20,000 South Africans to play aussie rules by 2010

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CarlosA
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Post by CarlosA »

Ok very fair point Rob but the concept is hilarious its like the GAA pumping money into Brazil its a good laugh, not a serious recruiting area.

Rob
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Post by Rob »

CarlosA wrote:Ok very fair point Rob but the concept is hilarious its like the GAA pumping money into Brazil its a good laugh, not a serious recruiting area.
I dunno, they gave Clontarf a run for their money, and Clontarf win the schools comp in Perth every year. Given every player would have played less than half the footy with a fraction of the specialist coaching of the Clontarf boys, there's obviously a bit of potential there, and that's without any serious attempt at development. On sheer numbers of players per dollar spent, I reckon South Africa would provide a better return than NSW.

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sandyhill
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Post by sandyhill »

CarlosA wrote:Ok very fair point Rob but the concept is hilarious its like the GAA pumping money into Brazil its a good laugh, not a serious recruiting area.
Actually, its much more serious than what you think. I've heard that Freo, for one (of about 4 AFL clubs) is about to invest $100,000 in South Africa, hoping for future recruits. The sport 'sprung up' their over the last 10 years without any AFL involvement or support at all until very recently - when they were virtually forced to act due to the obvious success and growth of the game their (as Rob said, for the very modest $$$ spent on development, its had excellent returns compared to NSW). The article I posted on the previous page gives an indication of the typre of players it is attracting - and why.

Whilst no-one (at least on this forum) is pretending it'll ever rival RU (let alone soccer), South Africa is easily populous and sports minded enough to support another code at an amateur level and its growth has been greatly assisted by local factors including the odious image RU still has in many areas their as a symbol of the old apartied era, and also the rampart corruption that exists in soccer administration. Then, of course, some players are simply suited, or just like for whatever reason, an alternative footy code to the dominant ones.

Australia is one of the very fewlucky countries to now have a genuine choice in the type of football code to play - including its own indigenous code. At least some South Africans will now also have a similar choice. What on earth is wrong with that?

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Jeffles
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Post by Jeffles »

sandyhill wrote:Australia is one of the very fewlucky countries to now have a genuine choice in the type of football code to play - including its own indigenous code. At least some South Africans will now also have a similar choice. What on earth is wrong with that?
You shouldn't be allowed to follow more than one code of football. :P

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Egan
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Post by Egan »

Whilst no-one (at least on this forum) is pretending it'll ever rival RU (let alone soccer), South Africa is easily populous and sports minded enough to support another code at an amateur level
The area of South Africa around Potchefstroom and the Soweto Region, it is quickly becoming the sport of choice. Thus of course South africa wide it will not compete, but do not rule out the possibility of some strongholds in local regions.

And this is without an amateur league developed in any way like the successful ones in Los Angeles, Great Britain and Denmark and with only one match played in Cape Town (the region that has had little development of aussie rules).

Aussie Rules combines elements of soccer and rugby, so it is in no question that South Africans would enjoy it, they enjoy it when they come to Perth.

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yob
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Post by yob »

It began in Africa: FootyWild kicks off

3 hours, 7 minutes ago | Back

Exclusive to AFL BigPond Network
News
Saturday 14th April, Sedgars Park, Potchefstroom, North West Province, South Africa

‘FootyWild’, South Africa’s answer to Auskick, has been officially launched at Sedgars Park in the North West Province of the country.

Saturday was also the launch of Sedgars Park (North West Cricket Stadium) as a playing venue for Australian Football, and it was celebrated in style as over 300 young South Africans aged 8-16 took part in a FootyWild introduction to Australian Football.

The introduction of the programme is the start of what is planned to be a massive acceleration of development across the country.

FootyWild is derived from the Australian introductory program called AFL Auskick. The African program will introduce young players to everything that is wild and exciting about the funny game from Australia.

Specially designed skills drills, games and modified rules matches will teach kids how to take high marks, kick goals from impossible angles, bounce the funny shaped ball on the run, use creative handball and tackle opponents from any direction.

AFL South Africa Ambassador and Head Coach Mtutuzeli Hlomela, is very excited about the new program.

“Unlike soccer you can use your hands as well as your feet and because the game is played in 360 degree fashion, it provides a challenge that is very different to rugby. At youth and senior level players can tackle from behind and move the ball in any direction by hand or foot. It’s fast and exciting and some say the most spectacular sport in the world”, said Mtutu.

