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Tuesday Around the Grounds

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Around the Grounds

Swedish Elks and Irish Warriors release their AFL Europe Champs Squads

The Swedish Elks and Irish Warriors have released strong squads for the upcoming AFL Europe Championships taking place in London during the third week of August. Congratulations to everyone selected. We look forward to seeing these boys in action.

Team lists as follows:

Irish Warriors

Defenders

Muiris Bartley (UCC & Leeside Lions)

Sean Paul Henry (Belfast Redbacks)

Luke Hickey (UCC & Leeside Lions)

Brendan Kelly (Belfast Redbacks)

Stiofán Mac Finn (Wimbledon Hawks)

Tom McKenna (Belfast Redbacks)

Paul Murphy (UCC & Leeside Lions)

Conor O’ Halloran (Leeside Lions)

Eoin Ó Súilleabháin (Leeside Lions)

Tom Stack (Manchester Mosquitoes)

Gerard Walls (Belfast Redbacks)

 

Midfielders

Liam Burns (South Dublin Swans)

Conor Fitzgerald (Wandsworth Demons)

David McElhone (Belfast Redbacks)

Sean McGlinchey (Belfast Redbacks)

Stuart McKeating (Belfast Redbacks)

David Miller (Belfast Redbacks)

Gavin Murray (South Dublin Swans)

Kevin Young Kev O’ Brien (Wandsworth Demons)

Eoin Ó Murchú (Wandsworth Demons)

 

Forwards

Conor Fitzgerald (North London Lions)

Dominic Joyce (Leeside Lions)

Ryan McCloskey (Belfast Redbacks)

Kevin McDonnell (Galway Magpies)

David McGinty (Galway Magpies)

Kevin McSorley (Belfast Redbacks)

Kevin Old Kev O’ Brien (Wandsworth Demons)

Padraic O’ Connell (Leeside Lions)

Cóilín Ó Lordáin (Leeside Lions)

 

Standby/Emergencies

Rory O’ Donnell (UCC & Leeside Lions)

Alan Tobin (Wandsworth Demons)

 

 

Swedish Elks

Andreas Svensson – Helsingborg

Anton Tellström – Helsingborg

Jacob Lantz – Helsingborg

Hampus Olsson – Helsingborg

Jacob Nilsson – Helsingborg

Philip Nilsson – Helsingborg

Robin Nilsson – Helsingborg

Niklas Jonsson – Norrtälje

Martynas Alijosius – Norrtälje

Erik Lindqvist – Norrtälje

Gustav Svensson – Norrtälje

Buster Sund – Norrtälje

Tim Lindgren – Port Malmö

Tobias Gogu – Port Malmö

Tony Persson – Port Malmö

Jonas Lovén – Port Malmö

Christopher Mårtensson – Port Malmö

Jonas Birgén – Årsta

Mattis Kvarnström – Årsta

Oscar Magnusson – Solna

Pekka Tångström – Göteborg

Kaj Karlsson – Södermalm

 

AFL announces 8-team women’s competition for Season 2017

Last week the AFL announced a new 8-team national women’s competition for 2017. With the growth of the women’s game over the past few years this will further develop the amazing participation and exposure for women’s football.

We’re hopeful one of our talented AFL Europe women’s players will be running around on the MCG in the near future.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-06-15/eight-teams-named-for-inaugural-womens-league

 

CNFA Grand Final takes centre stage

Forget about the Euros a brand new CNFA premier will be crowned this weekend in Bordeaux when the Paris Cockatoos and Cergy-Pontoise Coyotes go head-to-head. Both teams head through to the big dance with wins two weeks ago. The Coyotes downed the Toulouse Hawks and the Cockatoos took down reigning premiers and big brother, the Paris Cockerels.

This one is set to be an absolute thriller. Keep an eye out for the match preview this Friday as AFL Europe’s ‘Match of the Round’.

 

Get your nominations in!

Nominations for the AFL Europe Championships in August and the Euro Cup in October are still open. We’d love to have as many teams as possible join in the fun at two of the biggest AFL Europe events of the year.

