In our previous story An Avalanche of Austrian Talent about the rebuilding of Australian Rules football in Austria, Oliver Krajacic painted a picture of a re-birth of sorts, due mainly to hard work and a connection to the Karl-Franzens Universität Graz.

That was on the back of a hectic off-season which saw structural and planning changes for Austrian footy, but was also rather theory-based. The measure of success would be tangible progress and change for the better as the 2013 season wore on.

At this point, Oliver can fill in the blanks.

“Our president Martin Schittegg had come up with the idea of holding an Austrian championship of sorts after we picked up some new players throughout the course of the year. By adding some retired veterans, some interested newcomers and our new additions to the team, we managed to put together theMurtal Mountain Goats, Gradec Earthmovers and Castle Rock Mammoths.”

“So, last Tuesday (July 16th) saw the first 9-a-side match between Austrian teams since 2010. Back then the Vienna Kangaroos were more of an international/Australian team playing in Austria. They were, however, kind enough to donate the old national team guernseys. To make things even better we didn't have just two, but actually three teams competing that day!”

“The task of dividing up players among the teams and organising game days was given to three players that have only been with the Styrian DownUnderDogs for a little over a year. Andi, Lukas and Michi did a great job motivating players to attend, be competitive on the field and, most importantly, have a ton of fun playing footy!”

“[Additionally] the recent Umpiring Workshop held by AFL Europe's Shane Hill at our field in Zwaring also made sure we had quality umpires and consistent calls.”

“Here are the results of the day. It is interesting, and valuable, that each side experienced a victory on the day.”

Castle Rock Mammoths 6 3 (39) d Gradec Earthmovers 3 7 (25)
Gradec Earthmovers 3 5 (23) d Murtal Mountain Goats 3 4 (22)
Murtal Mountain Goats 7 7 (49) d Castle Rock Mammoths: 2 6 (18)

Ladder:

“There are at least two more game days planned in August, leading up to a possible training match for our national team (Austrian Avalanche) against the best of the rest. Things are definitely looking up for Austrian footy at the moment.”

It remains to be seen whether or not this new momentum can carry into the future or not. But one thing is clear. In recent years, the demise of the Vienna Kangaroos and an overall drop in numbers had seen the game on the slide in Austria. Now, the nucleus of a potential 3 team (or more) competition exists.

Not only is there the ability to play for the Styrian DownUnderDogs against the Croatian teams in the formal competition, there is also the ability to play in and around that as a mountain goat, mammoth or an earthmover. Then, of course, there is the distinct possibility of fighting for spots in a much stronger Austrian Avalanche national team.

This, of course, prompts the distinct possibility of saying something unexpected.

“Go Goats..!!”

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The Victorian Women’s Football League Executive and its clubs have voted to transfer the governance and maintenance of the league to AFL Victoria. The transfer will be competed by the 1st of November, 2013.

The vote is the culmination of more than a year of work between the VWFL, AFL Victoria and the Transitional Working Group. The TWG was formed in May 2012 to develop a future competition model for women’s clubs.

AFL Victoria’s General Manager, Grant Williams, said that the changes would be a positive step for women’s football in Victoria. He pointed to the current collaborative approach and the recent successes of the state team as an example of how the women’s game will further develop in Victoria. He also thanked the VWFL Executive for their input into making the vote happen.

As part of the transfer, the existing VWFL, which features a premiers and reserves metro league with two country leagues, will be restructured to form a true state level competition. Williams believes that this will help further develop the pathway for female football players in Victoria and enhance initiatives such as the AFL Victoria VWFL Academy.

VWFL President Naomi Hurst said that the new structure would be more efficient and effective for administering the women’s leagues in Victoria. She also said that the considerable expertise and resources of AFL Victoria would provide invaluable support and guidance in managing the development of the women’s game into the future.