Following the FootyWild launch a number of friendly matches took place. The games featured under-16s wearing the colours of AFL clubs: Fremantle (North West), West Coast Eagles (Kwa Zulu Natal) and Collingwood (Western Cape), each of which has fostered a province as part of the push to expand the game into a truly national sport.

The main event of the day was a match between the Australian Institute of Sport under-17 AFL side which took on a South African side - a mixture of senior and junior players, many of which may represent the country at the 2008 International Cup.

The Australians dominated, winning by 150 points, 23.24 (162) to 1.6 (12), but according to AFL Operations manager in South Africa, Joel Kelly, the occasion was a proud one for both countries.

"AFL standard goalposts stood tall in front of the traditional sightscreens. The scoreboard rained goals and behinds rather than runs and wickets, and the small but enthusiastic crowd of African and Aussie supporters cheered every kick, mark and tackle instead of sixes and fours," Kelly said.

Kelly believes the relationships forged between two sporting countries is the major benefit of the tour.

“The camaraderie developed between the South African and Aussie boys over a week of school clinics, township visits and cultural tours, emphasised that this particular AIS/AFL tour was about so much more than developing the lads as footballers,” Kelly said.

“FootyWild will be run as pilot program in Potchefstroom during the second term of school, providing the local Development staff with a chance to test the product, before releasing it across four provinces in the second half of the year”, Kelly added.

“Gauteng, Kwa Zulu Natal and the Western Cape will also have the opportunity to try the new sport for the new South Africa.”

AIS Assistant Coach and hero of three Brisbane Lions AFL premierships Michael Voss was also part of the tour.

"This week I saw 30 young Australian men mature as people – they can return home safe in the knowledge that they have been fine ambassadors for their country," Voss said.

The tour then proceeded to Johannesburg and then Cape Town for the Western Cape launch of FootyWild. On Friday, the Aussies will arrive back in Perth to take on a Swan Districts (WAFL) side on Saturday. The match will conclude what has been a whirlwind tour and has been, dare we say, good for football.

Rob
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Post by Rob »

I'm impressed the South Africans managed to score a goal.

Football/GAA Bhoy
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Post by Football/GAA Bhoy »

i'll believe it when i see it.

i cant see how they are going to do it.

Schillaci
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Post by Schillaci »

keep the afl propaganda coming

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Egan
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Post by Egan »

I love it how the very people who complain about the discrimination that soccer gets in the media, are quick to do the same thing when positive schemes such as these are taking place.

Behind the AFL, this scheme will actually provide real benefits for youth in South Africa.

Eg giving the youth of the country something to do, it may allieviate the crime problem in the country.

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Post by Rob »

I wasn't joking, I was actually impressed that they scored a goal. I would have expected the score to be about 400-0.

Go back to the record books and find the Richmond v Swan Districts reserves score from the Escort Cup in about 1980 for an indication of what happens when you play 2 teams that are even slightly disproportionate.

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Egan
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Post by Egan »

Rob wrote: Go back to the record books and find the Richmond v Swan Districts reserves score from the Escort Cup in about 1980 for an indication of what happens when you play 2 teams that are even slightly disproportionate.
My Dad played for Swan Districts in that game :lol: :lol:

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the crow
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Post by the crow »

i just want to slap that stupid my dad plays for Colingwood add kid...punch him Edward!!! punch him

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sandyhill
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Post by sandyhill »

:lol:
I wished my dad played for Collingwood!

Now, dragging this back to the topic, the South African version of Auskick was launched the other week - only they call it 'Wildkick' over there.

And from todays HUN -

Footy's South Africa safari
29 April 2007 Sunday Herald Sun
David Reed

THE AFL has committed to sending up to four clubs overseas for their community camps from the end of this season, with South Africa a priority destination.

There are several thousand players in 18 competitions in South Africa.

According to the AFL, Collingwood is keen to pursue Cape Town and the western cape district of South Africa; Fremantle has an alliance with the North West Province; and Carlton is interested in Johannesburg.

The AFL wants West Coast to examine possibilities in KwaZulu-Natal, which takes in South Africa's second biggest city, Durban. Overseas NAB Cup matches remain a possibility, but the AFL is most likely to hold exhibition matches as a climax to community camps. ...

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yob
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Post by yob »

My understanding of South Africa is that Cape Town is rough as guts working class, North West Province was founded 10 years ago in place of the former North and West Provinces, Johannasburg is full of wogs and Durban has a drugs problem with gang related crime.

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