Quantcast
Channel: World Footy News
Viewing all 3239 articles
Browse latest View live

Indigenous & Multicultural Showcase In Townsville

0
0

The 2016 National Diversity Championships get under way at Tony Ireland Stadium in Townsville next Sunday 3rd April. The tournament will again feature both the U15 Kickstart and the U15 All Nations Cup. Each year the event attracts the best indigenous and multicultural talent from across Australia, with all players vying to impress on their journey towards AFL stardom.

Past players that have come through this important component of the AFL talent pathway over the years include current players Steve May (Gold Coast Suns), Curtly Hampton (Adelaide), Callum Ah Chee (Gold Coast), Jade Gresham (St Kilda), Jay Kennedy-Harris (Melbourne), Karl Amon (Port Adelaide), Jarman Impey (Port Adelaide), Jake Long (Essendon) and a host of others across the AFL.

AFL Queensland Regional Manager, Kathleen Newman, stated in 2013 when Townsville last hosted the event that “there is every chance spectators will see the next Cyril Rioli, Lewis Jetta, or Chris Yarran, running around.”

The All Nations Cup has also increased in importance in recent years with the calibre of players from multicultural backgrounds reaching greater heights. Mabior Chol (Richmond), Reuben William (Brisbane Lions) and Gach Nyuon (Essendon) are all from Sudan and have reached AFL lists via the All Nations Cup.

The event gets under way on Sunday 3rd April with the opening ceremony at Tony Ireland Stadium. Then the battles commence with matches played from Monday 4th to Friday 8th April, culminating with the finals on Friday morning. The Kickstart and All Nations matches will be played on the main Tony Ireland Stadium and adjacent Riverway Oval.

Western Australia won the Kickstart title in 2015 in Cairns. Queensland took out the All Nations Cup for their inaugural title. The Victoria/Tasmania team was runner up in both and will be itching for a chance to reverse those results in 2016 adding spice to the tournament.

With 300 players arriving in the northern city for the event, Townsville will again be the focus of youth footy for the week. The best players in the Kickstart tournament will be selected in the Flying Boomerangs national indigenous team, whilst the best All Nations players will be selected for the World Team…great honours to achieve on the road to the highest levels of the game.

If you are travelling to Townsville next week it might be worth a drive out to Tony Ireland Stadium to catch some of the action. For more information, follow the contacts on the poster below.

...

Cairns Prepares To Welcome Dogs and Suns

0
0

 

In excerpts from the media release from the AFL, the push has already begun to attract the biggest and best crowd possible for the annual AFL Premiership Match in the Tropical North Queensland city. The match this year will be a highlight of the Round 17 fixture, being played in Cairns on Saturday 16th July.  Already this match is shaping as a super contest. After the first round of the 2016 AFL season, the Bulldogs sit atop the ladder after hammering Fremantle, whilst the Suns are third after doing the same to Essendon. Whilst things will change, both clubs seem set for bigger and better seasons…and a tropical battle could be a highlight of the season.

 

MEDIA RELEASE

 

In Cairns with player Roarke Smith to help launch tickets going on sale, Western Bulldogs CEO David Stevenson said the club was looking forward to hosting a match at Cazalys Stadium for a third consecutive year.

 

 

“The Club is proud to return to Cairns for the third consecutive year to showcase AFL football in North Queensland.

 

 “We have forged a great connection with the region thus far through our regular community and school visits and are grateful for the reception we’ve received to date by committed fans from across the country,” Mr Stevenson said.

 

“The game at Cazaly’s Stadium has become a fixture we look forward to and we hope to put on an exciting display in front of a vibrant, and energetic crowd when we return in July.”

 

Gold Coast SUNS CEO Andrew Travis, who joined Stevenson and Roarke in Cairns today, along with the club’s academy coach Andrew Raines spoke about the club’s continued commitment to the region.

 

“We always look forward to returning to Cairns for what promises to be another exciting match,” Mr Travis said.

 

“As a club we have established a significant foothold in the developing AFL region, which acts as a key recruitment catchment for the Gold Coast SUNS Talent Academy.

 

“From our commitment to the Gold Coast SUNS Talent Academy which has bases throughout the region, to  community camps, pre-season games and AFL premiership fixtures, the Gold Coast Football Club will continue to support the growth of AFL in Far North Queensland.”

 

This year’s match at Cazalys Stadium will be held at night for the first time with a starting time of 7.25pm. The later timeslot will allow visitors escaping the chill of the southern winter to experience the warmth that the Tropical North Queensland region has to offer.

 

AFL Cairns President Gary Young said “the match has built momentum over the years and every game has been action packed, with excellent attendance numbers, we are pleased to offer locals and visitors to Cairns an opportunity to purchase tickets at Early Bird prices.”

 

Queensland Minister for Tourism and Major Events Kate Jones said the Premiership fixture was an important event showcasing Tropical North Queensland as a world class sporting event destination.

 

“The AFL Premiership match between the Western Bulldogs and Gold Coast Suns is an annual highlight on the Queensland events calendar,” Minister Jones said.

 

“Hosting this Premiership match showcases Tropical North Queensland to Australia and reinforces its position as a premier sporting event destination.

 

“I know fans travelling to support their teams will make the most of the amazing experiences Tropical North Queensland has on offer.”

 

Cairns Mayor Bob Manning welcomed the return of the Bulldogs and the Suns to the Far North for the July fixture.

 

“We have a strong sporting culture in Cairns and we value the opportunity to see top quality football on our own home turf,” Cr Manning said.

 

“It’s these events that help to inspire the next crop of sportspeople and grow the popularity of the sport in our region.

 

“We’re pleased to be once again be teaming up with TEQ, AFL Cairns and Cazalys to bring this game to the tropics and we thank the AFL and the Western Bulldogs for continuing to include Cairns as a venue.

 

“I hope the Cairns community will embrace this opportunity and take advantage of the early bird tickets.”

 

Fans planning to travel to Cairns for the match can also book their getaway through AFL Travel.  AFL Travel offers the best available airfares, a range of affordable accommodation options and match tickets.  Visit the website today at www.afltravel.com.au/destination/cairns.

 

Tourism and Events Queensland supports the Toyota AFL Premiership Season match in Cairns in July as part of the It’s Live! in Queensland major events calendar, which highlights the perfect union of world-class events and destinations in Queensland.

