8000 expected for South African Practice Match
It seems the AFL is making it’s biggest push into another country yet, with the organizes of the South African practice match between Cartlon and Fremantle hopeful of reaching 8000 fans for the game.
In an interview with World Footy News AFLSA’s Operations Manager Joel Kelly has said:
“Getting exposure to the game at the highest level is an enormous boost for the code in South Africa - it is all well and good to teach the skills at grass roots but until young South Africans see the game played in the flesh, it will always be hard to establish that unbridled excitement that we readily associate with AFL - for the local FootyWild kids to see their heroes in the townships through the AFL community camps that Fremantle and Carlton will run in the North West and Gauteng respectively, then for those same kids to actually see them play live, is an incredible opportunity that we, as Australians, would probably take for granted - these kids will not and we are genuinely excited about what the AFL club visits will do for the code in South Africa in the longer term”.
It is some what of a reality check when you read this kind of thing, I mean it is just a practise match to us and something we take for granted but for the people of South Africa it is a huge event and will be broadcast live on South African cable channel SuperSport 2. Quite amazing really and something that a lot of us here in Australia can’t really relate to.
Read the full article at World Footy News here.
AFL Football around the World
For those readers here at AFL Football Blog that are interested in what is happening with the game of Australian Rules Football in other parts of the world should check out this great site World Footy News. You won’t find all the general AFL news that is happening here in Australia but you will find some interesting information about what is happening in the game of Australian Rules Football from around the world.
One article that really caught my eye, considering the AFL Clubs currently flirting with the South African region to recruit prospective players, was this one about an American experiment that the West Perth Falcons are undertaking. The experiment involves two brothers James and Jared Brunmeier from the Milwaukee Bombers who undertook a pre season with the Falcons and then played a full year in the reserves but from all accounts made quite an impression and they have been invited back in 2008.
If you remember a while back Essendon dabbled with an American by the name of Dwayne Amstrong, who I remember playing on at Punt Road one day, he was the biggest guy I had ever seen on a football field, as a 17 year old kid it was a daunting task even though he couldn’t really play. I think he was remembered more for dating Ross Oakley’s daughter than for his abilities on the football field.
Considering the work that the AFL has been doing in “growing the game” and brand of AFL Football in South Africa and the fact that they have over 8000 kids enrolled is Auskick in that Country it would be a fantastic opportunity for the AFL if it could grab a small piece of the market share of the US sports market. There has been a bit of tallk about the possibilities of more Americans coming “Down Under” to try their hand at our game, and given the AFL have a scholarship list that enable clubs to have players from 15 to 23 years of age on the list for as little as $20 000 a year which will be used for schooling. I am sure there is some incentive there for the American kids to make the journey.
It is an interesting exercise that the West Perth Falcons have undertaken and one that I will be watching with great interest to see the progress of the 2 American lads. Hey even Kevin Sheedy thinks there is a need for a stadium in Los Angeles. Who know America could end up following the Irish down here.