Collaboration with state AFL organisations has been very successful for women’s football leagues in the Rugby League heartlands of New South Wales and Queensland, whilst the women’s leagues in the smaller states of ACT and Tasmania, both of which did well at the recent Women’s National Championships, would not exist without AFL suppor ...

On the 17th of July, the leading women involved in football in Europe (outside of Ireland) got together via tele-conferencing to discuss this year’s Axios Euro Cup, which will be held in Bordeaux on the 21st of September.

For the last few years, Ireland has managed to a field a team, and another country (or a collaboration of countries, such as last year’s European Crusaders) has also put a team in to play them in a women’s exhibition match. However, with the women’s game finally beginning to grow outside of Ireland, it might finally be possible to have a genuine women’s competition alongside the men’s competition at this year’s Euro Cup.

As this year’s Euro Cup will be hosted in France, and with a number of female players in Bordeaux, Paris and Toulouse, AFL France’s Women’s Football Co-ordinator, Berengere Portal, has confirmed that the French aim to put out a home side.

Two national teams: Ireland and France.

AFL Vanuatu has come a fair way since the very early days and through the Vanuatu Volcanoes they represent their nation with pride. However the social and economic challenges faced in such a country mean that stories such as this are all the more important.

Victorian footy club Ferny Creek – nestled in the Dandenongs between Ferntree Gully and Olinda – is set for a footy trip with a difference when they tour Vanuatu at seasons end this September.

AFL Vanuatu receives boost from local Victorian Football Club Ferny Creek, Vic – July 23, 2012 – In September this year, AFL Vanuatu are going to receive a massive boost to their developing program when local Victorian club, Olinda Ferny Creek, embark on an AFL development tour to the Island.

Almost 50 people from the Olinda Ferny Club will take part in a tour that sees the club compete against the national side, but more importantly undertake community project work for the sport by helping to develop facilities, and provide coaching clinics in the local schools. With youth unemployment and social issues soaring in Vanuatu, the link between sport and keeping the youth active and positive has never been more important.

President of AFL Vanuatu, Justin Johnson says, “There’s a lot of social issues in Vanuatu and a huge number of youth who are unemployed. Sports programs are just so critically important, when the kids wake up in the morning they have something to look forward to”.

Concordia College in Adelaide were the first to take part in a development tour to Vanuatu, and the concept has been picked up by Horizons Sporting Events, who have developed a strong relationship with AFL Vanuatu and will be offering regular development tours for Australian clubs and schools to Vanuatu.

Managing Director of Horizons Sporting Events, Michael Edwards says, “The real outcome were aiming for is to do is something that leaves a lasting legacy for the community. Typically we try to encourage our tours to include some element of social justice participation, as it gives Australian kids great insight while also benefiting local communities like Vanuatu”.

Horizons have also developed a similar program to South Africa and are looking to expand into more pacific development programs to destinations such as Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Samoa. The Olinda Ferny Football club will be looking to make Vanuatu a regular trip on their calendar and help drive growth of AFL in Vanuatu, while providing a great opportunity for Australian kids too.

Contact:
Adam Coles
Email: adam@horizons-sport.com.au
Unit 27 & 28, 11 – 21 Underwood Rd
Homebush NSW 2040
Ph: 0488 771 781 ...

WFN reported PNG U/14s success signals NEAFL future for PNG/Sth Pacific. recently on the NEAFL potential of PNG either via more players involved if not PNG representation with AFL PNG General Manager Murray Bird suggesting the talent is such that one day the Mosquitoes could find a place stand alone in the NEAFL.

Bird spoke recently to the ABC on this topic and can be heard here PNG footballers to play big role in new NEAFL side.

Mr Bird says he is very confident of the ability of PNG players after their success in the under-14 side in Queensland.

"The boys played in the Queensland state academy championships on the Gold Coast and they won the grand final by nine or ten goals...they did exceptionally well," Mr Bird said.

"In the past, we've had probably eight to ten boys that have played at state league level...there's plenty of talent here. ...

