Since I last wrote an article for this website, the footy landscape has changed. On social media, there are pages and pages of debate about what has been happening to our great game - in particular the world of tackling. Conversations have been ignited the world over, along the lines of "back in my day...". The following is my take on where we might go in the future, not really debating the argument as it exists, but looking forward to a football world full of unicorns, mermaids and a tackle-less footy world.

World Footy News World Rankings 
    European Championships 2022
              Zagreb, Croatia
           12th October 2022

       Country                     Points   Last   Played    
1    Australia                                   1            
2    Papua New Guinea     61.99    2        39    
3    New Zealand               57.88    3        43    
4    Ireland                         53.84    4        71    
5    Nauru                          52.97    5        32    
6    United States            50.77    6        51    
7    Denmark                     47.45    8        51    
8    Great Britain               46.90    7        74    
9    South Africa                46.61    9        32    
10    France                      45.84    11       27    
11    Canada                    44.41    10        49    
12    Croatia                     39.87    12        23    
13    China                       39.91    13        24    
14    Fiji                            38.01    14        19    
15    Germany                  35.50    15        32    
16    Japan                       35.06    16        34    
17    Sweden                    34.18    17       39    
18    Indonesia                 30.94    18        12    
19    Pakistan                   29.14    19        10    
20    India                         27.45    20        21    
                        
                        
P1    Sri Lanka                 37.41    P1        5    
P2    Indo China              34.00    P2        7    
                        
D    Tonga                        41.93            14    
D    Finland                     27.45            15    
                        
P- Provisional as less than (8) eight qualifying matches played.
D- Dormant as (7) seven years since last played

Ireland gained 2.17 rating points enough to climb to 4th place over Nauru.
Great Britain’s losses to France (-2.02 rating points) in the semi-final and (-3.00 rating points) were instrumental in them sliding to 8th place below United States and Denmark.
France’s wins over Great Britain, Germany and Croatia (+7.22 rating points) saw France leap over China, Croatia and Canada into 10th place from 13th prior to the Championships.
Croatia slipped to 12th place losing 3.53 rating points in their campaign during the Championships.
 

World Footy News Women’s World Rankings
     Post European Championships 2022
                   Zagreb, Croatia.
        12th October 2022

Rank    Country                 Points         Last        Played    
1     Australia                                       1            
2    Ireland                             54.16    3        32    
3    Canada                           53.40    2        19    

WFN WORLD RANKINGS post DAY 3 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS 2022

                  7th October 2022  Zagreb, CROATIA

 

Rank Country            Points  Last  Played

1 Australia                                 1

2 Papua New Guinea  61.99    2    39

3 New Zealand             57.88   3    43

4 Ireland                       53.41    4    70

5 Nauru                        52.97    5     32

6 United States            50.77    6     51

7 Great Britain             49.04     7     71

8 Denmark                   47.45     8     51

9 South Africa               46.61    9     51

10 Canada                   44.41   10     49

11 France                     43.26    11    26

12 Croatia                    40.73    12     21

13 China                      39.91     13     24

14 Fiji                           38.01    14     19

15 Germany                 35.50    15     32

16 Japan                      35.06    16     34

17 Sweden                   34.18    17     39

18 Indonesia                30.94    18     12

19 Pakistan                  29.14    19     10

20 India                        27.45    20     21

P1 Sri Lanka                37.41     P1      5

P2 Indo China              34.00     P2      7

D Tonga                        41.93           14

D Finland                       27.45          15

P Provisional Rank only as less than 8 eight qualifying matches played.

D Dormant as 5 Five Years since last Played.

No changes with Semi-Final matches played Day 3.

WFN World Ranking Women post European Championships Day 3 Semi-Finals

                          7th October 2022 Zagreb, Croatia

 

Rank Country Rating   Last Played

1 Australia                       1

2 Canada            53.40    2     19

3 Ireland              53.15    3     32

4 Great Britain     47.64    4     20

5 Fiji                     44.70    5     10  

6 Canada B Suns 42.60    6      8

7 United States     41.81    7   19

8 Germany            40.55    8   10

9 PNG                   37.03    9   10

10 Crusaders        34.24  10   13

P1 Croatia             38.38   P1   5

P2 USA B Liberty  31.93   P2    5

P3 Pakistan           28.79   P3   5

D Tonga                 41.81          4

No changes in ranks on day 3 Semi Finals Matches

WFN WORLD RANKINGS EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS WOMEN 2022 Post Day 3

