Tag: AFL

Vixens Fall Just Short in Euro Cup Grand Final

FT: England Vixens 1.2 (8) def. by Irish Banshees 5.3 (33)

Second Half Irish Blitz Ends Vixens’ Hopes of Retaining Title

England Dragonslayers Fourth After Defeats to Eventual Winners Denmark, and Croatia

14th October 2018 – A repeat of their dual victories in 2017 was not to be as both England sides failed to retain their Euro Cup titles in Cork, Ireland, with the England Vixens losing out in the Grand Final against last year’s runner-up Ireland.

Meanwhile, the Dragonslayers finished fourth after losing in the third-place playoff to Croatia, after defeat in the semi-finals against eventual men’s division champions Denmark. Continue reading “Vixens Fall Just Short in Euro Cup Grand Final” →

Euro Cup Preview: England Teams Ready for Action

With the start of the 2018 AFL Euro Cup just one sleep away, the European footballing community’s eyes are on Cork. In total, 15 countries will compete for the title of European champions tomorrow at the Cork Institute of Technology, but in order to do so, they’ll have to take it from defending champions England…in both the men’s and women’s divisions!

With the combined England squads having made the trip across the Irish sea, they are preparing for a hard day’s competition tomorrow, starting with the pool stages and hopefully ending up in a repeat of their dual triumphs in Bordeaux twelve months ago.

Vixens open with matches against Denmark and Wales who are competing as independent nations after combining efforts in 2017. The England women’s team’s remaining pool matches area against Germany and Sweden.

Should the Vixens top their pool, they will face the runner-up of a pool including Ireland, France, Croatia and Scotland in the semi-final.

The Dragonslayers will come up against the relative unknown prospects of the Czech Republic, Russia and France in the group stages, and will also aim to top their pool. Depending on their position they will then face an opponent from Pool A (Ireland, Austria, Scotland and Sweden), knowing that should they avoid Ireland in the quarter-final, a Grand Final rematch may be on the cards.

Stay tuned to AFL England across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram from updates live from Cork as the England teams aim to go back-to-back at the Euro Cup!

Euro Cup Draw: Dragonslayers and Vixens Find Out Pool Opponents

Both England teams have found out their opponents in the pool stages of next weekend’s Euro Cup in Cork. The Dragonslayers and Vixens are defending champions of their respective divisions and head to Ireland full of confidence.

The England Vixens were drawn alongside the Swedish Ravens, Danish Valkyries, Welsh Wyverns and German Eagles in Pool B of the women’s division, with the England Dragonslayers drawn with the Czech Republic Dragons, French Coqs and Russian Czars. Continue reading “Euro Cup Draw: Dragonslayers and Vixens Find Out Pool Opponents” →

British Players Named in AFL Women’s International Rookie Camp

18 Women Announced in CrossCoders AFLW International Rookie Camp

GB Swan Hocking and Former Welsh International Soccer Player Jones Included

17th September 2018 – After an extensive worldwide search, two British sportswomen have been selected for the first ever AFL Women’s International rookie camp in Melbourne, Australia. The camp takes place from September 22-30.

Great Britain Swan Frankie Hocking and former Welsh international soccer and netballer Nia Jones will join 16 other highly talented sportswomen from Ireland, the United States, France, Canada and Fiji as they seek a professional Australian Rules football contract. Continue reading “British Players Named in AFL Women’s International Rookie Camp” →

Clubs Set for Women’s Champions League Qualifiers

Three Teams Will Battle for Champions League Qualification

Innovative Inter-League Format Takes Place This Autumn

10th September 2018 – With the women’s game continuing to grow in England and Wales, the Nottingham Scorpions, Sussex Swans and Cardiff Panthers will face each other to decide who will qualify for next year’s AFL Europe Champions League.

The three teams will play one another three times, with the best team after this round-robin format qualifying for the tournament, which will be held in Spring 2019.

AFL Europe Events & Communications Coordinator Lily Beck welcomed the news as the women’s game continues to develop further in Europe.

“We’ve seen some fantastic growth in the women’s division of the Champions League recently,” she said. “It’s great to see the UK clubs using the opportunity to compete at the Champions as an incentive to get more games played during the season, as well as becoming more and more competitive.”

This year’s Champions League had a record seven women’s teams competing, and Nottingham Scorpions; Laura Turner-Ramadan says that her side will be desperate to qualify again.