 

 

 

               

 

 

 

 

  ...

Power Surge For AFL Cairns

0
0

Footy in tropical North Queensland has been growing solidly now for many years and AFL Cairns will welcome their newest addition, and most compelling piece of recent evidence of that growth, on the weekend when they see the Pyramid Power club run out in a reserve grade match for the first time.

One of the best measures of growth is the ability of a code to not only sustain numbers, but tap new player markets and increase participation in the game. AFL Cairns has worked hard to ensure that junior growth has translated into growth at the senior club levels as well. Pyramid Power is a club that has followed that model as it moves from the sphere of junior football to the ranks of senior adult football.

The club commenced in 2005, almost as a phoenix of past district clubs the Babinda Magpies and the Centrals Aloomba Bulldogs. By the 1980’s both of those entities had vanished leaving a football void in the vast areas south of Cairns from Gordonvale to Innisfail, west to the Atherton Tablelands and east to the aboriginal community of Yarrabah.


The new entity started as a junior only club, and after rocky beginnings managed to gather huge participation and success off field as well as four junior flags on field. This success certainly gave momentum to the idea of one day fielding a team at senior level. That dream is about to come true as their first ever reserve grade team takes on the Centrals Trinity Beach Bulldogs this weekend.

AFL Cairns has given a two year period for the club to build a strong senior body to enable a first grade senior team for 2018.

As is often the case with junior only clubs across Australia, once players become too old for junior ranks they are forced to leave their original clubs to pursue senior careers at others. This was heartbreakingly true for Pyramid Power. Many of their players, made up of over 90% indigenous kids, had to not only leave the club but also the game. Due to a range of geographical, socio-economic, cultural and associated reasons, players could not necessarily fit into other clubs.

Now Pyramid Power has a pipeline to keep young talent at the club, which is good for the Power but also invaluable to AFL Cairns as they continue to grow the game in the face of a predominantly Rugby League population in Cairns and surrounding regions.

Seeing the Pyramid Power crew at this week’s AFL Cairns season launch certainly drove home the message that the club has reached the local “big time”. The amount of senior age clubs has now grown from seven to eight, but that means an increase of up to 40 more players in local competition which will grow further by 2018.

Many people have created the Pyramid Power story, but the drive and imagination of past president, Brett Kennerley, and current president Jim Floyd has bulldozed a path that will enhance the club, district and competition for many years to come.

At 1.00pm on Saturday, Pyramid Power will add another layer to the history of AFL Cairns when their reserve grade team takes the field for their first formal home and away match. It will be a victory for many people associated with Australian Rules footy in Cairns. A win on the scoreboard would just sweeten that deal, but that’s another story.

...

AFL 2016 International Broadcast Schedule - Round 2

0
0

The 2016 AFL season continues tomorrow night in Melbourne with Collingwood hosting Richmond at the MCG. If you want to know when you can see the footy on TV in your part of the world, check out the schedule below.

As always schedules are subject to change at the discretion of the local broadcaster so please check local guides for updates.

GAMEDATETIMESLOTMATCHVENUESTATELOCAL TIMEGMTNETWORK
11/04/16NightCollingwood vs. RichmondMCGVIC19:5008:50SEVEN
22/04/16DayAdelaide Crows vs. Port AdelaideAdelaide OvalSA13:1502:45SEVEN
32/04/16DayEssendon vs. MelbourneMCGVIC14:1003:10FOX
42/04/16TwilightBrisbane Lions vs. North MelbourneThe GabbaQLD15:3505:35FOX
52/04/16NightSt Kilda vs. Western BulldogsEtihad StadiumVIC19:2508:25SEVEN
62/04/16NightFremantle vs. Gold Coast SUNSDomain StadiumWA16:4008:40FOX
73/04/16EarlyGWS GIANTS vs. Geelong CatsManuka OvalACT13:1003:10FOX
84/04/16DayHawthorn vs. West Coast EaglesMCGVIC15:2005:20SEVEN
95/04/16TwilightCarlton vs. Sydney SwansEtihad StadiumVIC16:4006:40FOX

 

...
TERRITORY/NETWORKGAME 1GAME 2GAME 3

GAME 4

GAME 5GAME 6GAME 7GAME 8GAME 9HIGHLIGHTS
AUSTRALIA PLUS          
Asia1/4 @ 16:30 HKT (Live)2/4 @ 10:30 HKT (Live)-2/4 @ 13:30 HKT (Live)-2/4 @ 16:30 HKT (Live)-3/4 @ 13:00 HKT (Live)3/4 @ 16:00 HKT (Delay)6/4 @ 11:00 HKT
Pacific1/4 @ 20:30 Fiji (Live)2/4 @ 14:30 Fiji (Live)-2/4 @ 17:30 Fiji (Live)-2/4 @ 20:30 Fiji (Live)-3/4 @ 17:00 Fiji (Live)3/4 @ 20:00 Fiji (Delay)6/4 @ 15:00 Fiji
India1/4 @ 14:00 IND (Live)2/4 @ 08:00 IND (Live)-2/4 @ 11:00 IND (Live)-2/4 @ 14:00 IND (Live)-3/4 @ 10:30 IND (Live)3/4 @ 13:30 IND (Delay)6/4 @ 08:30 IND
ESPN - BT SPORT          
UK & Ireland1/4 @ 09:30 BST (Live)2/4 @ 03:30 BST (Live)-2/4 @ 06:30 BST (Live)2/4 @ 09:15 BST (Live)--3/4 @ 06:00 BST (Live)-5/4 @ 17:00 BST
ESPN          
Caribbean----2/4 @ 04:00 EST (Live)----5/4 @ 17:00 EST
FOX SPORTS 2          
USA1/4 @ 04:30 EDT (Live)1/4 @ 22:30 EDT (Live)--------
FOX SOCCER PLUS          
USA---2/4 @ 01:30 EDT (Live)---3/4 @ 01:00 EDT (Live)-5/4 @ 01:00 EDT
ORBIT SHOWTIME NETWORK          
Middle East1/4 @ 08:30 GMT (Live)2/4 @ 02:30 GMT (Live)-2/4 @ 05:30 GMT (Live)---3/4 @ 05:00 GMT (Live)-4/4 @ 15:00 GMT
OTLSM - Boats & Cruises          
Worldwide (excl. Aust)1/4 @ 08:30 GMT (Live)2/4 @ 02:30 GMT (Live)2/4 @ 03:00 GMT (Live)2/4 @ 05:35 GMT (Live)2/4 @ 08:00 GMT (Live)2/4 @ 08:30 GMT (Live)3/4 @ 03:00 GMT (Live)3/4 @ 05:00 GMT (Live)3/4 @ 06:30 GMT (Live)-
SKY SPORTS          
New Zealand--------4/4 @ 24:00 NZDT (Delay)-
TSN 2          
Canada1/4 @ 13:00 EDT (Delay)-------3/4 @ 01:00 EDT (Live)-
TVNZ          
New Zealand1/4 @ 21:30 NZDT (Live)2/4 @ 15:30 NZDT (Live)--2/4 @ 21:00 NZDT (Live)-3/4 @ 15:00 NZT (Live)-3/4 @ 23:50 NZT (Delay)6/4 @ 18:00 NZT
CLARO SPORTS          
Latin America----------
WATCHAFL.COM.AU          
Worldwide (excl. Aust)1/4 @ 08:50 GMT (Live)2/4 @ 02:45 GMT (Live)2/4 @ 03:10 GMT (Live)2/4 @ 05:35   GMT   (Live)2/4 @ 08:25 GMT (Live)2/4 @ 08:40 GMT (Live)3/4 @ 03:10 GMT (Live)3/4 @ 05:20 GMT (Live)3/4 @ 06:40 GMT (Live)-

