One of the keys to capitalising on renewed interest in starting Aussie Rules in Fiji has been finding reliable people on the ground who can support the Oceania Cup and then drive the program forward afterwards. The AFL hopes it has found two such people in Damian Ames and Robert Wolfgramm. We speak to both of these men about their own backgrounds and preview the Fijian youth side set to battle five other nations this weekend. Fiji have already claimed their first scalp with a trial match win over Nauru, while Tonga defeated Samoa in windy conditions.

Unfortunately we were unable to secure previews for PNG and Samoa. Based on their impressive young squads that compete in Queensland carnivals it can be expected that the Papuans will bring the most skilful squad, although they may be a lot smaller than some of the other teams. Samoa will most likely have a lot of young men more familiar with Rugby - possibly very good potential athletes but perhaps little Australian football experience. The same may be true for the Tongans.

The inaugural Under 16s Oceania Cup commences this week. Six countries are competing, with previous International Cup winners Papua New Guinea and New Zealand expected to lead the way. IC08 surprise packets Nauru would also be expected to do well.

Neighbours Samoa and Tonga should be solid performers but have less well developed junior programs than the biggest gun, PNG. Hosts Fiji are starting from scratch but are famous for their athletes and have the advantage of the home ground and an intensive build. In fact it was reported in the Fiji Times Online that the locals defeated Nauru in a warm up match. Note also that all teams were able to get advance clearance to play up to 6 players above the age limit.

Today (Friday) is expected to see the countries gather in Fiji's capital, Suva, where there will be an initial welcome, an address regarding talent pathways, and a cultural bridging session.

The preliminary draw is as follows (subject to late changes):

Pool A - PNG, Tonga, Fiji
Pool B - NZ, Nauru, Samoa

Saturday 12th December, all matches 4x10 min quarters

PNG vs Tonga
NZ vs Samoa
Tonga vs Fiji
Samoa vs Nauru
Fiji vs PNG
Nauru vs NZ

100 metre sprint heats and goal kicking competition

Sunday 13th December, matches 4x10 min quarters except grand final 4x15 min

20 metre sprint testing, 100 metre final, goal kicking final

3rd pool A vs 3rd pool B
2nd pool A vs 2nd pool B
1st pool A vs 2nd pool B (grand final)

Sunday 13th December will see the much awaited Wellington Grand Final between the undefeated Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs and the Hutt Valley Eagles who won four and lost four. The Wellington season was disrupted by weather conditions causing the cancellation of the Lightning Premiership, Round 9 and Preliminary Final but as those involved with international footy would know, it is about getting the season finished regardless.

The New Zealand Under 16 team are set to depart for Fiji to take on five other Oceania nations in the inaugural Oceania Cup.

The team will be coached by former Collingwood AFL player Fatui Ataata with current New Zealand Senior Hawks player, Andrew Crighton as his assistant.

It is well documented that a raft of PNG players receive scholarships to play in a variety of competitions around Australia which has lead to the listing of Pirika, Susuve, Meli and Labi with AFL Clubs so far. But many around the world must wonder what happens on the ground with local footy in PNG.

Occasionally WFN have reported on competitions in PNG but in what seems a momentous step forward for quality and player development AFLPNG has recently hosted their first “Super Series”. And there's also the exciting possibility of PNG entering an open age representative side in a Queensland competition in 2010.

President Jeff Kennett, Senior Coach Alastair Clarkson and a number of Hawthorn players, coaches and staff – including former President Ian Dicker – will fly to Port Moresby tomorrow morning to trek the Kokoda Track.

This will be the third time the Club has undertaken the journey to Papua New Guinea, which is an integral part of Hawthorn Football Club’s cultural experience.

There is no indication at this stage that there will be any interaction with the local footy scene in PNG.

Saturday 21st November saw the Canterbury AFL's two best teams of 2009, the Christchurch Bulldogs and University Cougars face off. This in itself must be considered as demonstrative of the evening up of the competition as it must be many seasons since the powerhouse team of the competition, the Eastern Blues, missed playing on the last day of the season.

The game was played in hot, windy conditions with the strong nor’wester providing a 3 goal advantage to the City end of Westminster Park. The Bulldogs won the toss and kicked with the breeze and this proved beneficial with Dan Oliver winning the first hit-out to Toby Bennie who kicked to Tom Sattherwaite 15m out from goal. He then duly slotted the first major of the game.

The Australian media today reported that the AFL's cash-strapped Western Bulldogs unsuccessfully tried to sell two home matches in 2010 to New Zealand. The deal would have seen two of the Bulldogs' home games played in the New Zealand capital city Wellington, at a return of half a million Australian dollars per match.

Bulldogs chief executive Campbell Rose wrote a letter directly to New Zealand's prime minister John Key, with the support of the AFL, proposing that the Bulldogs would take two games across the Tasman Sea. It is not clear whether this would replace those already sold by the club to Darwin and Canberra, or be two additional home matches.

The time elapsed on bringing the deal to reality for 2010, but the club is believed to be continuing to pursue the project for 2011.

If it is successful, it would become the first time an AFL match has been played in New Zealand for premiership points, and the first of any kind since the last pre-season clash between Brisbane and Adelaide in Wellington in 2001.

For more, read Cash-strapped Bulldogs tried to sell games to NZ for $1m from national newspaper The Australian.

Next up in our series on teams competing at the 2009 Under-16s Oceania Cup, we spoke to the team representing the Kingdom of Tonga.

The Tongan team will be managed by AFL Tonga Development Officer Tim Grose, whose younger brother Gavin played AFL football with Port Adelaide in 2007 and 2008.

Tim Grose holds a position as an Australian Youth Ambassador for Development (AYAD) through AusAid, with the AFL Oceania being partner organisation to the program. Grose hails from Brisbane, having played for Queensland State League club Mt Gravatt, and having also held a junior development officer position at the club during 2003. Further north, he also played senior football and coached juniors in the city of Rockhampton, on the Central Queensland coast.

HANZ UP video of Hawthorn's New Zealand launch can be viewed on the AFL website (unfortunately we believe this will be unavailable to viewers outside of Australia, a glaring issue that needs to be rectified by the AFL)