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AFL Europe Match of the Round

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Swedish Cup – Norrtälje Sportcentrum 11/6/16 8am

The Swedish Cup is AFL Sweden’s annual, one day tournament. The 2016 tournament will be hosted by Norrtälje Dockers and played in a 9-a-side, round robin format to determine the premiers of AFL Sweden.

The 2016 edition of the Swedish Cup this year is promising to be the biggest and best yet, with men, women and juniors all participating. The men will play 5 group games, all playing each other before a top of the table clash in the final. The women will play 4 matches throughout the day and combine for the final, while the Juniors will play one match to showcase the growth of the sport at a grass roots level.

The men’s teams participating are the Port Malmö Maulers, Södermalm Blues, Oslo Crows, Årsta Swans, Norrtälje Dockers and a mixed team made up of players from Helsingborg, Gothenburg, Bromma and Solna. Whilst the women will have a two team format with the Port Malmö Lynx and a combined Stockholm/Oslo team.

The Port Malmö Mauler’s Jonas Lovén, is getting himself ready for a big day with the Maulers looking to keep a firm grip on the cup as reigning champions. “We’re all looking forward to a great tournament in Norrtälje and especially to defend last year’s title. After some tough games drinking beer from the cup is always the goal of the mighty Maulers”

The Maulers participate in the Danish league due to their location but are still very prominent in the Swedish competition. Coach of the Maulers and the national Swedish team, Brett Petersen is excited to coach the team in tomorrow’s tournament, “Coming off 2 big wins in the DAFL, Maulers are looking to be a strong force in this Swedish cup. Maulers leading goal kicker Ben Polmear is one to keep an eye on in this tournament”

Ben Polmear is ready to defend the title although, “we’re missing a few players from last year’s tournament the team of hungry beasts making the trip up to Norrtälje this year are more than capable of defending our title as Sweden’s top 9-a-side footy club.”

Södermalm Blues participated in this year’s AFL Europe Champions League coming 8th in the prestigious tournament. A few players to watch in the Blues would be Mick Larsson, Rob Njoku (better known as Mr T) and Dylan O’Keefe. The much anticipated return of Ivan Rexed will also add depth to the Blues as they fight for the title.

The Oslo Crows have frequented the Swedish Cup in the past years. Winning the Cup in 2013 and 2014, the Crows unfortunately displayed a disappointing performance in 2015 due to lack of inexperience and numbers. Back with a vengeance, Amund Lundesgaard is ready and bringing a fighting group to reclaim the Swedish Cup.

The Årsta Swans have a few guns to watch out for during this year’s tournament. Chris Murr, Che Ramirez, Rob Young, Mattis Kvarnström all add strength and well tuned skills to the Swans team making them strong contenders.

The mixed team will be made up of players from Helsingborg, Gothenburg, Bromma and Solna giving the team a great chance at a shot at the title. This mixed bag could well and truly take out the title with their pick from these 4 strong clubs. Experience will be the key here with the ageless Andreas Svensson, now in his 40’s, Svensson will be playing along side his young son.

The Norrtälje Dockers are proud to have the Swedish Cup tournament back in Norrtälje at the premier Australian Rules sporting facility in Sweden. Norrtälje have had their best start to a premiership season since their creation in 2012 and will be looking to continue that trend in the Swedish Cup. A strong showing of players will ensure that all matches against the Dockers will be hard fought and there is surely not to be a repeat of the 3 draws at last year’s tournament.

The Port Malmö Lynx are extremely happy that the Norrtälje women’s team, made up of Stockholm and Oslo, will be at the Sweden Cup. The anticipation is high regarding the new players they will get to come up against. It’s also exciting to see what new talent could be on offer for the national team. Ryan Davidson, coach for the Port Malmö Lynx and Swedish Ravens will have a keen eye out for what talent he can bring to Lisbon for the AFL Europe Euro Cup this October.

Good luck to all the men, women and juniors involved! We look forward to seeing who takes out the coveted title. #AFLinEurope

Oslo Crows win the 2014 Swedish Cup

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By Jeremy Darke

It was the Oslo Crows who outlasted the competition, stealing the silverware and taking home the 2014 Swedish Cup on a picturesque day for Australian Rules football in Jonkoping, on Saturday.

Players and clubs from Sweden and Norway came together in a jam-packed day of footy, delighting all the families and fans with a display of strength, skill and endurance in this unfamiliar sport that has captured the hearts of so many Swedes.

“It is great to see that so many players made the effort to be a part of this fantastic spectacle of footy in Sweden,” said Swedish Elks manager, Ryan Tucker.

“The weather turned on for us and made it once again another unforgettable day for aussie rules in this beautiful country.”

After four round-robin matches against the Norrtalje Dockers, Helsingborg/Karlstad Eagles, Sodermalm Blues and Arsta Swans, the Oslo Crows powered through their semi-final against the Sodermalm Blues, to take on Arsta Swans in the final for the Swedish Cup.

In what was a brutal final match in the burning Swedish summer sun, the Crows dominating the proceedings, taking away what was rightfully theirs on the day, the Swedish Cup, beating the Swans, 5.3 (33) to 2.3 (15).

Oslo showed up all of their Swedish rivals with their pristine football skills and ability to dig deep for each other when the going got tough and their legs began to tire.

“On such a day like the Swedish Cup you have got to play four or five games, it is going to be the team that is willing to stick in there and break through the pain barrier and really go for it.”

“It feels good. We gave it everything we got, continues Oslo acting coach Adam O’Toole.

“We are pretty sore now but it is always easier to handle the pain when you go home with a win.”

Rob Young from the Arsta Swans was voted the tournaments player’s player, consistently being a handful for his opposition throughout the day, getting his hands on the ball as often as possible and dictating his sides offensive play.

The annual event was once again a big success, bringing together players from Skane, Stockholm and Oslo to celebrate the game that is loved by everyone involved, making all of the volunteers, families and friends inconceivably proud.

The match results were:

Swans 5.5 (35) vs. Eagles 1.6 (12)

Crows 6.6 (42) vs. Dockers 1.0 (6)

Blues 3.2 (20) vs. Swans 5.4 (34)

Eagles 0.6 (6) vs. Crows 5.4 (34)

Dockers 3.2 (20) vs. Blues 3.5 (23)

Swans 6.4 (40) vs. Crows 4.3 (27)

Eagles 6.3 (39) vs. Dockers 2.1 (13)

Blues 2.4 (16) vs. Eagles 1.4 (10)

Dockers 2.0 (12) vs. Swans 4.6 (30)

Crows 7.6 (48) vs. Blues 2.2 (14)

1st Semi-final

Swans 7.0 (42) vs. Eagles 5.3 (33)

2nd Semi-final

Crows 4.5 (29) vs. Blues 1.3 (9)

Final

Crows 5.3 (33) vs. Swans 2.3 (15)

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