Denver Broncos to link up with North Melbourne?

0
0

An article in the Herald Sun this morning has linked AFL club North Melbourne with NFL club the Denver Broncos. The Colorado city of Denver, the home of the most successful USAFL club the Denver Bulldogs could be set to rapidly expand their footy interests. 

In the article Denver’s vice-president of public relations, April Thewell, confirmed the team’s interest in the AFL.

 

“There is a lot of intrigue about Aussie Rules over here and we see the North Melbourne Kangaroos as a perfect fit,” she said.

“Our VP of football operations John Elway and other members of our management team are heading out to Australia in the coming days to accelerate the negotiations.

“Could the next Peyton Manning come from Arden St? We’d like to think so.”

Of course this could all be an April fools day joke.  Happy April 1. ...

Three AFL Women’s Exhibition Matches to be broadcast in 2016

0
0

The AFL today announced three Women’s Exhibition Matches will be television broadcast in 2016. Matches will be broadcast by FOX SPORTS and will be aired live nationally. All three matches will be made available live on afl.com.au and the AFL Live App on mobile and tablet.

Broadcast matches:

West Coast Eagles v Fremantle

Saturday, April 9

Domain Stadium

3:05pm WST / 5:05pm EST



Melbourne v Queensland

Sunday, May 22

MCG

10:05am EST



South Australia v New South Wales

Sunday, June 5

Adelaide Oval

1:05pm CST / 1:35pm EST

 

AFL General Manager Clubs and AFL Operations Travis Auld said FOX SPORTS’ support was unprecedented.



“I thank FOX SPORTS for their outstanding support of the women’s exhibition matches in 2016. To secure three matches on national broadcast is a significant first for our code,” he said.



“The broadcasts will ensure the widest possible audience will see the best female talent across the country as we prepare for the inaugural national women’s competition in 2017.



“Following the success of the first ever national broadcast of a women’s AFL match last year, I’m sure footy fans will be keen to see this exciting development of our game.”



A national broadcast schedule including channel platform and programming times will be issued in the lead up to each match.



FOX SPORTS CEO Patrick Delany said: “These exhibition matches are a fantastic addition to our all-encompassing coverage, adding to AFL fans’ insatiable appetite for footy.”



Crocmedia will supply radio coverage of all matches of the 2016 Women’s Exhibition Series which will also be radio streamed live via afl.com.au.
  ...

Schedule released for USAFL 2016 Regional Tournaments

0
0

The USAFL Regional Tournament Series is back for the 2016 season with the venues finalised today.  The three tournaments allow clubs to compete against a number of clubs from their region at one location.  The results are used as part of the ranking of teams for the National Championships in October to be held in Sarasota, Florida.

Each (East, West and South) region will host both men's and women's matches with a Sunday morning training camp at each weekend for the women's national team to help determine the USA Freedom and Liberty squads for the 2017 International Cup.

The USAFL will cover umpires’ fees, field rental, and other costs.

Schedule:

CENTRAL REGIONALS: Saturday, June 11th – World Sports Park, Indianapolis, Indiana

EASTERN REGIONALS: Saturday, June 26th– Tibbetts Brook Park, Yonkers, New York

WESTERN REGIONALS: Saturday, July 16th– Capital FC Timber Sport Complex, Salem, Oregon

Follow this link more information on the regional tournaments

  ...

AFL Coaching Clinics in Singapore and Vietnam

0
0

AFL Asia has announced that Australian Football Coaching Courses will be held in Singapore and Vung Tau, Vietnam on the weekend prior to Anzac Day, 2016.

AFL Asia Media Release:

Thanks to the support of the AFL and in conjunction with the Vietnam Swans and Singapore Sharks and Wombats, AFL Asia is delighted to make available Level 1 Coaching Courses in Singapore on Saturday 23 April and in Vung Tau, Vietnam on Sunday 24 April.

The courses will be conducted by Wally Gallio, High Performance Manager for AFL Northern Territory and NT Thunder. Wally is an AFL High Performance (Level 3) accredited coach and the courses will be open to all levels of senior and Auskick coaches across Asia, free of charge.


The course in Vung Tau, Vietnam will be held in conjunction with the Vietnam Swans’ 7th Anzac Friendship Game vs the Jakarta Bintangs, with participants welcome to stay on for the Anzac Dawn Service at the nearby Long Tan Cross on Monday 25th, which will hold additional significance in this 50th Anniversary Year of the Battle of Long Tan. More information on the Swans’ website here.

Spaces are limited so make sure you register now for this unique opportunity for footy development in Asia!

Details:

Saturday 23 April 8.30am – 2.00pm (Auskick Clinic to follow)

Australian International School Singapore
Registrations – Sharksfc@ais.com.sg

Sunday 24 April 9.30am – 4.30pm (Auskick Clinic 11.30am Saturday)

Lam Son Stadium, Vung Tau (Lord Mayor’s Oval/Greyhound Track)
Registrations – nationalpres@vietnamswans.c ...

