Last Saturday, Austria came alive to the sounds of footy with the 2018 Austrian Challenge at Rugby Donau Park in Vienna. The Vienna Galahs hosted the Styrian DownUnderdogs. The following report from Austria, provided by the DownUnderdogs, looks at the game.

Last Saturday saw the first game between two clubs from Austria since 2013. The Vienna Galahs, a phoenix club from the old Vienna Kangaroos, invited the Dogs from Graz to fight for the 2018 Austrian Challenge trophy. On a early sunny afternoon, the two teams had a warm-up session together and kicked off almost on time.

After an absence from the Euro Cup for a couple of years by the Valkyries and Vikings, both teams are  mounting a two pronged assault upon Cork.

Maybe even hoping to instill a little "dread" into the Irish and other cup contestants as in history as did those dragon headed ships when they appeared on the horizon.

The women’s side will once again be led by Odense Lionesses veteran and superstar Maria Falkesgaard.
 

The Russian domestic season has been completed with the two St. Petersburg teams – the Cats and Tigers – doing battle to decide the 2018 title. The following media release from the St. Petersburg Cats details the event.

On a cloudy September 23nd, St. Petersburg footy fans gathered onto SKA stadium to see the Grand Final of St. Petersburg 2018 Cup. There were two opponents – the St. Petersburg Cats and Northern Tigers – and both had won 2 games during 2018 season, so a deciding battle had to be played.

During the first quarter, Cats started only with 8 players on the pitch due to the late arrival one of their teammates. However, even with this handicap, the Tigers were struggling to stop their opponent’s offense, resulting in a 21-point lead to the Cats’ by the first break. After that, the white-and-blue team continued to develop their advantage, scoring one goal after another. Tigers tried to make their comeback in the last quarter, but it was too late for them. The final score was 91 to 32, with St. Petersburg Cats being declared the champions of 2018 Saint Petersburg Cup.

 Ryan Davidson from the www.afl.com.au website has reported on the eye-catching performances of a couple of potential Irish recruits after they impressed at last week’s NAB AFL Draft Combine. Held at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne (formerly Etihad Stadium), the Irish lads held their own and more up against the best of the prospective AFL draft prospects for 2018.

IRISH prospects Anton Tohill and Mark Keane believe they've shown enough to deserve a spot on an AFL list, and several clubs are interested in signing the promising duo. 

After impressing at the Dublin Combine last December and at the AFL Academy's camp in Florida in January, the youngsters earned an invitation to this week's NAB AFL Draft Combine, and they didn't disappoint.

In a pleasing development from yesterday's CrossCoders story, Adelaide has secured its first international women’s player with Irish recruit Ailish Considine signing on as a rookie for the 2019 season.

Considine is a talented Gaelic football player with Clare and Kilmihil, in the country’s mid-west region, and is also part of AFL Ireland Women’s West Clare Waves team.

The 26-year-old is also skilled at Camogie, the female version of the Irish sport of hurling.

 

Riley Beveridge from the www.afl.com.au website filed the following story looking at the success of Carlton’s Irish import, Ciaran Byrne. Usually stories about Irish footballers trace their journey from Ireland to the AFL. However, Byrne has reversed the trend, returning to Ireland to play in a local match.

CARLTON defender Ciaran Byrne has returned to Ireland and become a hero in his local county, starring in a surprise appearance for his boyhood Gaelic side over the weekend.

Byrne suited up alongside his older brother Declan for his home club St Mochta, helping it defeat Mattock Rangers to reach the Louth Village team's Intermediate Championship final.

The 23-year-old came on as a second-half substitute, making his first Gaelic appearance since joining Carlton as a Category B rookie from County Louth at the end of 2013.

The Solna Axemen have made amends for last season’s grand final defeat by taking out the 2018 SAFF (Stockholm Australian Football federation) premiership last weekend. In a great day for the club, the Axemen defeated the Norrtälje Dockers by 33 points in a comprehensive victory.

In a landmark day for the club, the pain of last year’s grand final defeat to the Södermalm Blues was erased. Whatever pledges were made in the darker hours of 2017, were kept by a team with a mission. The final score on the day saw the Solna Axemen 10 7 67 defeat the Norrtälje Dockers 5 4 34.

It was the seventh SAFF Premiership flag for the Solna Axemen since their inception in 2006, enhancing their status as the most successful SAFF club since competition started in 2004. It was also the first flag for the Solna team since 2014.

After last weekend’s DAFL Grand Final, the Copenhagen Giants are the toast of Denmark. They are truly the giants of Denmark after downing perennial Danish powerhouse, the Farum Cats to take their second DAFL Premiership.

On a wet and windy afternoon, the day actually favoured the Cats early. Using whatever climatic advantage available, the Cats kicked three first quarter goals to open up a handy 21-point lead. They kept the Giants goalless for the quarter, and would have felt very pleased with their efforts to set up a premiership.

However, that was as far as the Cat charge went. By half time, the Giants had trampled all over that lead, lifting their own intensity and capitalising on whatever conditions that would help to slam home five goals for the quarter and lead by five points. Not a premiership-winning lead, but a quarter that defined the determination of the Giants.

In a weekend of major finals and tournaments across Europe, the following article give a brief look at results from the Coupe De France (French Cup), the Grand Final of the Kenguru Cup in Norway and premierships decided in Sweden, Denmark and Finland.

FRANCE – The ALFA Lions have already started to atone for a disappointing 2017/18 season by taking this season’s Coupe De France. Hosted by the Bordeaux Bombers, the event kicks off the CNFA season. This year, the Lions and Paris Cockerels made their way through the preliminary round robin matches in their respective pools. In the end, the ALFA Lions defeated the Paris Cockerels 48 to 26. In the women’s match, it was the Paris Cockerelles defeating hosts the Bordeaux Bombers 54 to 39. The result sees the Lions qualify for the Champions League in Amsterdam next year.