For further information regarding either tournament please email admin@afleurope.org

 

Another female umpire joins the ranks

Massive congratulations to Odense Lioness, Maria Falkesgarrd Jorgensen, for becoming the first Danish female field umpire during a game between the Odense Lions and Farum Cats in late May.

This is a huge achievement and a testament to Maria, the Odense Lions and the Danish Australian Football League. Keep up the good work.

Maria

Mixed results for Titans in AFL England South

The Southampton Titans had mixed results over the weekend in what was a hard fought day of footy in Brighton.

In their first game they got the W against the Surrey Stags 16.5. 101 to 1.6. 12. The tables turned when they came up against the Sussex Swans who downed the Titans 14.15. 99 to 4.5. 29.

Best on Ground for the day for the Titans was Martyn Hinchey.

Keep up the good work down in AFL England South.

Southampton Titans

Surrey Stags

Sussex Swans

VAFA V London Allstars

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The Big V representative side wrapped up their 2015 Ireland/England tour with a comprehensive 74-point victory against the London All Stars at Battersea Park this morning.

After a stellar 2-2 performance from their four tour matches in the Emerald Isle, the Big V attained their goal of finishing on a high, with Spirit of the Big V recipient, Jeremy Mugavin, and six-goal star, Matt Handley, leading the way.

Tom Sullivan, Marshall Rippon and Josh Cowan lit London alight in the first term as they collected disposals at will, with Sam Barnett controlling the ruck and giving his midfielders first use of the ball.

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After a two-week stint with the round ball, the entire playing squad looked far more comfortable with the oval-shaped sherrin in hand and used their sublime skill set to open up a comfortable buffer at the first break.

Sam Williams, Tom O’Donnell and Mugavin continued to drive from half back in the second and allowed power forwards, Jamie Mugavin and Handley, to do the damage on the scoreboard and open up a 47-point margin at the half.

The second half played out similarly to the first, with Michael Barnes, Ash Viney and Stu Grigg causing multiple skill errors from their opponents through consistent pressure and tackling.

Jack Hunt repelled numerous London forward thrusts, while Tom and Simon Caven stood tall in defence in the same vein as they have done all tour.

While the 20 goal target set by coach Roberts was not quite met, the Big V can be proud of the four quarter effort they produced in their final match as they ran out out 74-point winners, 100-26.

The win in London gives the Big V a respectable 3-2 winning record from their 2015 tour.

The VAFA would like to thank AFL Europe and AFL London for their hospitality and look forward to going Round 2 in 2017.

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Originally posted on: http://www.vafa.com.au/latest-news/big-v-finish-2015-tour-with-comprehensive-win-in-london/

Movember Cup 2015

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On the 15th of November the Manchester Mosquitoes host a charity Aussie Rules tournament at Trafford MV Rugby Club. The Nathan Blakey Movember Cup is held annually in support of the Movember Foundation raising funds for men’s illnesses, in particular  prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health issues. The first tournament was held in 2011 and has been growing year on year raising around £10,000  for charity so far.

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The week before the first event, Nathan Blakey, a member of the Manchester Mosquitoes ARFC, passed away during complex surgery at the age of 28. Nathan had been part of the Mozzies since the clubs first season and was part of their 2010 premiership team. He was known for his down to earth, friendly nature and his love of the footy. He played, umpired, helped coach and loved a beer. He was a paramedic so would often be sorting himself out after matches whenever he took a hit. He is greatly missed. With his passing the week before the first Movember Cup it was decided to play the tournament in honour of Nathan. It seemed a fitting gesture to remember him in this way considering his love of football and his commitment to developing the game.

The Nathan Blakey Movember Cup is about to be held for the 5th year and we are looking forward to raising funds in support of men’s health and raising a glass in honour of our mate.

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Nathan. 14/02/1983 – 19/11/2011

Always well attended by AFLCNE Clubs, we hope as many players, spectators and supporters can come along and be involved to raise money to make it as big a success as possible. If you can’t make it but still want to contribute you can donate at the following link:

Mozzies Movember Page

If you want to help or be involved with the tournament contact Ben Sweetman email:president@manchestermosquitoes.com.

In the build-up to this years Movember cup here at the Central and Northern England Australian Football League we’ll be taking a look at some of the Men’s health issues you’ll be raising money for and how our clubs are helping to raise awareness.