New Zealand On McLachlan’s AFL Radar

0
0

 

In an interview yesterday with Melbourne radio station 3AW’s Neil Mitchell, AFL chief Gillon McLachlan once again floated the distant possibility of an AFL team one day being based in New Zealand.

 

The full interview can be heard by following the link: http://www.3aw.com.au/news/gillon-mclachlan-says-new-zealand-most-likely-country-for-international-team-20160331-gnvt7a.html and playing back either of the video links. However, the most salient aspects of the interview are outlined below.

 

AFL boss Gillon McLachlan says New Zealand is the most likely location for the league's first internationally-based team.

 

While not on the agenda short-term, McLachlan said it could happen within 30 years.

 

 

 

McLachlan said there'd undoubtedly be critics of the idea, but you should never say never.

 

"I don't think people would have contemplated a lot of things that have happened in the last 30 years in our game," the AFL boss told Neil Mitchell on Friday.

 

"If you take a 30-year view, New Zealand is the most likely opportunity for expansion.

 

"The time zone is relevant, they've got ovals, they're good athletes and after rugby union there's no dominant second sport.

 

 

"It's not on the radar for tomorrow, but it's visionary." ...

Port Adelaide reach TV deal with China Central Television

0
0

The Port Adelaide Football Club and the world’s largest television network, China Central Television (CCTV) have reached a landmark agreement to broadcast AFL throughout China.

The agreement will see Port Adelaide’s upcoming home games against Essendon in Round 3 and Geelong in Round 5 broadcast on CCTV, with the latter to be televised live.

The partnership also includes a 25-week documentary series titled The AFL Show co-produced by Port Adelaide and 57 Films and funded by the South Australian State Government to raise the profile of South Australia in China.

The AFL Show, which debuted last night, is a 30 minute program that will be screened every Saturday night.

The program will showcase highlights of Port Adelaide’s game each week, highlights and scores from other games across the weekend and a regular segment on Port Adelaide’s international recruit Chen Shaoliang who will provide a unique insight into Port Adelaide, the AFL and living in South Australia.

Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas acknowledged this was an historic achievement for Port Adelaide and the AFL.

“This is the first time that AFL will be broadcast on CCTV, the world’s biggest television network, and it could be the moment that we reflect on in twenty years’ time and say that’s when China first fell in love with our great game,” Mr Thomas said.

“For over two years we have been working closely on engaging with China and a range of their key stakeholders and this agreement with CCTV is a culmination of all that work.

“We are proud to be the AFL’s team in China and the AFL have been very supportive in this regard.”

Port Adelaide general manager for China and Government relations Andrew Hunter said the partnership was another very significant step not just for Port Adelaide and the AFL, but for diplomatic relations between Australia and China.

“Given CCTV is controlled by China’s central government the content screened on their network goes through a strict process of approval as it must be deemed reputable and of national interest. For an agreement to be reached to screen AFL content is therefore a massive tick for both Port Adelaide and AFL and it very much legitimises our indigenous game in the eyes of their audience,” Mr Hunter said.

“During our discussions over the last six months CCTV have gained an understanding of Port Adelaide and the AFL in general and they are very excited about the prospect of broadcasting football content to their mass audience.

“The team at CCTV are particularly fascinated by Chen’s story, his passion for Port Adelaide and his dream to one day play AFL.”

After meeting with CCTV management, Mr Thomas expects an audience of between one and two million for each documentary and broadcast game.

“Given China has a population of over one billion people CCTV has an extraordinary reach. We anticipate our weekly documentary show and broadcast games will attract an audience of nearly two million given they’ll be screened in prime time,” Mr Thomas said.

“Allowing for this, our games against Essendon and Geelong will be the most watched home and away games in AFL history which is a great result for our entire club and corporate partners.

“We are confident this figure will grow once the Chinese audience gains a greater understanding of our game and the AFL competition in general.”

The AFL Show debuted last night on CCTV and it can be viewed with English translation on the Port Adelaide Football Club website through the following link: http://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/video/2016-04-03/ptv-port-adelaide-cctv-documentary-episode-1 ...

National Diversity Championships Kick Off In Townsville

0
0

Under the lights on a beautiful, mild Townsville night, the 2016 National Diversity Championships got under way with an opening ceremony at Tony Ireland Stadium. With a cooling light breeze to welcome the event, an enthusiastic crowd, many having travelled from all points of the nation, watched on as the cream of national indigenous and multicultural talent marched onto the field.

With MC for the night, Ms Beth Kempe, welcoming firstly the umpires and then the Kickstart and All Nations Under 15 players to Townsville, the assembled competitors and spectators were treated to a small but focused program of speakers and local entertainment.

Following on from the national anthem, Randall Ross, elder of the local Bindil people, gave the welcome to country on behalf of both the Bindil and Wulgurukaba people on who’s lands the tournament is taking place.


AFL Championship Manager, Kashif Bouns, also welcomed competitors, driving home the message for players to be the best that they could be, leave nothing in the tank and give their best for the tournament and in life.

Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill welcomed all to the event and to Townsville, highlighting the city’s close involvement with the event past and present.

Local Torres Strait Islander dancers performed for the audience as well as local singers before the event was declared officially open.

Now attention turns to the playing fields of Tony Ireland Stadium and the adjacent River Way Oval as the Kickstart and All Nations competitions get under way. All teams will be in action on Day One of battle.

To follow the progress of the 2016 National Diversity Championships, visit the AFL’s website at: www.afl.com.au/Multicultural for the All Nations competition. Results and updates from the Kickstart competition can be found at: www.afl.com.au/Indigenous ...

Umpires Rising In Townsville

0
0

Adam Davis, the AFL National Umpiring Development Manager, proudly watches over his crop of umpires officiating at the National Diversity Championships in Townsville. Not only are these umpires representative of the six national teams competing at the carnival (Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, Northern Territory, the combined Victoria/Tasmania team and the combined New South Wales/ACT team), they are also from diverse backgrounds themselves.

This diversity echoes the push that Adam and his umpiring team are chasing as their current recruiting program gathers steam.