“The Champions League was an awesome experience last year,” she said. “The timing of the league means that our players can continue to practise their skills throughout the winter when ordinarily the season would go pretty quiet.

“We have lots of new players who are excited about playing the tournament style game days meaning they will get lots of experience and hopefully lots of goals!”

The competition will run over three rounds, in Cardiff (22nd September), Sussex (20th October) and Nottingham (10th November).

Mick Tierney says that the Sussex Swans are thrilled to be debuting their women’s team after just over 12 months of having women attending training.

“The whole club is excited at the prospect of Champions League qualification,” he said. “The players have been training hard all season, with many taking part in AFL London fixtures, and Niamh Polly, Becca Prevett, Bella Penny and Anita Butterley all playing for the AFL London All-Stars against the GB Swans last month.

“I know the whole club will be behind them. We’ll be heading to Cardiff with a strong and confident side.”

Women's Champions League Qualifier

PosTeamPWLFA%Pts
122013023565.28
22118272113.94
32022814519.30
View full table

Stay tuned to AFL England on Facebook and Twitter for more information about the three rounds of qualification this autumn!

For more information about finding an Australian rules football club near you, head to the Find a Club section of our website or email info@aflengland.org

 

“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” →

Rising Star Liam Dolling Preparing for Great Britain Debut

Was Named as One  of 14 Debutants in the Bulldogs Squad to Face the Netherlands

Dolling Plays His Club Football for the Glasgow Sharks

22nd August 2018 – With the Principal Great Britain Bulldog’s friendly against the Netherlands just days away, here we take look at one of the brightest prospects named in the Great Britain Squad by Head Coach Dean Thomas.

Liam Dolling is one of three Scots and 15 debutants in the squad – joined by West Lothian Eagles player Keir Wotherspoon and Glasgow Shark’s Andrew McManus – and Dolling says that he is excited to play his first game for Great Britain after enjoying a standout season for the Glasgow Sharks.

Continue reading “Rising Star Liam Dolling Preparing for Great Britain Debut” →

‘Show Us What You’ve Got’ – GB Head Coach Thomas to Bulldogs Debutants

Bulldogs Prepare to Face the Netherlands for the First Time Since September 2016

Injuries Force Five Changes to Matchday Squad

20th August 2018 – Head Coach Dean Thomas has told his debutants to show established players exactly what they can offer the team as the Principal Great Britain Bulldogs begin their journey to the AFL Europe Championship next year, and the AFL International Cup in 2020.

Thomas has named 14 debutants in the squad to face the Netherlands on Saturday at Motspur Park and says that he hopes the Bulldogs will be able to close out 2018 on a positive note. Continue reading “‘Show Us What You’ve Got’ – GB Head Coach Thomas to Bulldogs Debutants” →

AFL England Launches National University League

Oxford, Cambridge and Birmingham Named as Inaugural Participants

League Runs November 2018 – March 2019

17th August 2018 – AFL England are committed to growing the game of Australian rules football up and down the country; from grass-roots and junior projects, to major regional London, CNE and Southern leagues.

That is why we’re delighted to announce the launch of the National University League (NUL) featuring teams from Oxford, Cambridge and Birmingham University, with a view to expanding to include sides from Cardiff University, Cardiff Metropolitan and the University of South Wales.

The first season will start this autumn and run from November through until March. The league will use the same nine-a-side format used in major competitions such as the Euro Cup, AFL Europe Champions League and Fitzpatrick Cup, and will run on a home and away ‘carnival’ format, so as to give teams the chance to socialise and enjoy the game together. Continue reading “AFL England Launches National University League” →

AFL England Partners With CrossCoders and Western Bulldogs to Find International Footy Talent

AFL England Unveiled as CrossCoders Partners

Program Aims to Find New Western Bulldogs AFLW Rookie

July 17, 2018 – AFL England have been unveiled as strategic partners of CrossCoders, a global program that will allow top female athletes a once in a lifetime opportunity to become a professional in Australia’s premier football league.

The program comes with the backing of the Western Bulldogs AFLW and the club’s hierarchy – from CEO Ameet Bains to Head Coach of the AFLW side Paul Groves. Continue reading “AFL England Partners With CrossCoders and Western Bulldogs to Find International Footy Talent” →