India appears to be one of Australian football's hot spots at the moment, with a growing organisational structure, interest from AFL clubs and grass roots support coming from Australia.  One such example is a recent trip organised by the Bendigo Netball and Football League.  Bendigo is a regional city in Victoria with a strong Aussie Rules culture.  Thanks to Mikey Dynon (a Bendigo local who was involved with India at IC14) for bringing the trip to our attention and to the original author of the report, Bruce Claridge.

Indian Trip Report.

After many months of planning, promotion and anticipation the first BFNL India Trip departed from Tullamarine Airport at 11:30 am on Wednesday November 5th, 2014.

The team's main goal was to prepare the way for future annual trips by connecting with key people in Kolkata who would open doors of opportunity for teams to follow.

The initial team of Bruce and Jan Claridge, Paul Byrne, Connor Byrne, Justin Abrams and Ben and Toni West formed a unified group with a clear mission and the initial expectations of the group were far exceeded as the week together unfolded.

Key Points: 

1. Pre planning was so well done that each day's itinerary fulfilled a key part of our goals. Thanks for this goes to our Indian Host Kaushik Das, our Aussie guide Pastor Rick Mapperson from Sydney and our local travel agent Andrew Zeglin at Travelcentre, Bendigo.

2. Successful football clinics were held in the slum community in Kolkata where Kaushik Das works to help particularly the young people rise above their poverty.We were also able to link, through our football clinic, with a rural community on the outskirts of the city.

3. AFL India's CEO and captain of the Indian National Team, Sudip Chakrobarty, joined us at the clinics and also met twice with Justin and Paul planning ongoing opportunities for the continued relationship with AFL India and the BFNL.  Other AFL India representatives were also present.

4. Visits to the three Mother Teresa Sisters of Charity establishments were not only powerfully moving but also gave opportunity for all team members to consider the blessings we have in in this nation and the responsibility that goes with those blessings.

5. The team's accommodation was excellent, travel well organised, good health was maintained by all and costs were covered.


Where to from Here?

1. Ongoing communication with all parties in India to look at future opportunities in both the development of Aussie Rules and humanitarian aid to our friends in the Kolkata slums.

2. A 2015 trip planned to coincide with AFL India's National Championships where we will provide both practical support and coaching as well as develop relationships.

3. An exhibition game at the conclusion of India's carnival between two teams each comprising of both Bendigo region players and AFL India's best.

4. A commitment from BFNL clubs to sponsor and send at least one player on the November trip in 2015.

5. Exploring the possibility of India's best AFL players coming to Bendigo to spend some months with a local team.

6. The development by Paul, Justin and Bruce of an even more structured and purpose driven itinerary that maximises the time in India for all involved.

7. Consideration of an optional longer stay by team members who choose to do so.


Finally thanks to all who supported our trip.

Particularly the following:

Andrew Zeglin who went well beyond his professional role to help us get to India and home safely!

Paul Byrne and Justin Abrams whose commitment to the team right from the start and their desire to make this trip a part of the BFNL calendar for years to come was extremely heartening.

They were also amazingly generous and co-operative team members.

Connor Byrne who showed that a mature teenage member of the team is a great asset.

Ben and Toni West, who have a heart to see India's poorest helped in some meaningful ongoing way, were outstanding team members. Their support for Jan and I continues to be exemplary and amazes me.

Thanks also to the Golden Square Football and Netball Club for generously covering the costs of our internal transportation around Kolkata.

Finally to have such a supportive wife beside me in these ventures is a blessing beyond words,

Thanks to all who made this such a great inaugural trip,

Yours with much gratitude,
Bruce Claridge.

Sports Chaplaincy Australia ...

Ryan Davidson from afl.com.au reports that former Collingwood player, Marty Clarke, has returned home to Northern Ireland after finishing his career with the AFL club. But now a new challenge confronts him. The following is Ryan’s story.

Former Collingwood defender Marty Clarke has revealed he was diagnosed with a rare energy-sapping disease as he fought to save his AFL career in the second half of 2014.