According to his figures, the number of umpires nationally dropped below 12,000 last year. As the game grows with more women’s footy, multicultural carnivals and other growth areas, umpiring numbers have to grow with that rather than fall backwards and further behind what is needed.

Already the umpiring quota contains 1% of indigenous umpires, 8% women and 15% from multicultural backgrounds. That figure is hoping to be swelled to 18,000 umpires by the year 2020, with a predicted 33% of that figure coming from those same diverse umpiring backgrounds.

But it isn’t that simple. Even though recruiters are selling the game, and the role of umpiring, any prospective recruits still face one big hurdle. To take on the role they need to feel that they belong in that environment. With the bulk of umpires traditionally fitting the “very white and very male” image, some indigenous, multicultural and female prospects can feel anything from uncomfortable to intimidated by their new settings. This is the key to the battle to recruit new umpires to the game.

But this is exactly the area being worked on by the umpiring brains trust. The creation of umpriring academies across the nation is a huge step. Within these academies and associated training centres, coaches are instructed to create environments that foster feelings of belonging and comfort. If a large part of the battle is making someone feel wanted, then that is exactly the way academies must be constructed.

One of the most powerful ways of creating that feeling is to have umpiring role models. One example is former AFL star David Rodan who has looked at an umpiring career now that his playing days at the highest level are done. Other former players like Leigh Fisher, Jordan Bannister and Andrew Carrazzo have also explored the same road, and with their lead others will follow. As a result, more people are expected to recognise umpires in a vastly different and inspiring way.

Adam states that this current phase of the umpire recruiting program is early in an eighteen month process, but the overall positive results may take up to a decade to be realised. Bujt the steps are being taken and the momentum is building.

The experience of the umpires currently in Townsville for the Diversity Championships provides a great experience for them and part of a career pathway. In many cases the recruits start learning through a variety of local academies before graduating to community umpiring in local competitions. From there the pathway leads to events such as the Diversity Championships. Of the sixteen umpires currently involved in Townsville, two will be selected to progress to the Under 16 nationals later in the year.

Habib Khalaf started his journey through an umpiring academy run through the Australian International Academy for Muslim students. From there he graduated to community umpiring in the Essendon District Football League (EDFL), then on to the Auskick grid games played at half time during AFL matches. Today he is in Townsville, following his dream and taking the next step on his journey.

Habib’s journey is exactly the “feel good” inspiration story of what people can achieve and as such he is already a role model to future umpires, either from the past player or diversity pools of prospects or any other sources being explored.

What Adam and his team have achieved already is positive and exciting. How exciting will it be in years to come as our great game flourishes further with more umpires, more opportunities and more growth across the whole football spectrum.


Photos Courtesy John de Rooy Photography



Left: No match can happen without our brilliant umpires. ...

National Diversity Championships Townsville – Day 1 Wrap

0
0

The opening day of competition got under way today at the U15 Kickstart and All Nations Cup with last year’s title holders in each competition getting off to impressive starts. Western Australia has won the Kickstart title for the past five years, and began today winning both of their matches. The reigning All Nations winners Queensland also had the perfect start winning both of their opening matches played today.

On a beautiful day in Townsville the cream of Under 15 indigenous and multicultural talent took to the fields for their respective teams. The crowds were treated to some of the most scintillating football imaginable as players displayed a combination of team discipline and outrageous individual skills.

By the end of the first day of competition, Western Australia lead the way in the Kickstart tournament with two wins, followed by Northern Territory, Queensland, Victoria/Tasmania and South Australia with one win each.

Queensland and Western Australia enjoyed two wins apiece in the All Nations Cup with the New South Wales/ACT and Victoria/Tasmania teams grabbing a win each.

Today’s results set the scene for another exciting schedule of matches tomorrow and Wednesday before the event moves into finals mode on Thursday. The grand finals for each competition will be played on Friday.

Photo: Victoria v South Australia All Nations Cup (Courtesy John de Rooy Photograph ...

What Are AFL Recruiters Looking For?

0
0

Neville Stibbard has made a long career out of talent scouting. The current Western Bulldogs recruiter also had 16 years with the North Melbourne Kangaroos during their glory era of the 1990’s as well as working to put together the initial playing lists for the Gold Coast Suns and the Greater Wester Sydney Giants in the years before they hit the field as the AFL’s 17th and 18th clubs.

His years of experience put him in the ideal position to assess talent from across the nation. He is also a guru for young talent to tap into as they develop their skills on and off the field to improve as footballers and young men in the community.

In Townsville for the current national Diversity Championships, Neville is spending his time watching the best indigenous and multicultural talent from across Australia.


Neville believes in tournaments like this. He understands that the game, and specifically the AFL clubs, need a bigger pool to monitor, especially with the trading of future draft picks. This now puts a premium on both developing talent to watch for future drafting and seeing which kids have “the right stuff” to begin and develop an AFL career. “It makes it important to watch carnivals like this. The more players in the pool give a deeper pool to choose from and a wider selection of potential players”.

Speaking to the 300 players in Townsville for the Diversity Championships, Stibbard highlighted the player’s need to “improve skill level to standard to be drafted [you have] already been identified as an elite junior talent - now go further.” He pointed out the key categories of assessment that he uses, and are used in one form or another by other recruiters nationally. Stibbard looks at football skills (especially kicking), athleticism (speed, endurance, agility), mental capacity to cope with pressures on and off field (when games don’t go as planned or feelings of self-doubt) and being a good student.

Using examples of current and past players, Stibbard drove home to message to “keep at it [their dreams] and set up to play at level of best v best.” He highlighted examples in current Western Bulldogs players, Jason Johannisen and Lin Jong who started learning the game late but kept pushing their limits to succeed. He also highlighted the Northern Territory’s Kickstart team coach Shannon Motlop who never gave up on his dream to play at the highest level. He missed draft at his age but kept at it to pursue a dream via North Adelaide in the SANFL before eventually being drafted by North Melbourne.

Ross Monaghan is a current recruiter with Port Adelaide, though his days since being with the Calder Cannons have seen him spend time at Melbourne and Richmond in football operations roles as well as recruiting. His key message was for the players to see their opportunities in life (such as this carnival) and take them. He used current Adelaide Crows player Eddie Betts as an example of a player who did things tough when younger but never stopped believing in himself. He worked day in and day out to improve his skills to make up for a perceived lack of height.

