Ben Graham and Sav Rocca moved into week two of the NFL playoffs after their teams both came up trumps. Graham’s Cardinals yesterday defeated the Atlanta Falcons 30 - 24 as Graham punted six times for a net average of 34.7 yards including four inside 20 and three of those inside the 10 yard line.

Rocca’s Philadelphia Eagles today defeated the Minnesota Vikings 26 – 14, with Rocca punting four times for a net average of 44 yards and a longest punt of 58 yards. All Rocca’s punts were inside the 20 yard line.

The accuracy of the drop punt has really come to the fore with both punters using it effectively. If both were to be on winning teams next week they would find themselves going head to head in the NFC Championship match with the winner of that game headed into the Superbowl.

In news from the United States' NFL, where several Australian footballers have converted to American football, it's play-off time for two former AFL players.

Ben Graham will feature in a playoff game for his new team the Arizona Cardinals next week, although he has been in the playoffs once before with his former team the New York Jets. After arriving with the Cards late in a turbulent season for the former Geelong captain, he has punted well and held well for Kicker Neil Rackers. Although Graham is not hitting any massive punts it seems his accuracy – particularly on the shorter punts is working well for his new team.

The Cardinals today defeated the Seattle Seahawks in the final regular season match 34-21. Graham punted three times for an average (and net average) of 42.7 yards including two inside the 20 yard line. He also held for four successful conversions and two successful field goal attempts. After recent poor performances (one win from their last five games), the Cardinals will be heartened by a good result going into next week’s match.

The USAFL are seeking to fill Revolution Team Coach and USAFL Accountant positions. All details below.

International footy returns to the US in 2009 when the national team, the Revolution host old foes the Canadian Northwind at Mason, Ohio. The weekend of footy will be a warmup run for the venue that will later in the year host the USAFL National Championships.

Although the Northwind will be wearing the white shorts they should go in as favourites given the August 2007 result and the fact that they finished higher placed than the US in the recent International Cup in Melbourne. Both countries will be interested whether Canadian young gun, Scott Fleming will be home for the clash or continuing his Down Under footy education.

That’s not the headline that Aussie rules fans want to see. Fortunately for them the AFL in this case it is the Arena Football League in the US, the little brother of the NFL. The league there has decided to suspend the season in light of the financial difficulties being faced across the US. As for the USAFL, teams such as Orange County, San Diego and Denver have been known to have games as curtain raisers (or half time entertainment) for Arena football matches with the aim to take Aussie rules to a new audience, so that is off the cards for 09. But it's also likely that we may see the effects of the financial crisis impact USAFL clubs as well. Struggling clubs may lose players that can no longer afford the often high travel costs to play the game that sees competing cities separated by large distances, and club sponsors will be harder to find or maintain as every dollar spent is closely scrutinized.

The first game of former AFL player Ben Graham for the Arizona Cardinals today saw him punt 3 times against the St Louis Rams. His first punt of 38 yards was inside the ten with no return yards. He held well for kicker Neil Rakers two successful field goal attempts, from 44 and 22 yards. In the last quarter he punted 50 yards to the St Louis 11 yard line, but the punt was returned 33 yards. His last punt was also a 38 yarder which was not returned following a fair catch at the St Louis 13 yard line. He also held for Rakers' four successful extra point conversions. All up three punts at an average of 41 yards, but only 31 net yards – with all three punts inside the 20 yards line.

Via considerable media coverage Graham again put the game of Australian Rules Football front and centre in another US state as his background was explained to the fans of his new team. It is hoped that he has done enough to impress his new team (which needed Graham to perform as both punter and holder), as they now have secured a playoff spot as they cannot be headed in their division.

While it looks like former Geelong captain Ben Graham is coming to Arizona (as punter for the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals), it was current day players that impressed the footy locals in the Grand Canyon state recently.

The Western Bulldogs AFL team were in Phoenix on their preseason high altitude trip to Arizona and were closely observed by members of the Arizona Hawks and Ladyhawks teams. The USAFL players were able to take part in some drills with the Doggies and legendary Carlton Premiership player, and Bulldogs Assistant Coach, Peter Dean was kind enough to take the Hawks players for a few drills and impart some words of wisdom from his own fifteen year playing career with the Blues.

Arizona Hawks' Adam Smark told us “Witnessing the amazing work ethic and dedication of players at the elite level was a great experience for those present and the chance to meet and talk to the players was an amazing opportunity. There are fans of the club everywhere who would cherish such an experience and the Hawks and LadyHawks who were in attendance certainly appreciated the time in the presence of the Bulldogs."

"Thanks to the Western Bulldogs, Hawks President Laki Kondylas and club legend and AZAFL premiership captain Darren Toohey for giving the Arizona clubs the chance to experience such an event, and good luck to the Western Bulldogs for 2009.”

He went on to add “It was certainly an eye opener for the US folks since you would be hard pressed to find a team of elite sportsmen here in the US willing to let people at our level of involvement in the sport actually take part in drills and be so welcoming to everyone. I can’t speak highly enough of how great the Bulldogs were and how inviting they were to share the experience with us.”

"Dogs hit skies for Phoenix" which appeared on the Bulldog's website gives some background to the trip.

It has been a wild ride for former Geelong captain Ben Graham in the NFL this year. After being dumped by the New York Jets early in the season, then brought back in for two more games he then shopped his talents around the country until being picked up for one game with the New Orleans Saints who then moved Graham on.

Ben was invited for tryout with the Green Bay Packers this week but turned down the audition when he received a solid job offer.

That came from the Arizona Cardinals who have sacked Dirk Johnson, the punter who was replaced by Sav Rocca at the Philadelphia Eagles. Johnson and Rocca went head to head in the last round as the Eagles defeated the Cardinals 48-20 and Rocca averaged 42.7 yards compared to Johnson 33.5 yards.

The length of Ben’s tenure at the Cardinals is unknown and while he will be disappointed to be missing out on the Jets' massive turnaround led by Brett Favre, if he can settle in at the Cardinals he should be part of the play-offs as the Cardinals lead the NFC West with just four rounds to play.

Can Australian Football be the next biggest thing for Canadian kids? Emile Studham is betting on it, mate.

The 30-year-old transplanted Australian is founder of Aussie X, a sporting program for kids that teaches the rules of Australian-rules football, or “footy” for short.

Canada's junior team, the Wolfpack, headed down to Australia in big numbers just prior to the third International Cup. In part 1 of our story on the tour, we talked to young players Chris Harbour and Justen Oertel and began an interview with coach Mike McFarlane. In part 2 we continue to talk to Mike about the impact the tour had on the players and plans for the future.