The 27-year-old is happily back home in Northern Ireland adapting to the cold northern hemisphere winter, but he's also adapting to living day to day with Addison's disease.

 The condition, which affects roughly one in every 100,000 people and will need to be managed for the rest of his life, occurs when the adrenal glands cannot produce sufficient hormones.

"It's a fairly serious disease and I'm just getting on top of it at the moment," Clarke told AFL.com.au.

"You're just drained of all energy when your adrenal glands shut off and I find it difficult to lift myself above the pack.

"The Collingwood medical staff were great and I'm relieved to have been diagnosed back in July, because some mornings I'd walk up the stairs and then I'd need a lie down, so now it's treatable with medication."

How do the AFL combine tests workω

The 2007 NAB AFL Rising Star nominee admits the disease played a role in his time at the Magpies coming to an end after two stints and 73 games (including just one in 2014), but he isn’t using it as an excuse, conceding he didn't make the most of his opportunities.

He is now focused on becoming a father in the next few weeks, a career as a physical education teacher and the tough job of regaining his spot with County Down in the elite Gaelic Athletic Association.

"I'm doing plenty of research (on treatment), because if you want to play Gaelic football you need to have that high level of fitness, so any serious illness is probably going to rule you out," he said

"I'm determined to find out how I can get myself back to full fitness."

And while he's happy to be home with family and friends and far away from Melbourne's traffic snarls, Clarke still misses life as an AFL footballer.

And he was on hand at the recent European combine in Dublin to give advice to young Irishmen attempting to follow in his footsteps.

"I miss getting up in the morning and your job is to go to training, especially at a great club like Collingwood," he said

"I played in more winning games than losing ones, played in some massive finals, gained important life skills and developed as an athlete, so there's a lot of memories to cherish and I'm very grateful for the opportunity."

For more stories about AFL football over the off-season, go to the following link: http://www.afl.com.au/

Left & Below: Marty Clarke

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In an announcement released by AFL Europe, the Champions League event for 2015 will be held in Amsterdam, Netherlands, at a venue to be advised at a later date.  The dates for this event will be March 21st and March 22nd.

According to AFL Europe General Manager Ben MacCormack, “It’s with great pleasure that we announce the details for the inaugural AFL Europe Champions League – 2015 – Amsterdam. Following a number of years with the majority of our major events being held in the UK and Ireland we are pleased the Amsterdam Devils have taken on the challenge to co-host the Champions League with AFL Europe. It’s a great chance for them to further develop the sport in a market with huge potential.”

 The AFL Europe website has detailed the following format and player eligibility rules for interested teams:

Format: Club not country. Winning Club of each major league in our member nations invited (defer to runner-up if premier decline’s invite). If member country only has one club they automatically qualify if not part of another major league (e.g. Madrid Bulls). Euro Cup format and rules. 9-a-side. One day competition with group stage and finals (team numbers dependant). Winner to be crowned Club Champions of Europe.

Player Eligibility: As this is a club based competition and there are a variety of different rules regarding Australian playing numbers across Europe we have decided on the following. Maximum of 4 Australian’s on the field at any one time. Players must have played at your club in the premiership year or be signed up to play in 2015. Maximum squad of 16 players (cannot be added to/swapped once the days play has begun).

Clubs that have already qualified for participation at the event are:

Belfast Redbacks (Ireland, ARFLI), Toulouse Hawks (France), Manchester Mosquitoes (AFLCNE), West London Wildcats (AFL London), Zagreb Hawks (Croatia), Amsterdam Devils (Netherlands), Llops Del Pla (Catalonia), Madrid Bulls (Spain), Farum Cats (Denmark), Rheinland Lions (Germany), Turku Dockers (Finland), Solna Axemen (Sweden – SAFF, Stockholm), Port Malmo Maulers (Sweden – DAFL), Edinburgh Bloods (Scotland), Roma Blues (Italy), Oslo East (Norway), Bristol Dockers (Welsh Australian Rules Football League).

