The Chinese are now on the AFL Club Radar
Has there ever been as much talk of AFL Club poaching players from other countries as there is at the moment? First there was the big hoo ha about how the AFL caused the Gaelic Football Association to turn pro because the lure of becoming an AFL Footballer is becoming increasingly popular, recently the talk of how South Africa will become the next big recruiting ground for AFL Clubs. And now the Melbourne Football Club are dipping their toes in the Chinese market. It’s almost becoming a competition between clubs to see who can break into a different country first.
In this latest experiment there are 2 young chinese boys Zhao Yonggen, 22, and Zhao Wei, 21 that have been brought over by Melbourne, Chris Connolly in particular had a big influence here as he noticed them on a trip to China last year, and according to Connolly, will be “trailblazers” in the relationship between the two countries. One is a small, athletic martial arts whiz studying kung fu at the elite Beijing Sports University.The other is a former amateur soccer goalkeeper, a tall and strongly-built teenager hailing from Tianjin Provence, south east of the capital.
They trained with the Demons at the Junction Oval on Monday night and are going to accompany the club to Canberra on their community camp and will will return to Melbourne in August and September as co-captains of the first Chinese team to compete in the AFL International Cup. I am sure that in time we will see players from China grace the hallowed turf of the MCG.
Let the competitions begin……..
New Travel Plans for Fremantle
It is well documented that the Fremantle Dockers have has a horrendus winning record away from home. In my 2008 AFL Season Preview of the Dockers I eluded to it as an “Illness”. The facts are that the Dockers only won 2 out of 10 interstate games in 2007 and if they are to feature in the finals in 2008 then this is an area that MUST improve. They are a frustrating side the Dockers, brilliant one week terrible the next.
New Docker Coach Mark Harvey has made it a priority to change the traveling habits of his team. The Dockers used to travel 2 days before the game but they are planning to use the NAB Cup and or the Practise Match Challenge Series to trial traveling 1 day before to see how th players respond to that.
It sounds like Harvey starting to try and change the traveling culture that has dogged the Dockers since they started in the AFL. They have always paid a lot of attention to the fact that they are terrible travelers and I get the feeling it consumes their mind to much when they are on the road. Once they start winning then maybe they can get this out of their minds and concentrate on playing.
Freo meets Carlton in Pretoria this Saturday in an exhibition match before taking on West Coast in its NAB Cup opener – something the coach said all his players were itching to get at.
Will be interesting to see if the new travel plans make any difference.
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2008 AFL NAB Cup Fixture
For those of you here at AFL Football Blog that are interested in the 2008 NAB Cup I have posted the draw below. While I have posted my thoughts on the NAB Cup in a previous post there seems to be a few clubs that may still be taking the NAB Cup somewhat seriously, although I still think that it is the clubs that have got their eye on the cash rather than the upcoming season.
St Kilda look like playing anyone that is fit including veterans Robert Harvey and Fraser Gehrig. They say Harvey is in brilliant shape after an early pre season set back where he strained his calf at the first session. That will make them one of the favorites along with North Melbourne who will be fielding a strong side also. Clubs like Essendon, Collingwood, Geelong, Brisbane, Hawthorn and Carlton (winner of the last 2 NAB Cups) seem to going into the NAB Cup with the notion that because they can’t really control the amount of game time that certain players will be able to play then they just won’t play them and go for the younger kids instead. Collingwood a furious at this and are leading a charge to take their objections along with other clubs to the AFL. They have even sent emails to other clubs to gain support.
At least we will be able to see these youngsters in action early on. Take a look at the draw and see when and where your team is playing.
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Western Bulldogs add 2 to 2008 Leadership Group
In what is a great footballing story for any youngster that has not made the TAC Cup or other under age state league team and is battling away to get noticed by the AFL talent scouts, Matthew Boyd has been named in the 7 man leadership group at the Western Bulldogs. He and Dale Morris have been added to the existing 5 members from 2007 Brad Johnson, Scott West, Robert Murphy, Daniel Cross and Daniel Giansiracusa
Matthew Boyd is a great story, being drafted from Frankston where I remember playing with him and he was just a reserves player at the time and was struggling to get a game in the seniors under coach Robert Mace. Everyone at Frankston and Matthew himself were surprised at the drafting. He was first on the Rookie List and now finds himself as an integral part of the Doggies midfield. Boyd is a hard worker and one of those old fashioned footballers and not a natural athlete as we see so often being drafted these days.
Big things are expected from the Doggies is 2008 and all things are pointing to them playing a part in the 2008 finals series.
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AFL keen to restrict interchange rotations
Although the AFL decided against any rule changes for the 2008 season they are very keen to limit the number of interchange rotations. Throughout next season the AFL will be conducting detailed studies to determine whether there is a link between the increased speed of the game and fatigue and collision injuries. It is believed the Laws of the Game Committee is concerned about the number of interchange rotations, which has increased by a massive 241% since the 200 season. It is pleasing to see that the AFL will conduct some in depth testing into this situation and not just change this rule because the Laws of the Game Committee don’t like what is happening.
I am glad they have decided not to bring in a change in this rule for next season, I really don’t think that after the contraversial hands in the back rule they would want any more supporter abuse. Speaking of the hands in the back rule they also considered ammending the rule to allow incidental contact, which I reckon some umpires brought in by themselves last year anyway. This would make an even bigger grey area in the rule which is all we need. Keep it “Black and White” is all I can say.
The AFL will not trial the new interchange rule during the NAB cup but they are going to persist with the rushed behind, and calling play on from kicking backwards (which sould be brought in!).