                         6th October 2022 Zagreb, Croatia

Rank Country             Points    Last    Played

1 Australia 1

2 Canada                       53.40    2         19

3 Ireland                         53.15    3          31

4 Great Britain                46.45    5          19

5 Fiji                                44.70    4          10

6 Canada Midnight Suns 42.60    6           8

7 United States                41.81    7         19

8 Germany                        41.74    P1       9

9 Papua New Guinea         37.03    9      10

10 European Crusaders     34.24    8       13

P1 Croatia                          38.38    P2       4

P2 United States Liberty      31.93   P2      5

P3 Pakistan                          28.79   P3      5

D Tonga                                  32.50

P- Provisional Rank as Nation yet to play 8 Eight qualifying matches.

D- Dormant as 5 Five Years since last played.

Germany became fully ranked in 8th place 1st game on day 2.

Great Britain have climbed onto 4th rank.

Crusaders have slipped to 10th place with their losses today.

Croatia Queens clawed back 0.99 rating points with the Crusaders win.

WFN WORLD RANKINGS post day two EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS 2022

                         6th October 2022  Zagreb, Croatia

Rank Country              Points   Last Played

1 Australia                                 1

2 Papua New Guinea  61.99     2      39

3 New Zealand            57.88     3      43

4 Ireland                      53.41     4      69

5 Nauru                        52.97    5       32

6 United States            50.77    6        51

7 Great Britain              47.70    8       72 

8 Denmark                    47.45    8      51

9 South Africa                46.61    9      32

10 Canada                     44.41   10     49

11 France                       44.25   12      25

12 Croatia                      41.09    11      21

13 China                        39.91    13       24

14 Fiji                             38.01   14       19

15 Germany                   35.50   15       32

16 Japan                        35.06   16       34

17 Sweden                     34.18   17       39

18 Indonesia                  30.94   18        12

19 Pakistan                    29.14   19        10

20 India                          20.71   20        21

P1 Sri Lanka                   37.41   P1        5

P2 Indo China                  34.00   P2        7

D Tonga                            41.93   14

D Finland                           27.45   15

P- provisional as Nation yet to play 8 qualifying matches

D- Rank Dormant as 8 eight years since last played.

Only change in rank from yesterday (day1) is France and Croatia swapping 11th for 12th

Cam Homes

In due course, the Hawthorn Football Club will answer to racism claims which are both disturbing and if true, indefensible. Time will tell. However, almost a year ago I wrote this article on racism in footy and it barely raised an eyebrow. I float it again in the hope that people can have another look at the whole concept of racism, not just in footy but in wider social and human circles.

The past couple of weeks have seen racial slurs through social media against high profile AFL players. The latest target has been Port Adelaide’s Aliir Aliir. Before that, St Kilda’s Brad Hill and Richmond’s new recruit, Matthew Parker. This is just a week on from St Kilda’s Paddy Ryder being trolled in a similar manner. Hawk 400-gamer, Shaun Burgoyne has led a chorus of condemnation, and the brilliant documentary from former Essendon star, Nathan Lovett-Murray called The Ripple Effect hammers home the toll of racism on indigenous people everywhere.

The AFL recently released their media response to the surge in racist actions against footballers. The extended letter, which condemns racial vilification in all forms, contains the following:

“The AFL strongly condemns racial vilification in the football community including our players, staff, and their families, across all levels of our game.”

“The recent incidents are harmful. Acts of racism can trigger trauma and seriously impact the mental health of the individuals, families and communities involved. Racist actions and behaviours are inexcusable.”

OPINION:
In the case of GWS Giants player, Haneen Zreika, in the AFLW, I must admit to being confused. I was unaware that there was a hierarchy, or order of importance, for what constitutes valid grounds for not playing a match.

From my standpoint, this talented young woman deserves respect, not only for her contribution to women's football in general, and at the highest level, but also as a Muslim woman who is proud and respectful of her beliefs.

Yet, I read that she is a hypocrite and is being attacked, sometimes viciously, across social media for putting her religious beliefs ahead of the LGBTQIA+ community and standing down as a player this weekend to ensure she does not wear a jumper that is in conflict with core Muslim beliefs. This has upset many, and perhaps I am wrong and there is a 'ladder' of importance where some beliefs are more important than others.