelong locked horns with Melbourne in the second last “18 Games in 18 Days” NAB Challenge.

With a touch of history thrown in, this was the first match played in Australia’s heart involving two Melbourne based clubs, with both being the founding clubs of the competition in Australia, coming into existence in 1859 as the oldest of the current AFL clubs.

With temperatures in the low 30’s, a crowd of a little less than 5500 fans turned up at to watch the Northern Territory’s first AFL match of 2014. The Alice Springs crowd was the biggest for an NAB Cup/Challenge match at the venue since 2008.

Essendon District FL team Northern Saints FC are proud to announce they are fielding a Youth Girls team for the 2014 season. To get local girls involved in the club and the game has been a longstanding aim of the Saints, a club renowned for their investment in juniors footy and their inviting, family atmosphere.

The club, based at Mutton Reserve in Fawkner, Melbourne, is currently recruiting girls aged 13-17 to join up. From experienced players to total beginners, everyone is welcome to come along and enjoy a great, fun sport in a safe and friendly family orientated club.

Along with players, the Saints are also looking to recruit an experienced coach who is comfortable with the idea of coaching seasoned players and girls who are new to the game. Some players may not be as skilled and others may need to learn the rules and skills of the game, but the ideal coach would be a supportive leader with the drive and enthusiasm to make playing Aussie Rules footy a fun and inclusive time. A passion for the game and fitness is a must, and leadership and organisational skills are paramount.

The club will provide all the resources necessary to make a positive impact into the world of Youth Girls footy and is prepared to contribute towards coaching costs if the candidate can show how this will benefit the girls and the club.

If you are interested in becoming a coach or a player, please get in touch with Geoff Kosmak on 0420 672 327. Visit their website at northernsaints.org.au for further information on the club and their hopes for the 2014 season.

Townsville hosted its second NAB Challenge/Cup game in two years today, with the Brisbane Lions and Gold Coast Suns locking horns in the first Queensland derby for 2014. This follows on from their successful foray into the AFL’s pre-season competition in 2013 when the Gold Coast Suns played the North Melbourne Kangaroos.
 
It was Townsville’s turn to host one of the AFL’s “18 games in 18 days” NAB Challenge matches, with Tony Ireland Stadium, the Australian Rules showpiece in the tropical North Queensland city, on display again to a national audience. In 32 degree heat, and a relatively enjoyable 67 percent humidity, it was the Lions who escaped to a 33 point lead before the Suns could even register a score. Something of a surprise given Brisbane’s horrid thrashing from Hawthorn to start this carnival in the first game, and the Gold Coast pipped Essendon by a point after a five goal comeback.

Last year World Footy News posted an article concerning the history and future of the Wadeye Magic football team in the Northern Territory (see The True Magic of Wadeye). The following press release from AFLNT looks at the Magic’s inaugural season in the Tiwi Islands Football League and their success in reaching the 2013/4 season finals.

Wadeye Magic book place in T.I.F.L finals series in inaugural season as final round shaped finals fixture

In their inaugural season, the Wadeye Magic have booked their place in the Tiwi Islands Football League Finals Series after a gripping win in the final round against the Tuyu Buffaloes.

A dramatic final round of T.I.F.L action reshaped the top five with Imalu taking top spot, overtaking Mulluwirriri and Tuyu.  The Magic leapt Ranku to take fourth as the 2014 T.I.F.L final series gets underway this weekend with Muluwurri playing Tuyu on Sat 22nd and Wadeye Magic taking on Ranku on Sun 23rd.