At the USFooty Admin Conference held in Louisville, Kentucky on Friday, Joshua Goodstein of the Fort Lauderdale Fighting Squids presented an update on the International Cricket and Footy stadium being built in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The stadium will be ready later this year and the Fighting Squids are planning a major tournament at the site in April or May next year.

Here are some stats:

* Seating for 25,000 (8,000 covered).
* Private suites and announcement facilities.
* Fully-lit oval in the main stadium.
* 2 additional (non-Stadium) full-size ovals with lighting.
* Main stadium oval measures over 170m diameter.
* ICC sanctioned facility.
* Wired for TV broadcast.
* Digital scoreboards and the newest in announcement and broadcast technologies.
* Full service concessions.
* Will play host to international and local Australian Rules Football events as early as 2008-2009.

The idea of a purpose-built footy stadium with two more fields in the facility had football administrators from across the US dreaming of the possibilities and looking forward to having a kick. The lit fields allow the possibility of night games which will help reduce congestion during the USFooty National Tournament Championship.

On Saturday, September 22nd the AFL Canada held its 2007 Ontario Australian Football League annual Best & Fairest Awards presentation at the 130 Event Center in Toronto, Ontario. The League also announced its All-star team, and it's always interesting to see the mix between expatriate Australians and Canadian players. The full line-up is shown below.

Over 150 players and coaches attended the gala event and witnessed one of the closet vote counts in OAFL history. At the conclusion of the count, it was Broadview Hawk’s rover John McGrath who finished on top with 26 votes closely followed by Lachlan McDonald of the Toronto Eagles with 25 votes. Both players have had fantastic seasons and both polled well in each of the 15 rounds.

The USFooty National Championship Tournament takes place in Louisville, KY this weekend (October 13 and 14). The tournament will see over 30 mens teams and three womens teams competing in 5 divisions, plus junior clinics, a junior game, and a match between the US Revolution and the Convicts. It will be one big weekend of footy!

USFooty is hosting two AFL legends during the weekend. Former Essendon Coach, Kevin Sheedy will be there as well as former Carlton star, Steven Silvagni. Son of George, Rod Grljusich will make the calls on Field 1 which will host all Division 1 games, the finals from Divisions 1, 2 and 3 and the Revo/Convict game.

The San Diego Lions go into Nationals as the undisputed favorites with 6 wins and no losses this season. Looking to take them on are the Denver Bulldogs and the Baltimore Washington Eagles, both of whom will be fighting to represent Group 2 in the Grand Final on Sunday afternoon.

Check out the radio advert playing on Louisville station "1570 The Zone" here.

WFN and USFooty News will provide updates over the weekend.

As reported earlier, AFL great Kevin Sheedy along with players from Northwind, the National Canadian Australian Football team, its Head Coach Mark Block and the team's General Manager Martin Walter opened the Toronto market on Friday. Also pictured are members of the Convicts side to play Canada this weekend. Sheedy is on a North American tour checking out footy development and will be a guest at the US Nationals next week - although it isn't his first visit to the annual event.

Kevin Sheedy, the multiple premiership AFL player and former coach of the Essendon Football Club is to open the Toronto Stock Exchange on Friday October 5th.

AFL great Kevin Sheedy along with players from Northwind, the National Canadian Australian Football Team, its Head Coach Mark Block and the team's General Manager Martin Walter as well as Team sponsors will ring the bell to open the Toronto Stock Exchange this coming Friday morning Oct 5th 2007 at 9.30 am in downtown Toronto, Canada.

Kevin Sheedy is currently in Toronto to get a first-hand look at the development of Australian Football in Canada.

This Saturday, October 6th, the Ontario Australian Football League will showcase its best two teams in the 2007 OAFL Grand Final. Special OAFL guest, AFL legend Kevin Sheedy will also be present at the event as he is currently in Toronto to get a first-hand look at the development of Australian Football in Canada.