Monaghan added that recruiters monitor footy all around Australia and strongly recommended that players take any invitation to be part of a state academy, TAC Cup, WAFL, SANFL teams and carnivals such as the national Diversity Championships to learn football skills but also put their skills on display.

Stibbard used the occasion to give the assembled players an insight into a normal week for a Western Bulldogs player. “Say you tick all boxes and get drafted” he began, and then gave a brief of this week’s club preparation. His description tied into the amount of hard work expected from players who might be paid as much as $300 000 per year in the mid-range. With the Bulldogs having played last Saturday night, rehab for all players was on Sunday.

Monday from 9am saw meetings for an hour prior to morning tea, then the leadership group meet for an hour before lunch. Massages after lunch then visits to club doctor and physio. At 2pm weights upper body then 3.30pm skill work and touch work and a 4pm meeting about how day went. On Tuesday the midfielders, forwards and backs have meetings, then look at team videos before a 3.30 stoppages meeting on how to combat the opposition. A 5pm full weights session is followed by a 6pm dinner at club for all players. Wednesday is a day off where players are encouraged to look at anything from schooling to PR roles. Thursday sees goalkicking practice, a look at the opposition from videos and a full session of footy before another rehab session. Friday sees more training to touch the footy before a Saturday morning light run, light rehab and light meeting.

It is a huge commitment for players, and daunting for the youth at this carnival getting their heads around the possibility that they might be part of the small percentage of players present that might go on to an AFL career. Roughly five percent of players at these carnivals get that far, which might number 8-10 of the crop in the hall at the Weir State School adjacent to Tony Ireland Stadium.

Stibbard also noted the disappointment when players got drafted but found it was too hard, or they were too lazy and wasted their opportunity and talent. They were paid good money to play highest level but didn’t value it.

It was certainly an enlightening session for the crowded hopefuls. It added another deeper level of understanding for the players as they gave their all for their states on the field and learned how much more they need to develop off the field if they hope that a recruiter like Stibbard, Monaghan or one of many others considers them for drafting somewhere down the track.

And that is not beyond the realms of possibility.
...

Suns sign Kaufman to International Scholarship

0
0
The Gold Coast Suns tonight confirmed they have signed an American to an International Scholarship position.  Brandon Kaufman, a wide receiver who was previously signed as a free agent with the Buffalo Bills in the NFL in 2013 will initially play with Labrador on the Gold Coast while learning the game.
 
Kaufman and a second potential recruit John Peters (who is on the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad) were trained for three weeks by the Kick Builders US talent program in Denver in 2015 with the aim of getting them onto an AFL list.  Kick Builders have been working with the Gold Coast Suns to improve kicking since early 2014.
 
Kaufman can be seen in action at the 2013 NFL Draft combine at the link here.
 

GC SUNS recruiting manager Dom Ambrogio spoke of Kaufman's future on the Gold Coast Suns website.

“We are excited to announce Brandon has joined the SUNS as an international scholarship player,” Ambrogio said.

“Aside from his unique athleticism and size, Brandon’s appeal was his elite level competitiveness and work rate.

“He is a proven athlete; his experience as a wide receiver in the NFL has meant he has developed an elite ability to catch under duress.

“Brandon’s American football experience means he knows what it takes reach the elite level, and we’re confident, with hard work, he has the ability to establish himself as a player for the Gold Coast SUNS.”

 
For the full story on the Gold Coast site follow this link.
...

AFL 2016 International Broadcast Schedule - Round 3

0
0

The 2016 AFL season rolls into Round 3 Friday night in Melbourne with Port Adelaide hosting Essendon at Adelaide Oval. 

There a two significant events this week in the International Broadcasts.  The first is the start of coverage in the US on the Fox Sports 1 channel taking one AFL match live each week.  Fox Sports 1 is available to approximately 73% of US homes which dramatically increases the chances of Americans either deliberately or accidentally viewing our game compared to the Fox Sports 2 and Fox Soccer Plus channels.  The first match on Fox Sports 1 will be the Western Australian Derby clash between the West Coast Eagles and Fremantle.

The second is the broadcast by China Central Television of the Port Adelaide match against Essendon on Friday night. 中国中央电视台体育频道 or CCTV5 is the main sports broadcaster for the Peoples Republic of China and shows sport 24/7. While the exact size of the potential viewership is not known, there is the potential for this to be the most viewed Australian football match ever.  Time will tell. 

If you want to know when you can see the footy on TV in your part of the world, check out the schedule below. As always schedules are subject to change at the discretion of the local broadcaster so please check local guides for updates.

GAMEDATETIMESLOTMATCHVENUESTATELOCAL TIMEGMTNETWORK
18/04/2016NightPort Adelaide vs. EssendonAdelaide OvalSA19:2009:50SEVEN
29/04/2016DaySt Kilda vs. CollingwoodMCGVIC13:4503:45SEVEN
39/04/2016DayRichmond vs. Adelaide CrowsEtihad StadiumVIC14:1004:10FOX
49/04/2016TwilightSydney Swans vs. GWS GIANTSSCGNSW16:3506:35FOX
59/04/2016NightGold Coast SUNS vs. CarltonMetricon StadiumQLD19:2509:25SEVEN
69/04/2016NightWest Coast Eagles vs. FremantleDomain StadiumWA17:4009:40FOX
710/04/2016EarlyNorth Melbourne vs. MelbourneBlundstone ArenaTAS13:1003:10FOX
810/04/2016DayWestern Bulldogs vs. HawthornEtihad StadiumVIC15:2005:20SEVEN
910/04/2016TwilightGeelong Cats vs. Brisbane LionsSimonds StadiumVIC16:4006:40FOX

 