AFL Europe is also looking at the possibility of women’s teams for the event and have issued an invitation for interested teams.

For further information, contact Ben at AFL Europe at: ben.maccormack@afleurope.org

  ...

Ryan Davidson from afl.com.au has continued his look at the recent AFL Europe Talent Combine, focusing on the hugely talented Irish player Darragh Joyce. In recent articles World Footy News has looked at the English player Sam Willatt and Dane Mikkel Kjoge, but according to Ryan’s article, Darragh might be the best of the Irish talent at the combine.

Part-time Gaelic footballer Darragh Joyce looms as the next Irishman to make the switch to the AFL, with at least two clubs keen to obtain the teenager's signature.

The 18-year-old, who is star junior hurler, was a standout at the recent European combine in Dublin, with his skills and game awareness impressing club recruiters.

Hawthorn and the Sydney Swans are two clubs that have made enquiries about the 192cm County Kilkenny product, with the Hawks recently visiting his family home.

"They don't play any football in my county at all, but I go to school in County Wexford so I play there," Joyce told AFL.com.au.

"I play football for around six months of the year, so it's a great break from playing hurling all year round." 

Joyce has been on recruiters' radars for the past two years while starring for his school's football team and captaining Kilkenny's minor (under-18) hurling side. 

His older brother Kieran is a three-time All-Ireland winner with the hurling powerhouse.

But despite his family's standing and his huge potential in Ireland's indigenous sports, he's open to a career in the AFL. 

"It's a game I enjoy watching and it would be fantastic to do something you love as your job, so it definitely stands out for me," he said.

"Tadhg Kennelly is an inspiration and he was the first big name I heard of making it big out in Australia, as well as Zach Tuohy and Pearce Hanley, so it's great for Ireland."

And the AFL's international talent manager was equally impressed with Joyce and his performance at the combine.

"Darragh was super, he really stepped up," Kennelly said.

"He's been exposed to the game and he was really impressive when the footballs came out considering he's only just got over glandular fever. 

"He's a great size and shape, really good with ball in hand and he tested really well." 

If he does make the grade, Joyce will become just the second Irishman with a predominately hurling background to join an AFL club, after former Carlton and GWS forward Setanta O'hAilpin. 

And he'll do it with his parents' blessing. 

"If something big came up, they'd give me their full support," Joyce said.

"They think it's great for me to be in a situation like this at the moment and the opportunities it will present."

Left & Above: Darragh Joyce at Dublin Combine 

Original story at afl.com.au: www.afl.com.au/news/2014-12-21/the-next-big-irish-import 

  ...

As the current football season in France heads into its winter break, teams can take stock of what has happened and what faces them when matches are scheduled to resume on 21st February.  Some fascinating results have littered the first half of the season, and many more are sure to occur before the finals are reached. Here is a team by team account of the season to date.

Cergy-Pontoise Coyotes – Currently sit on top of the ladder with three wins from three starts. Tough, close games against Lions and Firesharks show they have the ability to rise, but yet to meet fellow finals aspirants – Hawks, Cockerels, Bombers – so will have to work very hard after the break to stay ahead of the field. Their next match, the first in February after the break, is against the Bordeaux Bombers and could be a deciding factor in where the Coyotes go from here.

Bordeaux Bombers– Sitting in second place with two wins from three matches. Impressive in victory, but their loss to Toulouse says they have to get better against the stronger teams to `challenge for the grand-final.  Their clash with Coyotes immediately after the break will have a big say in where their season goes next.  Another win will set them up well for a finals tilt, but a loss could place them too far behind the leaders. The season is currently in their own hands.

Paris Cockerels – Their third placing does not accurately reflect their position. Two wins from two games, though one of those was from a forfeit. Their only actual match to date was a 100 point win over Strasbourg, which says they have firepower but doesn’t tell us if that firepower will be enough to challenge the other top teams. Their next match is against Toulouse, then they play the Coyotes, so many questions will be answered in those clashes.

