AFL NEEDS TO USE THE INTERNATIONAL CUP, NOT IGNORE IT
September 23rd 2008 03:25
I was a bar in Melbourne last month when two tall, large sized men plonked themselves on the seats next to me. As they ordered their beer I picked up a strong accent in their voice.
“Where you from, mate?” I asked.
The reply was Denmark. I followed up by asking what brings them to Australia. I was taken back when I heard their response.
“We’re here to play footy. AFL football representing Denmark. And I’m the captain.”
Last month saw the return of the Australian Rules International Cup, an event held every three years since 2002. This year saw nations such as New Zealand, Japan, Denmark, Ireland, Papua New Guinea, U.S.A, Finland, Great Britain, China, Samoa, Nauru, India, South Africa, Canada and even a ‘peace team’ which combined players from Israel and Palestine.
Logically Australia, due to its powerhouse dominance, does not compete in the tournament.
After three weeks of group matches ad finals, P.N.G took out the final against our Trans Tasman rivals New Zealand (the 2005 champions) in a match which showcased the growing development of our game across the globe.
However, despite the excitement you would expect the tournament to bring; it came and went, without a blink of an eye. There was little coverage, little publicity and little fuss made about an event that is pivotal in the development of Aussie Rules football.
In reality the International Cup should be regarded as the biggest step our game has taken in growing our game internationally.
The AFL is currently in a state of mind where expanding the game is its main priority. This year CEO Andrew Demetriou announced that new teams from the Gold Coast and Western Sydney will be introduced into the AFL by 2011.
In addition we have seen preseason matches played in the U.A.E, New Zealand, South Africa and England.
However despite all this enthusiasm the league is showing to progress the development and recognition of our great game, they failed to act upon, or give attention to an event which culminates all the hard work the AFL has done to expand – The International Cup.
After attending a lazy afternoon group match where the lowly ranked Japanese took on the brute force from Samoa, I was surprised to see no cameras, very few people, no icons or ambassadors of the game, and a lack of officials.
After chatting to a few of the coaching staff form Samoa during half time I was shocked to hear of the sacrifices each nation has to make to field a side. Most of the players have to pay for their own flights and teams would not be able to fund the trip if it were not for a major sponsor, which in Samoans case were the Nth Melbourne kangaroos. If it were not for the large amount of Samoans living in Australia, they could very easily have given up on the dream of winning an international cup.
The AFL does inject some money to support the event, but not enough. If the AFL is serious about growing the game internationally, they should do everything in their powers to ensure the international cup consists of the strongest playing nations across the globe.
Rather than offering millions of dollars to relocate a Melbourne team up north, how bout inject it into improving the tournament, generating more publicity for the event and assisting the development in each of the playing nations.
Most of all, It was the lack of coverage that was disappointing. The game of Australian Rules Football has come along way, and as a nation we should be intrigued in how other countries have adopted our game with their own unique playing style.
Weather it be the flashy, dashing speedsters from Japan, the tough, straight line attacking style displayed by the pacific islanders, or the structured and disciplined game plans shown by the European nations, we should all be able to come together as football lovers and marvel at where the game is heading in the next era.
Wouldn’t it be great if, in 2020, the competition of the tournament reached the standard where Australia itself could compete? Could you imagine the excitement when an outside country finally tests us at our own game?
One can only imagine where the game could head in future. The AFL has the ability to make this progression as smooth as possible, or hinder it along the way. Either way the Australian Rules International Cup is an integral part of the games growth, and should never again go ‘under the radar’ as was seen this year.
By John Michael Bric
“Where you from, mate?” I asked.
The reply was Denmark. I followed up by asking what brings them to Australia. I was taken back when I heard their response.
“We’re here to play footy. AFL football representing Denmark. And I’m the captain.”
Last month saw the return of the Australian Rules International Cup, an event held every three years since 2002. This year saw nations such as New Zealand, Japan, Denmark, Ireland, Papua New Guinea, U.S.A, Finland, Great Britain, China, Samoa, Nauru, India, South Africa, Canada and even a ‘peace team’ which combined players from Israel and Palestine.
Logically Australia, due to its powerhouse dominance, does not compete in the tournament.
After three weeks of group matches ad finals, P.N.G took out the final against our Trans Tasman rivals New Zealand (the 2005 champions) in a match which showcased the growing development of our game across the globe.
However, despite the excitement you would expect the tournament to bring; it came and went, without a blink of an eye. There was little coverage, little publicity and little fuss made about an event that is pivotal in the development of Aussie Rules football.
In reality the International Cup should be regarded as the biggest step our game has taken in growing our game internationally.
The AFL is currently in a state of mind where expanding the game is its main priority. This year CEO Andrew Demetriou announced that new teams from the Gold Coast and Western Sydney will be introduced into the AFL by 2011.
In addition we have seen preseason matches played in the U.A.E, New Zealand, South Africa and England.
However despite all this enthusiasm the league is showing to progress the development and recognition of our great game, they failed to act upon, or give attention to an event which culminates all the hard work the AFL has done to expand – The International Cup.
After attending a lazy afternoon group match where the lowly ranked Japanese took on the brute force from Samoa, I was surprised to see no cameras, very few people, no icons or ambassadors of the game, and a lack of officials.
After chatting to a few of the coaching staff form Samoa during half time I was shocked to hear of the sacrifices each nation has to make to field a side. Most of the players have to pay for their own flights and teams would not be able to fund the trip if it were not for a major sponsor, which in Samoans case were the Nth Melbourne kangaroos. If it were not for the large amount of Samoans living in Australia, they could very easily have given up on the dream of winning an international cup.
The AFL does inject some money to support the event, but not enough. If the AFL is serious about growing the game internationally, they should do everything in their powers to ensure the international cup consists of the strongest playing nations across the globe.
Rather than offering millions of dollars to relocate a Melbourne team up north, how bout inject it into improving the tournament, generating more publicity for the event and assisting the development in each of the playing nations.
Most of all, It was the lack of coverage that was disappointing. The game of Australian Rules Football has come along way, and as a nation we should be intrigued in how other countries have adopted our game with their own unique playing style.
Weather it be the flashy, dashing speedsters from Japan, the tough, straight line attacking style displayed by the pacific islanders, or the structured and disciplined game plans shown by the European nations, we should all be able to come together as football lovers and marvel at where the game is heading in the next era.
Wouldn’t it be great if, in 2020, the competition of the tournament reached the standard where Australia itself could compete? Could you imagine the excitement when an outside country finally tests us at our own game?
One can only imagine where the game could head in future. The AFL has the ability to make this progression as smooth as possible, or hinder it along the way. Either way the Australian Rules International Cup is an integral part of the games growth, and should never again go ‘under the radar’ as was seen this year.
By John Michael Bric
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