 

Originally posted by the Manchester Mosquitoes at: http://aflcne.com/2015/10/31/the-nathan-blakey-memorial-movember-cup/

Women Want Footy

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In 2014, Australian Rules football celebrated 25 years of a sporting competition in the country of England. In 2015, Women’s Australian Rules football officially took off with an AFL London Women’s league comprising of four already established men’s clubs each becoming host to a Women’s team. Those founding clubs being: Wimbledon Hawks, Wandsworth Demons, North London Lions and the South East London Giants.

In previous years, only exhibition games had been held for females on AFL London Grand Final day or training sessions for those interested. The development of a women’s league in London only confirms the continual development and interest in the game away from Australia. Even more so with the recent implementation of Women’s AFL matches being played since 2013 between the Western Bulldogs and the Melbourne Demons.

Lauren Sparks, a current player for the Wimbledon Hawks, had previous experience playing Aussie Rules football back in Melbourne – 3 years for Melbourne University, representative football for Victoria at the National Championships and Vic Metro. Lauren was also a member of the first two Women’s AFL sanctioned exhibition matches, playing for the Western Bulldogs against the Melbourne Demons. When asked about her knowledge of the league (men or women’s); “before coming over here I didn’t know much at all about the league…I found out they were introducing the first women’s league and that 4 teams would be involved”. As most antipodeans tend to do when moving abroad, a sporting club or organisation is a safe house as a social network. Lauren attributes the Wimbledon Hawks as an accessible way to meet new people, especially with the correlation between the men’s and women’s teams at the club.

Coming from a different Australian Rules football background, Jessie Hayes was part of the Junior Development Program at the Fremantle Dockers and had grown up around the sport. Having minimal knowledge of the Women’s AFL London league before arriving in London, Jessie knew that she would eventually be drawn to a club in one way or another. “Before I came over I had an inkling I would get involved in a club in some way”. She thanks peer pressure from her friend, a North London Lions player, to ‘[encourage] me to get on the other side of the boundary line for once”.

Both players strongly condone the sport as a great way to socialise with other people, and not only at their specific club, but over all the clubs. Many clubs hold joint social occasions to encourage camaraderie between each other – North London Lions and the West London Wildcats jointly host a Thames River Cruise as part of the Wildcat’s Ladies’ Day celebrations. Ladies’ Day is quickly becoming more and more important for the AFL London clubs’ to ascertain their stance as a genuine supporter of further developing and creating awareness of women’s involvement in Australian Rules football.

Without a doubt, the social aspect of the league is a part that everyone enjoys – “It is brilliant to have found such a great family like the Lions. London life wouldn’t be anywhere near as good without the club” Jessie states. As most expats in London can agree, playing Aussie Rules football assists in avoiding a dosage of the ‘Heathrow Injection’ (the sudden weight gain from lack of physical activity when arriving into London).

But where to next for the Women’s AFL London league? The current teams participating in the league are looking to grow their participation numbers and clubs that have yet to field a team would ideally be looking at staking their presences in the league.

“It’s definitely got room to grow, the amount of foreigners that are exposed to it, never seen it before, and then are hooked the minute they try the game, it intrigues people” says Lauren in regards to further expansion of the women’s league. Women’s team are both represented at the Axios Euro Cup as well as the International Cup (World Cup for Aussie Rules football), however there is always the desire to continually expand the participation level for both genders in Europe.

For more information regarding the Women’s AFL London league or any local competitions please head to the Women’s AFL London website.

 

 

James Gottschalk

The Great Dane

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Mikkel Kjoege was 8 years old, when he first heard of Australian Rules football. It was from a family friend, Preben Mandal, who supports and is a big influence on the Farum Cats Football Club. Mikkel ended up going to his first practice and making some really good friends which really helped to keep him playing and developing. It was Mikkel’s namesake, his mum’s cousin, Mikkel Norlander, who kept him training and improving. His nickname is “The Danish Lance Franklin” – he was one of the junior coaches at the Farum Cats at the time.

At the age of 12 Mikkel says he had already tried pretty much every other sport, “but nothing compared to Australian Rules.”