Toulouse Hawks– Through the vagaries of a numeric system, the Hawks sit in fourth place with two wins. Yet those wins were massive, including a 109 point drubbing of fellow finals hopeful Bordeaux Bombers. A clash with Paris awaits after the break and will go a long way to determining whether Toulouse become outright favourites again for the championship. However, should they lose to Paris all other clubs in the finals race will grow a foot taller.

Strasbourg Kangourous – Currently sit in fifth place, with one good win against the Tigers. Way too early to be talking finals, but an impressive improvement so far on previous seasons. Still, their defeats have been heavy so there is still much room to improve. If they can gather wins against the Lions and maybe Firesharks they could still be hanging just out of the finals race at year’s end which would be a good season’s work.

Perpignan Tigers– Their bold win/loss ration says three losses from three starts, yet it isn’t that simple. The Tigers have been competitive in all matches, kicking 5 or more goals in each match. Not bad for a team which only returned to the fold this season. As they gather confidence and experience, the Tigers could improve further as the season goes. Their next match is against the Lions, and whilst it is no guarantee as a win, the Tigers would certainly grow extra legs if they do.

ALFA Lions– Whilst the Lions fell heavily to Toulouse earlier in the season, their only other match was an incredible one point loss to the Coyotes.  This suggests that with a full strength team the Lions can be very, very competitive. With winnable games to come against both Perpignan and Strasbourg, the Lions could yet have a big say in the fortunes of all teams this season, and potentially still enjoy their best season yet.

Montpellier Fire Sharks – Very difficult to get a read on this team.  Their only match to date was a gutsy 15 point loss to the Coyotes. Their other games have had to be rescheduled due to the forces of nature amongst other things. Apart from the rescheduled games, Montpellier play all of the lower sides – Tigers, Lions, Kangourous – and if they win these, and spring an odd surprise, they could yet have a say come finals time. Their next scheduled match is not until March against the Tigers, so a while to wait for a clearer picture.

Certainly the stage is set for a run home which could see a number of teams vying for a shot at the championship, and others still in the finals fight.  It is sure to be an exciting 2015 part of the season for all teams. ...

With the local Middle East competition enjoying its festive season break the opportunity to review the season to date presents itself. However, due to the postponement of the two games involving the Muscat Magpies, only four games have been completed to date. The scheduled nine games in 2015, as well as the two rescheduled Magpie games, will now hold the greatest clues to the season.

With that in mind, a very early guide to team's progress and chances has been put together ahead of the recommencement of matches on January 16th in both Abu Dhabi and Muscat.

Dubai Dragons - Started their season with an impressive 57 point win over last season’s premiers, Doha Kangaroos, in Doha. This was an emphatic message that the Dragon’s sought to exorcise their demons from last year. To drive home the point the Dragons then won the traditional local derby against the Dubai Dingoes by 26 points. After the break they play the Muscat Magpies, BM Bulls and Abu Dhabi Falcons. To lose any would be an upset of sorts, so the Dragons are well on the way to another grand-final, barring surprises.  

Doha Kangaroos – Started the season with a solid 25 point win over the new team, BM Bulls. This positive start was set back considerably when they went down heavily to the visiting Dubai Dragons.  Their run after the break includes the Falcons, Dingoes and Magpies. All are winnable, but they will need to if the wish to reach last season’s dizzying heights. Sitting with a win and a loss still gives Doha Kangaroos a decent launching pad for a better 2015.

BM Bulls – The leagues newest team has enjoyed an historic win against the Falcons by 28 points. Their loss by 25 points to Kangaroos was a creditable defeat at the hands of last season’s premiers, so could be seen as a positive, especially as they performed very well to reach the grand-final of the pre-season tournament. A busy 2015 as they tackle the Dragons, Magpies and Dingoes. To win two out of those three might be enough to see them reach the final in their first season pending other results, which would be a remarkable debut season.

