Tag: AFL London

Weekend of Triumphs for English Australian Football Clubs

It was an outstanding weekend for several English Australian football clubs, as they made winning starts to 2019 in tournaments across Great Britain.

This was one of the first competitive opportunities for clubs to see how they are shaping up ahead of the 2019 season, and they grasped it with both hands as English clubs swept the boards in both men’s and women’s competitions.

In Edinburgh, English clubs travelled for the Haggis Cup, which has been taking place annually since 2004. In the women’s tournament, the Wandsworth Demons became the third different English women’s club in to win the title after the Nottingham Scorpions in 2017 and the University of Birmingham in 2019.

The ‘SheDees’ are looking like the team to beat in English women’s footy adding more silverware to their AFL London Women’s Premiership title, going undefeated during the regular season and then defeating the North London Lions 5.3 (33) to 1.5 (11) in the Grand Final.

Meanwhile, in the men’s tournament, the Manchester Mosquitoes won their first Haggis Cup, becoming the fourth different English winner in five years. The four times reigning champions of the Central & Northern England league showed their class to defeat the Glasgow Sharks 42-4 in the final

They join the Huddersfield Rams, who became the first ever English winner in 2015, the Wandsworth Demons (2016 & 2017) and the Nottingham Scorpions (2018) in being crowned Haggis Cup champions.

Further south in Bristol, the Sussex Swans secured emotional victories in both the men’s and women’s tournament hosted by the Bristol Dockers.

Following the death of former president Sam Dixon last week, who played for the Swans for over 25 seasons, the two sides emerged victorious.

There are still plenty more tournaments coming up before the start of the regular season, including the Gallia Cup in Paris (March 9th), the Leprechaun Cup in Belfast (23-24th March), and the AFL London Pre-Season Cup (April 13th).

AFL England Announces First Junior Club Collaborations

Since AFL England launched its consultation on Junior Football back in October 2018, we have been inundated with messages and inquiries from up and down the country with regard to how they or their children can get involved with the Junior Program.

In addition to this, many AFL England senior clubs expressed an interest in helping to run and manage these clubs and as a result we’re delighted to announce the first two such collaborations today.

The Wolverhampton Wolverines will help coordinate the Walsall Falcons. In their tenth anniversary, the club is proud of its history which has seen players evolve from playing at school, for the Wolverines and onto senior honours with both England and Great Britain.

In 2019 the Wolverhampton Wolverines celebrate their 10th anniversary

“The Wolverhampton Wolverines are excited to work alongside AFL England to develop young football players for the future,” said Head Coach Ian Mitchell. “The Wolverines have a proud history of developing young players into their senior side, many of whom have been playing now for upwards of seven years and are starting to gain international honours for both England and Great Britain.

“We look forward to securing the future of the club by opening our doors to young people who want to learn the sport from across the West Midlands.”

Meanwhile, the first junior club in England the Clapham Cubs has gained the support of one of the oldest clubs in England the Wimbledon Hawks.

Founded by Wimbledon Hawks alumni Lisa Wilson and Lauren Spark in 2016, the Clapham Cubs were the first junior AFL club to be set up in England.

“Since their start, the club has gone from strength to strength, attracting an ever-growing mix of boys and girls of all ages to give the sport a go. During the summer months, AusKickers have been gathering for fun-filled sessions and picking up new footy skills with the support of parent-coaches and Wimbledon Hawks players.

“This season, we are looking forward to continuing our work with the Cubs, supporting young talent and helping to grow the game in the UK.”

AFL England President Jason Hill welcomed the news.

“It’s great to see the Wolverines and Hawks realise how important junior participation will be for the future of the game in England,” said Hill. “We’re looking for other senior clubs to collaborate with junior clubs, and for them to use this as a vehicle to develop the very future of their clubs and take footy in England to new levels.

“We’re currently looking to recruit a Head of Junior Development who we believe will enable clubs to feel capable of managing this and help them develop processes and pathways to support the addition of juniors to their clubs.”

England Dragonslayers Announce 2019 Euro Cup Squad

England Dragonslayers Head Coach Dean Thomas has named his first squad in preparation for the 2019 AFL Europe Euro Cup in June.

Last year the Dragonslayers bowed out to eventual champions Denmark in the semi-finals, and George Dibble, Michael Sharp, Cameron Cope, Rob Goliah, Adam Morris and Andy Walkden are the only players returning from the 2018 Euro Cup squad. Continue reading “England Dragonslayers Announce 2019 Euro Cup Squad” →

“We’re Confident We Can Get a Result” – Head Coach Skelly as Vixens Prepare to Take on Demons

This weekend both the England Vixens and the England Dragonslayers will take on Wandsworth Demons sides. The fixtures, which will take place on Clapham Common, serve as a warm-up for the 2018 Euro Cup which gets underway in Cork on 13th October. Both England sides are the defending champions.

The Demons are arguably one of the toughest sides outside of Australia; the Men’s Premiership side are nine-time premiers, with all but one of the Women’s Premiership titles have gone the way of the ‘SheDees’ since its inception in 2015. Continue reading ““We’re Confident We Can Get a Result” – Head Coach Skelly as Vixens Prepare to Take on Demons” →

Great Britain Swans Ready for AFL London All-Stars Test

First Meeting Between the Sides Since May 2017

Squad Shows “Huge Potential” – Head Coach Ian Mitchell

19th August 2018 – The Principal Great Britain Swans take on the AFL London All-Stars this Saturday at Motspur Park, in the first meeting between the sides since May 2017.

Goals from Caroline Sellar, Danni Saulter, Laura Park and Lucy Kilheeney saw the Swans run 4.7 (31) to 0.1 (1) winners. But after a “year of development,“ according to GB captain Laura Turner-Ramadan, who captained the side in that 30-point win, this time around she is expecting a more demanding game. Continue reading “Great Britain Swans Ready for AFL London All-Stars Test” →

Good Week/Bad Week – 4th June 2018

After a brief hiatus, ‘Good Week/Bad Week’ is back and ready to take a look at the latest round of fixtures across England. The leagues are really starting to hot up, so let’s see who’s in contention as we approach the halfway stage of the season. Continue reading “Good Week/Bad Week – 4th June 2018” →

Wandsworth Demons to Host ‘Big Freeze on the C’ for FightMND

‘Big Freeze on the C’ Takes Place 9th June

Event features three AFL London fixtures, and Clapham Cubs Junior Session

June 1, 2018 – On the 9th June, the Wandsworth Demons are hosting their third annual ‘Big Freeze on the C’ to raise money for Australian charity FightMND. The event will feature three matches, with the Demons taking on the London Swans in the AFL London Women’s Conference, Men’s Conference and Men’s Premiership.

Continue reading “Wandsworth Demons to Host ‘Big Freeze on the C’ for FightMND” →

2018 Season Gets Underway This Weekend

AFL England Ready for Start of 2018 Season

London and Central & Northern England Leagues Kick Off This Weekend

April 26, 2018 – AFL England are looking forward to the start of the 2018 season ahead of the opening weekend of fixtures. Both the AFL London and Central & Northern England leagues have their first round of fixtures this weekend, ahead of an exciting ten rounds of competition. Continue reading “2018 Season Gets Underway This Weekend” →