...
TERRITORY/NETWORKGAME 1GAME 2GAME 3GAME 4GAME 5GAME 6GAME 7GAME 8GAME 9HIGHLIGHTS
AUSTRALIA PLUS          
Asia8/4 @ 17:30 HKT (Live)9/4 @ 11:30 HKT (Live)-9/4 @ 14:30 HKT (Live)-9/4 @ 17:30 HKT (Live)10/4 @ 11:00 HKT (Live)-10/4 @ 14:30 HKT (Live)13/4 @ 11:00 HKT
Pacific8/4 @ 21:30 Fiji (Live)9/4 @ 15:30 Fiji (Live)-9/4 @ 18:30 Fiji (Live)-9/4 @ 21:30 Fiji (Live)10/4 @ 15:00 Fiji (Live)-10/4 @ 18:30 Fiji (Live)13/4 @ 15:00 Fiji
India8/4 @ 15:00 IND (Live)9/4 @ 09:00 IND (Live)-9/4 @ 12:00 IND (Live)-9/4 @ 15:00 IND (Live)10/4 @ 08:30 IND (Live)-10/4 @ 12:00 IND (Live)13/4 @ 08:30 IND
CCTV5          
China8/4 @ 21:30 CST (Delay)---------
CLARO SPORTS          
Latin America9/4 @ 08:30 CTU (Delay)---------
ESPN - BT SPORT          
UK & Ireland8/4 @ 10:30 BST (Live)-9/4 @ 05:00 BST (Live)--9/4 @ 10:30 BST (Live)10/4 @ 04:00 BST (Live)10/4 @06:00 BST (Live)-12/4 @18:00 BST
ESPN          
Caribbean-----9/4 @ 05:30 EST (Live)---13/4 @ 14:00 EST
FOX SPORTS 1          
USA-----9/4 @ 05:30 EDT (Live)----
FOX SPORTS 2          
USA-------10/4 @ 01:00 EDT (Live)--
FOX SOCCER PLUS          
USA-8/4 @ 23:30 EDT (Live)-9/4 @ 02:30 EDT (Live)-----11/4 @ 23:00 EDT
ORBIT SHOWTIME          
Middle East8/4 @ 09:30 GMT (Live)-9/4 @ 04:00 GMT (Live)--9/4 @ 09:30 GMT (Live)-10/4 @ 05:00 GMT (Live)-11/4 @ 15:00 GMT
GEE - Boats & Cruises          
Worldwide (excl. Aust.)8/4 @ 09:30 GMT (Live)9/4 @ 03:30 GMT (Live)9/4 @ 04:00 GMT (Live)9/4 @ 06:30 GMT (Live)9/4 @ 09:00 GMT (Live)9/4 @ 09:30 GMT (Live)10/4 @ 03:00 GMT (Live)10/4 @ 05:00 GMT (Live)10/4 @ 06:30 GMT (Live)-
SKY SPORTS          
New Zealand------11/4 @ 24:00 NZT (Delay)---
TSN2          
Canada--8/4 @ 24:00 EDT (Live)--9/4 @ 24:00 EDT (Delay)----
TVNZ          
New Zealand8/4 @ 21:30 NZT (Live)9/4 @ 15:30 NZT (Live)--9/4 @ 21:00 NZT (Live)-10/4 @ 15:00 NZT (Live)-10/4 @ 23:50 NZT (Delay)13/4 @ 18:00 NZT
WATCHAFL.AFL.COM.AU          
Worldwide (excl. Aust)8/4 @ 09:50 GMT (Live)9/4 @ 03:45 GMT (Live)9/4 @ 04:10 GMT (Live)9/4 @ 06:35 GMT (Live)9/4 @ 09:25 GMT (Live)9/4 @ 09:40 GMT (Live)10/4 @ 03:10 GMT (Live)10/4 @ 05:20 GMT (Live)10/4 @ 06:40 GMT (Live)-

Edmonton Emus Snapshot.

0
0

Edmonton has "city of champions" as their tag line because of the number of athletes emanating from their city, the most notable being ice hockey player Wayne Gretzky. In some ways it's a lot like another sports mad city in Melbourne, with it's inhabitants supporting it's high profile sporting teams with fervor and just like Melbourne it has a fierce rivalry with a neighbouring city in Calgary.


It's just not men who are responsible for this reputation as there are many female athletes historically and presently in the mix. The founder of the first Australian Football club in Edmonton, Tristan Waldock for the Edmonton Emus is proud to point out that it's the women who first established the presence of Australian Football in Edmonton and it's the men who then followed. That may be an unique occurrence in Australian football history. That strong female sporting presence in Alberta probably goes a long way to explain the high representation from Western Canada in the the Canadian women's team.

The Canadian's women national team is named the Northern Lights and it is probably fitting that you can see those Northern Lights from Edmonton. Women have had a reasonable representation in rugby in Edmonton so Australian Football is seen as a reasonable alternative according to Tristan and of course a more attractive game.

Edmonton has a good representation of open space and playing fields but that doesn't seem to make it easier or cheaper to acquire a home ground. It is much warmer than usual this year, but even so the cold is no barrier to playing while the weather is fine. In fact it is quite delightful playing on fine cool days.
Even though there is only one women's team in the city and their main oponent is Calgary the women manage to have a 7 game season with the usual 9-a-side games as a fill-in.

Tomorrow the Edmonton Emus combine to have a hit-out with the Calgary Kookaburras in Calgary with a view to provincial and then national selection. The focus is definitely on improving the national performances even though the women are world champions and the men are competitive in first division.

Generally speaking, most Australians are ignorant of the dedication, involvement and costs incurred by some overseas volunteers in following their football passion. From an outsider's observation this may be responsible for premature burnout of some important staff. 

It's becoming increasingly common for some players from a number of countries to endeavor to have an extended playing experience in Australia. Currently there are at least three women playing in Melbourne and Sydney with an eye to the 2017 International Cup and even the new national AFL women's league.

After many years of playing and national involvement, Tristian has taken a step back with a view to relaxing more. So that is was exactly what we were found doing when we met with his mate Myk Aussie  to discuss all things football. Myk is reasonably well known as a sports commentator of sorts as well as having played Australian Football in Edmonton and Calgary. Originally doing any gig possible he has matured into a cable television niche market. Myk has been able to talk Australian Football in a market crowded with high profile North American sports.

That's because he can talk any sport and steer the conversation to AFL. That's valuable exposure in anybody's language. Here's an example  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EECNwrmwV0 . Wait for the 7 minute mark.

Other valuable exposure comes from Roger's TV. Rogers is a big communications company in Canada and airs the occasional game of local Australian Football played in Ontario.
  ...

Alberta women's snapshot.

0
0

Canada is getting serious about investing in it's representive teams. Both men and women players across Canada have been invited to participate in provincial teams to compete for national places.

 

Today I talked to Tristan Waldock's successor in Jason Arnold and his wife Danah in Calgary at the spacous grounds of the Sir Winston Churchill Centre.


