2011 International cup

[mikey127]

Hi guys for those that don't know the 2011 international cup is currently on

its great too see so many other countries embracing our game. there are 18 mens teams and 5 womens teams competing

there are 2 womens games today and then a full round of fixtures on Saturday at Blacktown in Sydney

South Africa play the USA on Sunday as a curtain raiser to Swans v Saints at ANZ

The tournament will move to royal park in melbourne next Wednesday and Friday with the grand final to be played as a curtain raiser to Bulldogs V hawks on the 27th

If your free get out there and check it out. Its a fantastic torunament and the standard gets better every time

 

[*Crash*]

Games have been great so far. Seeing PNG yesterday has me convinced that they will go back to back. Maybe Ireland will be better when they come to Melbourne if Conor Meredith and Aisake o'hAilpin come into the team? Kiwis looking pretty solid too so you never know.

Will be out at Blacktown Saturday and at ANZ Sunday where US and South Africa are the curtain raiser before Swans/Saints. Then in Melbourne the following week.

Following it all on World Footy News.

 

[PTizzle]

Always follow this with a bit of interest. PNG should win again but who knows really. We've got a PNG bloke on a rookie program with us currently and he's doing very well in the reserves, all of this bodes well for the future of the sport over there.

I must say as an aside they all have pretty nifty jumpers too. http://www.worldfootynews.com/staticpages/index.php/IC11_Mens_Previews_Squads_Jumpers

 

[westie88]

Been following keenly. PNG, Ireland and NZ again look threatening. South Africa the dark horse of the comp - footy is growing wildly over there.

 

[*Crash*]

Prematch for PNG - Tonga. Dont see this stuff at an AFL match, but in the International cup context it is great to watch.

[YOUTUBE]UbWHvjNhXA8[/YOUTUBE]

 

[westie88]

Great video - thanks for sharing. Plus it directed me to the footage of the 2008 IC GF which I've been looking for for a while.

 

[fabulousphil]

Been following keenly. PNG, Ireland and NZ again look threatening. South Africa the dark horse of the comp - footy is growing wildly over there.

Nice play on words, i think the program in South Africa is called 'footywild'.

I follow it via the net and newspapers, bigger and better this time around, i have heard that possibly the better teams will invited to the foxtel cup in future years.

When you get to that stage, you will be getting to a very decent standard.

 

[Marlin01]

For those that have seen a few of the games, what level of footy would you equate it to in Australia? State League, A-grade Amateurs?

 

[westie88]

For those that have seen a few of the games, what level of footy would you equate it to in Australia? State League, A-grade Amateurs?

I haven't seen any games live, but watched the 08 grand final on Youtube - would say quality of the top teams is around the level of our premier division in South East Queensland - which is the level below the State League up here - which admittedly is far from the best state league in the country.

 

[Greggy]

Any reports on how Richmond Rookie prospect John Heslin is playing for Ireland?

 

[westie88]

Any reports on how Richmond Rookie prospect John Heslin is playing for Ireland?

Mixed tournament so far. Kicked a goal, but not in the best vs Sweden. Was BOG vs East Timor in qualifying round against a very low quality opposition, but not mentioned vs Great Britain in qualifying round against a better team.

 

[Marlin01]

I haven't seen any games live, but watched the 08 grand final on Youtube - would say quality of the top teams is around the level of our premier division in South East Queensland - which is the level below the State League up here - which admittedly is far from the best state league in the country.

Thanks Westie

 

[*Crash*]

Any reports on how Richmond Rookie prospect John Heslin is playing for Ireland?

Here a pic of the lad in action in Sydney for you Greggy.