New Zealand’s Shem Tatupu, who will become an international rookie at Hawthorn in 2014 (current scholarship listed), has recently been in Melbourne playing for the Oakleigh Chargers in the elite TAC Cup under 18s competition.

He kicked 1.1 in the Chargers' win over the Northern Knights during July, with his marking a feature. Earlier in the year he kicked two goals each in games against Western Jets and Geelong Falcons. His marking again in both games was a highlight.

At this stage, he appears to be giving away a number of frees but as his game awareness and body positioning improves this is likely to alter. Or maybe, as he is Hawthorn listed, he might follow Buddy Franklin’s lead and still remain in the negative for frees for and against but become a very dominant footballer! Time will tell.

For more, see the article International Projects on the AFL website, or visit SportingPulse to see Shem's player stats or the match stats from his appearance with the Charge ...

This weekend international Australian football in north America will be highlighted as Canada and the United States compete in the 49th Parallel Cup on Canadian soil in Edmonton.

The Canadian national team, the Northwind, has been working hard since January for this game. The coaching staff feel they have one of their best teams, one which has been built around a group of players working hard to become solid unit. There is a belief amongst the squad that they can beat any team they face

Over the past year the Canadian team has been focusing on improving their skill sets and football knowledge, key areas in which Canadian national coach, Benjamin Roberts, believes will make this one of Canada’s most competitive teams.

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The US Revolution team head north for the 2013 instalment of a series going back to 1999 when Paul Roos coached the US team against Canada in Chicago.  This year Edmonton, Canada is hosting the international footy contest known as the 49th Parallel Cup.

And being only a year away from the next International Cup Bishop says the team taking the field this weekend is getting close to what they are likely to bring to Melbourne “We only had two players selected (back in March) withdraw from the squad that chosen after the training camp. We are certainly getting closer to finalizing a squad that will travel to Australia, however we do like to keep the door slightly ajar for any players that we believe could add to the team."

 The 49th Parallel Cup will be played at Kaskitayo Park in Edmonton 1975 109 Street Edmonton, AB, Canada.

The Timetable for the day is 

9:30am - Opening Ceremony

10:00am - Game 1 (Women’s Development) - Canada Northern Lights vs. USA Liberty

12:00pm - Game 2 (Men’s Development) - Canada North Wind vs. USA Revolution

2:00pm - Game 3 (Women’s Championship) - Canada Northern Lights vs. USA Freedom

4:00pm - Game 4 (Men’s Championship) - Canada North Wind vs. USA Revolution

6:00pm - Closing Ceremonies
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This weekend's international match in Edmonton between Canada's Northwind and the US Revolution will be streamed live.

The event will be be broadcast live from 10:00am on Youtube @ http://www.youtube.com/edmausfc with streaming commentary and video of the games.

Broadcast Schedule

10:00 am MDT (GMT-6hrs) 
Canada's Northern Lights versus USA Liberty 
 (Women's Development match)

12:00pm MDT (GMT-6hrs)
Canada's Northwind versus USA Revolution 
(Men's Development match)

2:00pm MDT (GMT-6hrs)
Canada's Northern Lights versus USA Freedom
(Women's Championship match)

4:00pm MDT (GMT-6hrs)
Canada's Northwind versus USA Revolution
(Men's Championship match)

  ...

The AFL Europe Championships kick off in Dublin tomorrow, with Europe's six strongest footballing nations battling it out for the cup. Hosts Ireland will again go into the tournament as hot favourites, although with healthy competition from arch rivals Great Britain, Scandinavian powerhouses Denmark and Sweden, and the relative underdogs Croatia and Germany.

The round one pool matches of Ireland vs Sweden and Great Britain vs Denmark will go a long way towards deciding who will meet in the final, with a large advantage to the winners in those matches.

Fans will be able to check up on the full draw, squads and live results via the tournament website dublin2013.org, with scores also to appear here after each round, along with resultant changes in the WFN World Rankings.

