Andrew McGrath has been named the number one draft pick at tonight’s NAB AFL Draft, and in one of a number of quirks for the night, McGrath was born in Canada. He still holds Canadian citizenship and even speaks with a slight Canadian accent when conversing with Canadian friends and family.

The Bombers’ newest addition, and first ever number one draft selection, was born in Mississauga, near Toronto, and moved with his father’s new job to Australia when he was five. He took up footy in Melbourne largely because most other boys at school did also. The rest, as they say, is history.

Canada has proudly watched the career of Sydney Swans’ premiership ruckman, Mike Pyke, from a distance. But now they can claim a potential superstar, with McGrath effectively holding the honour now of the best young player in Australia, drafted as the first selection nationally.

Tom Morris from Fox Sports reports that Essendon will be looking closely at gambling on an untried American footballer as a Category B rookie, and could know very soon as they prepare for their selections at this week’s national draft. It would be one of the first times Essendon has travelled down the American road for potential recruits, hoping they can find another Jason Holmes.

ESSENDON is poised to take a punt on little known American football player Travis Wilson.

 

Wilson, who was a quarterback with scrambling ability for the University of Utah Utes in the US college system for four years, has attracted interest from the Bombers despite having never travelled to Australia, let alone Melbourne.

AFL Canada yesterday announced they will be sending their men's and women's development teams to Europe in 2017. The women's development team the Midnight Suns competed in the 2014 International Cup alongside their official team the Northern Lights.

But 2017 will see them compete against the Irish Banshees and the Great Britain Swans who will both be warming up for IC17. A fourth team made up of the best players from the four AFL London women's clubs will also compete.

The men's development team has previously only played matches against the USA as part of the 49th Parallel Cup in the past.  But they will play for the first time outside North America against the Irish Warriors, the Great Britain Bulldogs and a fourth team yet to be named.

Games are set to be played on the 19th-21st of May 2017; with games being played on the Friday night, Saturday and Sunday.

It is a welcome push for more international footy matches outside the International Cup tournament.  The USAFL have indicated they will send a team to Europe in 2018 and Great Britain have indicated they may play in Canada in 2018.

Jason Holmes’ AFL dream is set to continue with the Illinois-born big man offered a one-year contract with the club.  

Holmes was recruited as St Kilda’s international selection with pick No. 36 at the 2014 Rookie Draft and was the first born and raised American to make an AFL debut in Round 21, 2015.  He is also the first American to play in two AFL seasons.

Elevated in Round 9 this year, Holmes has earnt a permanent spot on the senior list after stepping up for the last two games of the 2016 season in Tom Hickey’s absence.

Peter Holden travelled to the 2016 USAFL Nationals and commentated women's matches throughout the tournament which were streamed live (and can be viewed on the USAFL's Youtube page).

He also put together this week's Girls Play Footy Podcast featuring interviews over the weekend.

You can find out all the latest on women's footy at their site - www.girlsplayfooty.com

The USA national side the Revolution have one of the most thorough selection processes of any nation ahead of the International cup. Over the past two years they have been assessing and trialling players from all over the USA. On Sunday the USAFL announced a narrowed squad of 66 players that will represent the USA.

This time around they have announced they will select 30 players from this squad in April next year to bring to the 2017 AFL International Cup in Melbourne. Those named on Sunday that do not make the trip to Melbourne, will be then representing the USA in 2018 on a playing trip to Europe (details yet to be announced).  It has been a very long time since the US national team has travelled to Europe (2001) after years of talk about it happening again it looks like it will get off the ground. 

The Revolution team will also take a team to Canada again in 2018.

The Austin Crows are the USAFL National Champions for 2016 having beaten the Golden Gate Roos in the final of the USAFL National Championships.  The Crows were out of the blocks early and had a strong lead at half time and looked to be certainties.

Golden Gate continued to push them but in the end were no match for the Austin team.

In Divison 2 the Calgary Kangaroos defeated the Columbus Jackaroos by 36 points and in Division 3 the Portland Steelheads were winners over the North Carolina Tigers by 24 points.

Divison 4 title was taken out by the Ohio Valley River Rats combine.

In the women's Division 1 the San Francisco Iron Maidens ended the Denver Lady Bulldogs run of titles and in Division 2 the Portland Sockeyes defeated the Montreal/Boston combine.
 

In humid and variable conditions (bright sun to wind and rain) teams from across the US and Canada battled it out in four men’s and two women’s divisions.

Reigning champions the Austin Crows kept their favourites tag as they accounted for the Quebec Saints and Denver Bulldogs in Division A with little fuss and with a win tomorrow morning over LA will be firm favourites for the title again.

DAY 2 STREAMING LIVE - CLICK THIS LINK

Greg Bridges plays for the Ottowa Swans and has made the Canadian Northwind Team to play in the 2017 International Cup.  And now he has made a video about it.  Check it out below or on Youtube.

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We look forward to following Greg's journey in this video blog series as he prepares for the tournament in Melbourne in August next year. 

See you in Melbourne Greg.

The USAFL tonight announced that the 2017 National Championships will be held in San Diego, California.  This will be the first time since Las Vegas hosted the tournament in 2006 that the Championships will be held on the western side of the nation and the first time in California since 2000. 

As this is written there are some concerns for the venue of this year's tournament, Sarasota, Florida (October 14-16 at the Premier Sports Campus).  Hurricane Matthew is making it's way across the Caribbean Sea towards Florida and could possibly do some serious damage across the state and up the east coast if it lands there.  Fortunately the tournament is not this weekend, but there could be on-going issues into next week that may affect travel and the host facilities. 

In the meantime we hope that all our friends on the US East coast stay safe and dry.