Dubai Dingoes – One game for a 26 point loss to fellow Dubai rivals, the Dragons, is not enough evidence for a strong argument either way. Their scheduled match against the Muscat Magpies will be added to their 2015 workload as they play the Falcons and Kangaroos in January before a meeting with the Bulls in the final match before finals. Winnable games from here on in could see the Dingoes as a challenger, but their future will be clearer by January.

Abu Dhabi Falcons – In a story that is almost identical to the Dingoes, the Falcons have played just once for a 28 point loss to newcomers, the BM Bulls, and had their scheduled match against the Magpies postponed. Also too early to call, but their run home is tougher, having to play both of last year’s grand-finalists in 2015. Not without a chance of finals action, but will have to play every match at their absolute best to do so.

Muscat Magpies – The team from Oman will have a very busy 2015, having to play all five teams. No form guide yet due to the postponement of both of the games to date. If things fall into place as planned their schedule is a tough one with matches against the Dragons, Bulls and Kangaroos being a tough ask as well as slotting in their missed games against the Dingoes and Falcons. Their job is not easy, yet optimists could point to the argument that five games in relatively quick succession could get them on a roll. Time will tell.

A betting person would most likely install the Dubai Dragons as early season premiership favourites. But with 11 matches to be played in 2015 there are just too many permutations for anything to be cut and dried. The remaining matches for 2015 will certainly be exciting as teams come back rested and start their runs to the finals.

Left: Footy in the Middle East

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As reported in the Brisbane Courier Mail newspaper, recent successes with the development of international players will see AFL clubs make greater efforts to scour the world for new talent. The past few years have seen more and more international players joining AFL clubs. Most notable are higher profile players such as Mike Pyke from Canada (Sydney Swans), Tadgh Kennelly (Sydney Swans), Marty Clarke (Collingwood) and a host of other Irish players scattered across the clubs.

Eric Wallace (North Melbourne) came to the club after the AFL Combine in the USA whilst Kurt Heatherley (Hawthorn)  joined the club almost directly  from New Zealand junior programs. The international experiments started years ago are now beginning to bear fruit, and this is likely to gather even more steam after the recent AFL Europe Combine in Dublin. The following  Courier Mail article takes a closer look.

THE AFL is set to cast their foreign draft net beyond Gaelic footballers to find new talent in local leagues playing the game elsewhere in Europe.

Four Irish rookies were signed up for the 2015 season by AFL clubs in Australia including Essendon, Geelong, Fremantle and West Coast.

But speaking following a combined draft weekend in Ireland, AFL Europe CEO Ben MacCormack said scouts were to look further afield.

He said clearly the talent pool was large in Ireland where Gaelic football skill set matched that of AFL but the athleticism and enthusiasm and passion for the game meant there was talent to be tapped further among AFL Europe’s 21-member nation league competition.

“We are going to expand our talent search and we are very aware there are some out there whether it's a six foot eight inch explosive Croatian athlete to a talented Danish former handballer or basketballer which has wet the appetite of scouts to see what’s out there and find out more,” he said.

“Talent wise we’ve thought from the start we can consolidate and learn from what we’ve done in Ireland then expand it into Europe. The talent in Ireland is well known but we’re seeing exceptional results in Europe that we need to look more closely at.”

MacCormack cited the case of 19-year-old Danish player Mikkel Kjoeg who was just 1cm short from making the all time Australian standing vertical jump record of 83cm. The Dane had been selected to take a year out in the Geelong College exchange program to develop his AFL skills.

The London-based CEO said AFL Europe was growing all the time with new clubs joining local competitions; AFL Poland has just started up and the Russian competition was expanding with St Petersburg making a team for the 2015 season.

To read the rest of the Courier Mail story, Follow this link - http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/afl/afl-to-cast-recruitment-net-beyond-gaelic-footballers-to-find-next-big-thing/story-fnia3v70-1227171316795

Left: Aksel Bang from Denmark made his way to the GWS Giants

Left: Mason Cox is currently with Collingwood.  ...

In keeping with the off-season theme of players from international backgrounds looking for opportunities in the AFL, this article from the website of the New York Magpies further illustrates the drawing power our game is gathering.