Peter Ross from the Irish Warriors has also published a form guide on his blog, which is available here ...

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The first day's play at the DCU Sportground in Dublin has been completed, with Ireland, Great Britain and Croatia winning their respective matches.

A wrap-up of Day 1's matches with best players and goal kickers is available on the dublin2013.org tournament website here. The tournament organisers have also posted a highlights video, available for viewing here ...

Sydney newspaper the Daily Telegraph has reported that the Sydney Swans have signed Patrick Mitchell, one of the three athletes to come out of the AFL's US combine earlier this year.

The three athletes trialled at the Swans and in front of other AFL clubs in June. Swans' head of recruiting told the Telegraph "The other two were impressive as well, but we felt the thing with Patrick was he was going to give it absolutely 100 per cent."

Beatson's opinion on whether he would make an AFL footballer "Is there a guarantee Patrick is going to make it? No, there's not. But we're going to give him a go and provide him with the resources to give him a realistic chance of making it."

The other two athletes (Mark Cisco and Jason Holmes) may get another chance to impress clubs at this year's Draft camp in October, invitations will be announced in September.

Previously the Swans have passed on taking Shae McNamara and signed Alex Starling from the US to an international scholarship, but Starling never appeared to have made it to the point where he was seriously considered to be added to the Swan's list. 

The Swans released the following statement this afternoon;

The Bachar Houli Program, which provides mentoring, education and leadership sessions for students in Islamic schools, and the opportunity to play football and compete for the Bachar Houli Cup has received a grant of $156,000 from the Australian Government. The grant allows the program to continue for at least one more year.

The announcement was made last week by Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus and Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Kate Lundy.

According to the AFL's Jason Mifsud, “the Bachar Houli Program engages 30 Islamic colleges nationally and more than 5000 participants annually. It plays an integral role in fostering greater cultural understanding and promoting social inclusion.”

The program is considered a great success and has been shortlisted for a Beyond Sport Award; which seek to find the best projects from around the world that use sport to address social issues within communities. ...

49th Parallel Cup Results - Played in Edmonton, Canada

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After trialling with the Carlton Football Club last year, Ciaran Byrne was back at Princes Park again in the past couple of weeks and has been confirmed as the latest Irish import to the AFL. Byrne will be officially taken in the AFL's national draft later this year as an International Rookie.

Following the last two notable failures in John Heslin and Ciaran Kilkenny at Richmond and Hawthorn respectively to make it past preseason, clubs may have become understandably shy of bringing out young homesick Gaelic footballers.

But the success this year of Pearce Hanley and Zach Tuohy would have reignited the faith that getting the right players and being prepared to be patient for the transition to be fulfilled can reap rewards.

Of course Carlton are not new in the Irish cross over game and will be glad to have locked in Byrne after Kilkenny slipped their grasp last year.

Carlton have a strong recruiting setup in Ireland and it will be interesting to see if any other clubs have a renewed interest in Irish talent.

For more on Byrne see - http://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/2013-08-01/ciaran-hooked-on-aussie-rules ...

Chen Shao Liang may ring some memory bells with our readers. He was the Chinese athlete identified at the AFL's Combine in China last year and he subsequently took part in the main Combine in Melbourne.

This week he flew into Australia and on the weekend suited up for the Southern Dragons in the VAFA. The Dragons are a club that is mainly based around Melbourne's Asian immigrant community, in particular having a good number of Vietnamese players.

He will be in Australia for four weeks and play the last three rounds of the season with the Dragons. Shao Liang and his team mates went down to West Brunswick 17.11 to Southern Dragons 2.10 on a cold Melbourne winter's day. He will also be training at Wesley College’s with the team's 1st XVIII during his stay.

Thanks to Aaron Thompson of West Brunswick AFC for the picture of Shao Liang in the Southern Dragons kit post match. ...