 

[*Crash*]

Draw for tomorrow and Sunday
Saturday August 20 - Blacktown International Sportspark - Men's

Also being played at Oval 1 is the NEAFL match between Brisbane and Sydney Reserves at 1pm

10am - Div 1 - New Zealand v Canada - Oval 1

12pm - Div 2 - France v India - Oval 2

2pm - Div1 - PNG v Nauru - Oval 2

4pm - Div1 - Ireland v Denmark - Oval 2

6pm - Div 2 - China v Peace Team - Oval 1

6pm - Div 2 - Fiji v Timor-Leste - Oval 2

Auburn Mona Park Ovals - Women's

To be played after two Sydney Women's AFL matches

1pm - PNG vs Ireland

3pm - Canada vs USA

Sunday August 21 - ANZ Stadium - Men's

To be played as a curtain-raiser to Sydney Swans v St Kilda

10.40am - Div 1 - South Africa v USA

 

[Lemma]

Are there any matches in Melb or are they all in Blacktown?

 

[Dr Awkward]

For those that have seen a few of the games, what level of footy would you equate it to in Australia? State League, A-grade Amateurs?

No, A-grade amateurs would kill them.

There is quite a difference in standard between some of the good and bad teams but generally I would say it's around C or D grade Amos.

 

[aidancdaman]

For those that have seen a few of the games, what level of footy would you equate it to in Australia? State League, A-grade Amateurs?

VAFA Under 18s beat NZ U18s by about 30 in two games last year if that's any guide.

 

[forwardpocket]

Interesting game between NZ and Canada, with the Canucks pushing the Kiwis (NZ Hawks officially) to the last quarter in a defensive game.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/121466/default.aspx

Canada has one of the strongest city leagues outside Oz in the Ontario AFL http://www.oafl.ca/ they've been doing junior clinics in recent years http://www.oafl.ca/just_for_oafl_kidz.php and there is more advanced junior programs in Canada's western provinces of British Columbia and Alberta http://www.ndfooty.org/

There is a national administration now http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?client=1-7259-0-0-0

So presumably we'll see more than Martin Pyke as Canucks playing in the AFL in the future.

 

[Lemma]

Mike Pyke, not Martin Pike. He played for North!

 

[forwardpocket]

No, A-grade amateurs would kill them.

There is quite a difference in standard between some of the good and bad teams but generally I would say it's around C or D grade Amos.

Probably correct - but by the time final comes the top two teams probably will be playing above that level.

See that Tony Woods the AFL international development officer is talking of 250,000 players in overseas leagues within 10 years (currently 60,000 with a doubling since the last IC - and much of that with minimal budget from AFL and lots of work by expat and locals volunteers).

http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20110817184309565

So be interesting to see the standard in 2014.

An idea for future would be that as they select a World Team at end of the IC - to give those players a trip back to Australia for a fortnight the following year - give the team some top notch coaching and a scratch match and then pit them against a representative Australian side - that could be a state amateur team, or a national under23 Amateur side.

In later years the rep team could be a State League side like the WAFL, VFL, SANFL,QAFL,Tassie,NSW-ACt, NT etc. Basically as each 3 year cycle of the IC sees a higher standard the World v Oz game could go up a notch in terms of who the Australian competition is to the World lads.

At some point a state of origin aspect might need to come in as international recruits increase on AFL club lists.

Always play it as a curtain-raiser to an AFL match the following season. Could attract some big Aussie businesses as sponsors.

 

[forwardpocket]

Mike Pyke, not Martin Pike. He played for North!

Sorry!! Neither played for Crows that's my problem

 

[VikingSven]

Big upset win by the #8 ranked USA Revolution over the #3 ranked South African Lions in the curtain raiser game to Swans v Saints.

The USA now advance to the top 4 playoffs starting with the semi-finals on Wednesday. The best the Lions can hope for is 5th place.

Match reports here and here.

 

[zachary]

Are there any matches in Melb or are they all in Blacktown?

The finals are in Melbourne - semis next Wednesday and the Grand Final is the curtain raiser for the Hawthorn Bulldogs game next Saturday at the MCG. I went to the 2008 GF and it was entertaining and better than expected standard. They definitely play to win.

 

[dajesmac]

Haha France Coqs.

 

[VikingSven]

Pre-semifinal round writeup on the AFL website here.