This weekend, the AFL celebrates its annual multicultural round, a time to acknowledge that the indigenous game has been sustained by Australians of diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds since the rules of the game were first codified in 1859.
It’s good timing, given the well-publicised, racial slurs that were directed at Buddy Franklin, Majak Daw and Joel Wilkinson in the past couple of months.
The first two involved an individual spectator, the latter involved Western Bulldogs footballer, Justin Sherman, for which he received a four-week suspension.
The AFL first introduced its Racial and Religious Vilification Policy in 1995, becoming a world leader in the sports industry. Earlier this year, the AFL was invited to talk on the subject before the UN Human Rights council in Geneva.
As just one example of the multicultural footprint on the AFL over the last 70 years, the Italian-Australian community has produced three father-son combinations: Ron Barassi Senior and Junior; Sergio and Stephen Silvagni; and Tony and Tom Liberatore.
Today, the AFL continues the tradition with the inclusion of players from newer communities, such as Nic Naitanui, Majak Daw, Harry O’Brien and Bachar Houli.
Last night, Fox Sports dedicated a half hour special on the forthcoming multicultural round, focusing on such matters as the Auburn Tigers Football Club (a Western Sydney club fielding mens and womens’ teams with a high percentage of players of Muslim background), the work being done in the South Pacific to attract more people to the game, the ten or so Irish players currently on AFL lists, the historic international between the Italian and Irish womens teams, and the International Cup which commences on 12 August.
For the second year running, a World XVIII and a South Pacific team have entered the NAB AFL under-16 Championships, in Division Two. Both teams experienced a win in the first round and had narrow losses in their second game yesterday.
The 2011 International Cup is the fourth of its kind, having commenced in 2002, and will be the biggest held in its short history. The AFL is now actively involved and a women’s division has been introduced for the first time.
Papua New Guinea is the reigning title-holder and is likely to be too strong for the other teams, although Ireland has done a fair bit of planning. One player on the AFL list has been released to represent Ireland, while another was on an AFL list for a short period. This too is a first.
The key point is that in 2011, the multicultural round takes on a whole new meaning: ongoing respect for the diversity already contained in the game, with a hope that this diversity will be extended both within and without.
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First day of the IC this Saturday at Blacktown Oval: http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20110809224806258
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Ireland overtakes PNG as the favourite to win the 4th IC, and become the first country to win it twice: http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20110804231851639#comments' Quote of the day comes from Chinese captain, Zhang Hao: "For me, the fact that you have to stand up and fight seconds after you are knocked down best defines the beauty of the game"
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A very sad story has just come to hand,with PNG Team Manager, Peter Meli, having been stabbed to death in Moresby following a team function to formally farewell them before they left for Australia to defend their IC title. Peter Meli is father of one of PNG's best players, David Meli, who is also a scholarship holder with Essendon. Very sad news indeed
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Denmark about to participate in their 3rd IC: http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20110808200855509 Denmark has the second oldest European league (behind England), and was one of the very first outside of Oceania to start up a junior comp. Denmark hosted the inaugural European Championships last year, coming 2nd to the strong Ireland team, losing by 17 pts. Two Danes have played a bit of footy in Australia, while Matthias Biron, still a teenager and a product of the Danish junior development program, was part of the World XVIII U18s last year, and also represented a European rep team against the AIS-AFL Academy in London earlier this year.
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The PM to welcome the teams competing at the IC at a reception at Kirribilli House: http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20110804234939457
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Timor-Leste Crocs to debut in IC11 http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20110803210300858
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USA Freedom a real chance to challenge for the womens division of IC11: http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20110802225741665
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NZ Hawks aiming to win their 2nd IC: http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20110802232737230 They have some good height in the squad. Two players with Uni Blues in the VAFA, and one player with Pambula in the Sapphire Coast League.
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South African Lions looking to make the grand final of IC11: http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20110731150526368 They have three players who have spent this season in Victoria (one in the VFL) and Tasmania, but the side averages a height of only 177cm. Finished a deserved 3rd in IC08.
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China Red Demons squad for IC11: http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20110731204759615 A bit like India, not a lot of experience there.
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The India Tigers have named their squad for IC11, playing in Richmond jumpers: http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20110801100736563#comments One notable inclusion is Dhruv Kaushik of the GWS Academy, the remainder are largely inexperienced. Quite a few players come from the strong soccer region of Kerala and Goa.
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The South African Lions have already arrived in Western Australia for trial matches and training sessions with their partner club, Swans Districts. Yesterday they were beaten by a North Pilbara U21 team by 80 points, having only arrived the day before. They will get to have another game with the Swan Districts Colts team, all pretty handy preparation. The stand out of the team is Bayanda Sobetwa, he kicked two of four goals yesterday, and has been playing all season with Port Melbourne. http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20110731150719765
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The Northwind looking to continue their progression - they have improved their final standing in each of the last two ICs, finishing 6th last time. Canada has a had a junior devleopment program for a few years, but I note that the average age of the team is 27 - most are taller than 6ft. http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20110730235407447
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Ireland is really raising the bar for this year's IC: http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20110730230340745 Their squad includes: •Aisake Ó hAilpín - brother of Setanta and although now playing at Maribyrnong Park in Victoria he's 198 cm and spent several years on Carlton's list in the VFL playing for the Northern Bullants •Conor Meredith - now with Aberfeldie in Victoria but previously playing on North Melbourne's list in the VFL playing for Werribee •John Heslin - young gun Gaelic footballer about to join Richmond in the AFL •Alan Coomey - now playing with East Fremantle in the WAFL and winner of ARFLI's Player of the Decade (2000s) award So PNG has a definite challenger for the title, and we're looking at a definite overall raising of playing standards of the IC.
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Nauru is a real chance to make the top 4 of the IC this year: http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20110728111819392 Up to 17 of their playes have spent most of 2011 playing footy in Australian competitions - and that must surely put them ahead of most of their opposition. One issue is that they have no one over 6ft. But their Assistant Coach says: "...all players stand out because of their low centre of gravity and the general carnage left behind them after they have hit the football. We will not have any 6 footers but as the ball is played on the ground 99% of the time height is not all it is cracked up to be and if you have 20 blokes having a go, leaving a physical trail of destruction behind them, teams tend to lose concentration of their game plans and structure”. Also, watch out for Yoshi Harris, 17 years old, who has been signed by GWS on an international scholarship.
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Sav Rocca to sign for the Redskins: http://philly.sbnation.com/philadelphia-eagles/2011/7/28/2301951/redskins-sign-former-eagles-punter-sav-rocca
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From the Hawthorn FC website, a bit of a look at their NZ international scholarship signing, Kurt Heatherley. Scouted at the age of 14 (then a promising basketballer), now 16, studying at Caulfield Grammar, he's part of the school XVIII, 190cm and still growing, he was also part of the South Pacific U16 team that defeated Tasmania at the recent national carnival, and will be part of the NZ serious attempt at winning the IC this year: http://www.hawthornfc.com.au/tabid/4742/default.aspx?newsid=119682
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The Irish Banshees a strong chance of taking out the inaugural womens division of this year's IC: http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20110728212835382
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Latest news for the PNG Mozzies is that David Meli, currently listed with Essendon as an international scholarship holder, is now allowed to represent PNG in the IC: http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20110710213616599#comments
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Sth Africa looking to maintain good results from last IC: http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20110728220152898