In 2011, Mikkel heard about the European Legion squad, which was to play the touring AIS AFL Academy team in April 2012. The try outs were in London where he was put through a week long training camp and skill testing Combine, in conjunction with video of him playing being sent through to AFL Europe. A few months later Mikkel was informed that he had been selected to participate in the Easter Series with European Legion – “this was the first moment where playing Aussie Rules internationally felt possible,” says Mikkel.

During the try out combine they tested players with agility drills, jumping, running and so on. AFL Europe were happy with Mikkel’s results and decided to also send them through to the World 18 Team that were to play in Sydney, Australia in August 2012. Not only did Mikkel end up being chosen but he was the only European player to join the world team.

This was a huge step for Mikkel, as he was able to start seeing an opportunity for possibly playing Australian Rules at professional level someday. It was with this that Mikkel decided to really go for it, “I was always told that I could do anything I want to, and I really wanted this.”

Coming from the Farum Cats in Denmark, Mikkel barracks for the Geelong Cats in the AFL. Professional AFL players are such a huge inspiration for him, in particular Joel Selwood. Mikkel says he admires his “fearlessness, courage and he is just so incredibly talented – he makes me want to push even harder to make it in the AFL.”

With some amazing coaches along the way that inspired Mikkel to strive to make it in the AFL; “my first junior coach, Morten Merhøj, he taught me all the basic skills and has become a really good friend of mine.” Mikkel’s most recent European coaches, Morten Engsbye and Troels Ottesen, have had huge influence upon him through the last couple of years – getting the Farum Cats to 4 premierships in a row. Morten Engsbye also coached the Danish Vikings in the European Championships and took home an award for best European coach in 2014 when he coached Denmark to victory in European 9-a-side Championships.

Throughout the years of playing in European Legion and The World Team, Mikkel has been lucky enough coached by big names such as Tadhg Kennelly and Brad Ottens, watching them and learning from them was an incredible opportunity and experience for him.

Mikkel was chosen to participate in the 2014 AFL Europe Draft Combine and with good results was noticed by a few AFL Clubs who were keen to see him play more. AFL Europe was able to facilitate the move to Melbourne, Australia where Mikkel is now playing for the Old Xaverians, in the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA), for a season with the hope of partaking in the 2015 AFL Draft in October.

 

Mikkel’s Australian Adventure – Part 2

 

Training is great! I’m starting to feel more confident; it does take a while to get in to a new club, with new players and coaches. I played my first practice match with the reserves, and another with the firsts. I can feel myself getting better by challenging myself with such a good team.

I played round one with the Thirds – Under 23’s, and I feel pretty good about the way I played. I was happy with the match review:

’’The Under 23s are defending their premiership in the Premier B Thirds and started the year in impressive fashion with a big win over Old Trinity at Stradbroke Park. The coach released debutant Mikkel Kjoege from defence and onto the ball after half time and the Great Dane had a real impact with his hard running and long, accurate kicking.’’

I kicked my first goal, and I got mentioned in the top 3 best players of my first match. It was such a great feeling!

In Round 2 I had some trouble with a bruised heel, so didn’t play last week but I was ready to get back into it for Round 3. I was playing with the U23’s until coach, Murray Browne, felt I was ready to move up, I felt ready straight away – but I trusted his judgement!

I’ve been talking quite a bit with my family, friends and my old team mates in the last couple of weeks and they’re all very supportive which motivates me to keep pushing, I’m really grateful for them and their support!

My family is coming to visit me in a few months which I can’t wait for, and I’m keeping in contact with a few friends who play AFL and VFL whom I met in my time at Geelong College and through playing for the World and European teams.

Round 3 I got to debut for the Reserves being “unleashed” by Coach Browne at quarter time. I was pretty happy with the match review for round 3 also:

“Reserves debutant Mikkel “The Great Dane” Kjoege was held back until quarter time before being unleashed by Coach Browne. He proved lively up forward.”

Round 4 I felt I started to feel great! I kicked 3 goals and was named in the best and I was able to following up in both Rounds 5 and 6 with 2 goals in each!

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Follow Mikkel’s journey on #MikkelDownUnder and @AFL_Europe

For more go to our previous article on Mikkel

 

Sarah Ongarello