The article looks at his recent journey within Australian Rules football from the days he left soccer and baseball behind to focus his efforts on our beloved game. We acknowledge the New York Magpies and the use of their story. For more information on the New York Magpies club, go to their website at: http://nyfooty.com/site/

New York Magpie Alex Aurrichio began his journey to Australia flying high from a National Championship win by the Pies this October.

Formerly an athlete at Columbia University playing soccer and baseball, Aurrichio joined the New York Magpies during the 2014 season after a showing at the USAFL Combine last April. Although Aurrichio was not offered an international rookie spot after the combine, his desire to make his AFL dream a reality only grew stronger.

Working relentlessly throughout the 2014 season, Aurrichio improved his skills and knowledge of the game. At the 2014 Nationals, he proved to be a force in the ruck and helped lead the Pies to their second premiership in four years.

Having been in Melborne for just over a month, Aurrichio is putting his effort into overdrive training with the likes of Collingwood VFL, Coburg VFL, and St. Kilda Sandringham VFL. While trainings have been challenging with hill sprints and altitude rooms, Aurrichio reports that the experience has also been extremely fun. Aurrichio keeps working hard trying to catch the eye of AFL teams.

In true Magpies fashion, former New York Magpie and 2010 USAFL Grand Final Champ Joel Daniher and his family are hosting Aurrichio during his stay. Aurrichio has also been fortunate enough to train with Terry Daniher, who he regards as “an awesome ambassador for the game and a true legend.” Of course, no trip to Melborne would be complete without meeting former New York Magpies head coach and Collingwood fan extraordinaire, Rob Oliver.

While Aurrichio’s future in the AFL is yet to be determined, we back here in the States know that his hard work, spirit, and unweilding dedication to the game will turn heads. Until the games in March, Aurrichio plans to keep working hard and making the most of this once in a lifetime opportunity. Aurrichio said in a recent email to the New York Magpies leadership, “Thank you because without you all, I would not be out here pursuing this dream!”

Hip hip hooray! We’re cheering for you, Alex!

Left: Alex Aurrichio in action for the New York Magpies ...

The following article is written by Gil Griffin, a freelance writer based in Los Angeles. He has had a long relationship with the game of Australian Rules football through his writing for the Frematle Dockers website and The AFL Record as well as his podcasts for Big Footy Dockers.

This article explores the journey of American players in Australia and the decisions they made, and journeys taken, to turn their backs on an Anerican basketball dream and give Australian Rules football a go.

Following is an extract from his article, and whilst it is lengthy, it is also highly rewarding with the deeper insights into how and why American athletes are prepared to make the quantum leap in sport and lifestyle to play Australian Rules football.

Granted, it's not one of those moments.

Not Jesse Owens in Berlin, not the U.S. Men's Olympic Ice Hockey team in Lake Placid.

History's about to happen, but it won't even register a blip on the American radar. Still, one man from the Southern Bible Belt and another from a Midwestern suburb will achieve an American athletic first.

It's best known here as "footy" and it's this country's national pastime. Until two years ago, Wallace never heard of it. Holmes only caught fleeting glimpses while late-night TV channel surfing. Until now, at Eureka Stadium, in Ballarat, in the Australian state of Victoria, where the North Ballarat Roosters are taking on the Sandringham Zebras, in more than 150 years of professional footy, no two Americans have ever played in the same match, let alone directly against each other. The Australian Football League (AFL), the country's national, elite pro league, currently includes one Canadian player, two with American fathers and in the past has had a handful born stateside, but raised in Australia. The 2015 AFL season will begin in April and when it does, both Wallace and Holmes may soon become the league's first-ever, born-and-bred American players.

To read the article in full, click on the following link: [story:http://www.sbnation.com/longform/2015/1/7/7468913/aussie-rules-football-american-basketball-players-profile]

Photos are from the original Gil Girffin article - Eric Wallace v Jason Holmes (Top), Eric in Action (Left)

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