The day will begin with an exhibition match between the Canadian National Team, The Northwind and the touring "Convicts" Australian Football team. This game is sure to be an entertaining curtain raiser and will showcase some of the OAFL's best players.

The two teams vying for the 2007 OAFL Premiership are the Toronto Eagles and the Etobicoke Kangaroos. Both clubs have had fantastic seasons, with both finishing on top of the OAFL ladder with 13 wins and 1 loss in the regular season. The Etobicoke Kangaroos are looking for their first championship and are 0-1 in Grand Finals since coming into the league in 2003 while the Toronto Eagles are looking for their 11th OAFL premiership since the leagues inception in 1989. Details follow.

The USAFL has released the draw for this year's nationals in Louisville, Kentucky, with the competition expanding to four divisions for the first time.

There will also be a women's tournament with around four teams, one team from Canada heading down (the Calgary Kangaroos), a tour match between The Convicts and the US Revolution, and ex-AFL mega coach Kevin Sheedy in attendance.

The 10th year of the competition looks set to be the biggest weekend of US Nationals yet.

1 San Diego Lions (10 #1 Votes) (6-0)
2 Denver Bulldogs (5-1)
3 BW Eagles (5-0)
4 NY Magpies (4-1) (UP from 5)
5 Golden Gate Roos (1-1) (DOWN from 4)
6 Chicago United (5-1)
7 OC Bombers (1-4)
8 Boston Demons (2-2)
9 Minnesota Freeze (3-1) (IN)
10 Seattle Grizzlies (3-0)
Also receiving votes Atlanta Kookaburras (4-2) (OUT), Milwaukee Bombers (3-7), Nashville Kangaroos (6-1).

The No. 1 San Diego Lions have cemented themselves as favorites going into the USFooty National Championship Tournament in Louisville KY on October 13 and 14. The Lions also finished top of the Unofficial USFooty ladder with 6 wins, no losses, 24 points and a percentage of 301. The Lions impressive regular season included going 2-0 in their home and home series with the Orange County Bombers, a convincing win over Golden Gate in San Diego and taking out the 2007 Western Regional Tournament by beating No. 2 Denver Bulldogs by 9 in Denver. The Lions have been led all year by former president and 2006 joint Best and Fairest, Brendan McDonald who finished top of the USFooty goal kicking list with 17 goals, an average of just under 3 goals a game. Also contributing to the cause is current President Adam Cannane, J Cameron, S Shenk and last year's joint Best and Fairest Justin Valley. Nipping the Lions' heels all season has been the Denver Bulldogs. Denver also had a very impressive season finishing with 5 wins and just one close loss to the Lions. Denver finished 3rd behind the unranked Nashville Kangaroos on the Unofficial USFooty ladder with 20 points and a percentage of 485. Denver have been led all year by former USFooty President and 2007 East vs West stand out Rich Mann.

Chicago United (number 6 in the WFN USFooty rankings) secured the 2007 Mid-American Australian Football League Premiership on Saturday with an emphatic 103 to 57 win over the Milwaukee Bombers. The victory over Milwaukee secured Chicago a Division 1 invitation for the USFooty National Championship Tournament.

Chicago finished the 2007 regular season an impressive 5 and 1 record, with their only loss to the Seattle Grizzlies in Seattle. In MAAFL play Chicago had a 4 and 0 record, ahead of Milwaukee, St Louis and Nashville who all finished 2 and 2. Cincinnati took home the wooden spoon with an 0 and 4 record in the MAAFL Championship Division.

Chicago United (ranked 6th in the US in our regular poll) will host the Milwaukee Bombers on Saturday in the last game of the USFooty regular season. This game will decide the Mid-American Australian Football League Premiership as Chicago has a one-game lead over Milwaukee with a lower percentage. The winner, and MAAFL Premier, will also get an invitation to Division 1 of the USFooty National Championship in Louisville KY.