Jason and his colleagues were running the first outing of an Alberta women's provincial team consisting of players coming from the Edmonton Emus and Calgary Kookaburras. Later a team will be selected to play against other provincial teams to provide players for two national sides.

Yes, it has been confirmed that Canada again will send the Northern Lights and the Midnight Suns to the 2017 International Cup. Jason is aiming for the Northern Lights to retain their world champion status and for the Midnight Suns to improve on their previous competitve standing. It's probably lucky for him that his wife has adopted and plays football. Danah plays at full forward.

This was the first formal hit-out for these players but it was quite impressive. With the 2017 International Cup more than a year away and this being only a provincial squad I'm predicting a very professional Canadian women's team, even awesome.

The men are duplicating the process with selections from West and East meeting in Vancouver in a month's time. Usually Canada looks to the 49th Parallel Cup to test it's rivalry against it's arch rival USA but both countries have agreed to to suspend this contest in 2016 to concentrate on selections for 2017.  ...

Calgary Kangaroos Snapshot.

0
0

Recently there has been a turnover of staff at national level in Canada and I talked to AFL Canada's new president and continuing Calgary Kangaroos president Lachlan Griffiths.  
 

It may seem an obvious statement but football needs people. Not just players, coaches, staff and helpers but people who bring their particular expertise into the football environment. The person who can ring around and find an available sporting facility at a reasonable price is a valuable asset.

Lachlan is an accountant and has endeavoured to set the league and the clubs on a sound financial footing. He has studied various institutions, not just football entities to extract inspiration for the right financial model.

 

The future of Australian Football is now increasingly focused on junior programs. Against the odds individuals have established some programs in a number of countries. The North Delta program has been running successfully for some years now and Lachlan has used that knowledge gained to establish programs in Calgary.

Calgary is in partnership with "Kidzfirst" which is a program where kids pay to try or be involved with five major sports - Australian Football, not only being one choice but a very popular choice. From that program, two junior teams have been created with more being considered, the obstacles being the number of educators and availability of uniforms. In 2016, Calgary has added KidSport. To keep pace with junior development programs in schools, Calgary educates the school P.E. staff to compliment their own during school hours and approximately 60 teachers are now conversant with Australian Football.  

Umpires are crucial. Not just to umpire games but to educate newcomers. The first step is to get players to umpire and educate. The next step is to accredit umpires to to produce more umpires. AFL Canada now has three assessors, one responsible for each of Ontario, Alberta and Quebec provinces to increase umpires numbers.

Calgary has designs on it's own full sized oval but at the moment the costs are prohibitive because it involves remediation of an established baseball diamond.
 

Like many clubs Calgary works with the Irish community in joint competitive games but unlike most clubs they don't indulge in International Rules rather preferring to play the Gaels in reciprocal games of AFL and GAA. There is a lot a of sense in that approach with games contributing to both established football codes and with Australian Football gaining some new recruits.

Currently the composition of the three team Calgary league is approximately 50%  expat Australian. They have approximately 100 senior men and women players not including juniors. The Bears, Cowboys and Wolves select players in a draft to keep action competitive as possible. As we speak, Banff is in the process of creating a team which could join the Calgary league.

The Kangaroos are the combined team that represents Calgary. They Interact with Edmonton thrice by tournment and also participate in the Kelowna Tournament, a large event on the football calendar. They also compete in the USAFL nationals despite not playing any American teams. To qualify for the USAFL nationals you must gain points by playing away games and hosting games with other clubs (outside of your league).

Some time ago WFN canvassed a development survey from overseas football clubs. With respect to indoor football the effectiveness in North Amerca was seen differently to that in Scandanavia. The reason can be explained by the different costings which can reach for example, $200 per hour in Calgary. Despite this Lachlan sees indoor football as integral to development.

Currently Roger's TV in Toronto shows three games of football of the Ontario league. Lachlan had Shaw show the Calgary Grand Final in 2015 and is hopeful of getting more games shown in 2016. AFL is shown on TSN2. Two games per week and the grand final. However they are shown inconveniently live, which because of time difference does little to promote the game. Lachlan is trying to both increase the coverage and change to user friendly delayed coverage for wider appeal. Unlike Australia, AFL fans don't have to worry about spoiler alerts.

Discussion then turned more general, with Lachlan fielding questions, sometimes out of left field, with ease and always appreciating the intent. For example, the criteria for government support (if available) varies significantly between countries in both form and amount. North America has to rely on good business sense as the bar is set very high. Calgary has an innovative form of funding best described as charity proceeds-sharing.

As to the future, Banff is well under way and there could be a surprise development in Saskatchewan. AFL Canada seems to be on the right path.

...

National Diversity Championships – Day 2 & 3 Wrap

0
0

The Kickstart and All Nations Cups move into their finals series today in Townsville. After three days of round robin matches where each side played each other once, the teams now have the chance to move through to tomorrow’s grand finals by winning their semi-finals and later preliminary finals today.

Once again the Western Australia Kickstart team has excelled across the tournament. Having won all five championships since this format began, the boys from the west a geared again to retain their title once again. Whilst many teams have held them for a half, the highly drilled, committed and enormously talented Sandgropers have found the extra gears to pull away and remain undefeated. The Northern Territory team has also been impressive, as have the Victoria/Tasmania and South Australia teams. The fact that all teams have snagged a win along the way says much for the national spread of talent.


The All Nations Cup is far from decided. Last year’s title holders, Queensland, have three wins, but have been slightly shaded to date by the Victoria/Tasmania and Western Australia teams. But finals are a different beast and whichever team brings their best to today’s games will get through to contest tomorrow’s final.

If there is one constant across all teams, both Kickstart and All Nations, it is the amazing skills on show. In his opening speech for this tournament, AFL Diversity Manager Ali Fahour stated that around 5 to 8 players a year make it from these championships to AFL lists, but as the competition grows it is hoped that the figure will grow to maybe 10-12 per year. Based on the evidence shown by this week’s talent, that increase might happen very soon.

The finals matches begin at Tony Ireland Stadium in Townsville at midday today. All eyes will be on whether any Kickstart team can upset the Western Australian juggernaut and which All Nations team grasps today’s opportunities to claim the cup.

It is sure to be another exciting day of outstanding youth footbal ...
Viewing all 3239 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images