Callum Twomey from the www.afl.com.au website looks at the rise and rise of Essendon’s Irish recruit, Conor McKenna. In recent weeks, McKenna has had a chance to establish himself in the team’s line-up ahead of the return to the club of banned players for their 2017 season.

THE MOST difficult thing Conor McKenna found when wrapping his head around the AFL code two years ago upon joining Essendon had nothing to do with kicking the Sherrin. The Irish product could do that well already, and on both feet.

 

It wasn't the running that was required, and the physicality didn't bother him either. McKenna was already one of Gaelic football's most gifted youngsters when he left there at the end of 2014 to pursue a career with the Bombers.    

The following article from The Glasgow South and Eastwood Extra website looks at the success of the Glasgow Sharks on the biggest day of the Australian Rules football year in Scotland last weekend.

Glasgow Sharks were crowned Scotland’s Australian Rules Football champions after defeating city rivals Greater Glasgow Giants at Linlithgow Rugby Club last Saturday.

The Scottish Australian Rules Football League (SARFL) Grand Final between the city rivals was a fierce one, with the Giants having the better first quarter.

But just like the rest of the season the Sharks were the comeback kids, meaning there were only two points in it by the end of the third quarter

The Irish Warriors and GB Bulldogs both had strong wins on Day 3 of the AFL Europe European Championships to set up a final rematch of their one point thriller from Day 1 of the tournament. In the women's competition the GB Swans are unbeaten after their first two matches.

The GB Swans and Irish Banshees kicked off the day and after a goal-less first half the Swans prevailed by a single point kicking 2.1 to the Banshees 1.6.  The Banshees notched up a win in the second match running out winners 4.8 to the European Crusaders 0.1.  The GB Swans then finished the day on top of the table with a 55 point shut out against the Crusaders.

Women's Round 1

GB Swans 2.1 (13) def Irish Banshees 1.6 (12)

Irish Banshees 4.8 (32) def European Crusaders 0.1 (1)

GB Swans 8.7 (55) def European Crusaders 0.0 (0)

 

Girls Play Footy Podcast Previews the EC16 Women's Championships with interviews with some of the key players.  You can find more about women's footy at their site - girlsplayfooty.com/

 The following reviews of each of the teams (kicking off this afternoon in London) have been sourced from AFL Europe.

AFL Europe Championships Team Preview – Irish Banshees

Every three years the AFL Europe Championships take place for teams to assert their dominance and claim bragging rights against their European counterparts, as well as gain valuable 18-a-side match practice in the lead up to the International Cup the following year.
 

In the lead up to this year’s AFL Europe Championships in London we’ll be focusing on each team and previewing their chances of taking out the top prize.

In the first of the women’s team previews we are getting to know the Irish Banshees a bit better.

 

Exceptional Eagles?

Germany has proven to be the exception to the rule (higher ranked nations wins more often than not) with their win over the Swedish Elks on day two of the European Championships yesterday. The win has seen the Black Eagles climb to 17th place in the World Rankings and bring down the Elks to 18th place with Japan and Peace Team lucky recipients of a one place rise each to 15th and 16th respectively.

Germany and Sweden traded 2.04 Rating Points Germany now with 36.12 and Sweden 35.63.

Sweden’s loss to Great Britain on day one also saw the Elks lose 0.86 Rating Points, the Bulldogs creeping that little bit closer to Canada at 9th Place.

The German Eagles lead all day and despite a late push by the Swedish Elks ran out 28 point winners on Day 2 of the 2016 AFL Europe European Championships.  In the second match of the day the Great Britain Bulldogs were goal-less going into the last quarter but came home hard to go down to the Irish warriors by just a point. 

Once again in good conditions at Mostpur Park in London on Tuesday afternoon the four European nations battled it out.  Up first the Eagles and the Elks battled out an arm wrestle in the first quarter before the Germans pushed out their lead and by three quarter time were out to a 33 point lead.  In the final quarter the Elks refused to give up and won the quarter but still went down to the Eagles by 28 points.

Germany           1.6         4.6       6.12     7.14 (56)

Sweden             1.1         2.3       2.4        4.4 (28)

Great Britain Bulldogs and the Irish Warriors were the big winners on Day 1 of the 2016 AFL Europe European Championships.

Played in good conditions at Mostpur Park in London the Irish Warriors were out of the blocks early kicking 5 goals to the German Eagles 1 in the first quarter. By half time they held a 62 point lead. Only poor kicking in the third quarter prevented them extending their lead to triple figures. Germany performed better in the second half kicking 2 goals to Ireland six but were still beaten by 95 points at the final siren.

Ireland                5.1         11.2      14.10    17.11 (113)

3rd European Championships in Australian Football - 13th to 20th August 2016. London, England.
A Preview.  

SCHEDULE

DAY ONE – SUNDAY 14TH AUGUST

1pm Irish Warriors v German Eagles

3pm Great Britain Bulldogs v Swedish Elks

 

The French team for the Euro Cup tournament in Lisbon, Portugal to be held in October was announced today on Youtube.  Watch below.

[youtube:xtFs9JXxZtk]