Lets hope the LA fixture is held at least every 2 years. It appears to be underwritten by non AFL sources. Read all about it at the front page of US Footy web site www.usfooty.com
This LA fixture is dicussed by the Swans in the article below. They would "like" this match to become an annual event at the festival. "If" they could get to that stage by finding other AFL clubs willing to travel and sourcing finance this opens a opportunity for promotions of local USAFL footy in LA and in the whole country. Read about it at http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,17235844%5E23211,00.html
The LA match is developing into a wider promotion for Aussie Rules than was earlier thought. The Sydney Swans have strong links with AFL Canada. They hosted the Canadians during the recent 10 country International Cup in Melb. Apparently 2 talented Canadian teenage footballers will be hosted by the Swans in LA. For those sports fans who do not know the AFL intends to commence an International Apprentice scheme (Min age 14 yrs) in 2006. The above move may be part of that scheme. Any Nth Melbourne fans out there?. Want to meet the players. Here is the tour schedule for that club. http://www.australia-week.com/page/kangaroositinerary. To put things into perspective. The only AFL involvement is giving the ok for the match to be held under their guidelines and supplying the umpires for the match. This fits in with their "current low cost" attitude to International footy. Everything else is being organised by the Swans, Kangaroos, USAFL and the Underwriters one of whom is a Kangaroos fan.
The United States Australian Football League has now finalised its pricing and ticketing for the activities surrounding this match on Jan 15. Looking at the events they have arranged if you are a Aussie Rules fan or player and can get to LA, this is very good chance to see at first hand what goes in the AFL. The fans in Australia normally just do not get this close to the players. IF this event goes annual in LA it will become a big event for this grassroots sport in the US. Here is the link to the page with all of the details Will repeat it again- If the fans can get to this event -Go. It needs your support. http://www.usfooty.com/usfooty/content.aspx?section=laweek
Some more news -- Apparently there are several Aussie Rules groups flying in from the US East Coast and Canada for this event. The AFANA group now offering package deals for flights etc For more info go to main page and find the link www.afana.com
Here is the message from the US Revolution team coach for the LA festival. They will be playing an Aussie expat side before the main game. go to http://www.usfooty.com/usfooty/newsitem.aspx?menu=homepagemenu&id=604 USAFL news. New teams forming at----- University of South Florida - Tampa Louisville Kentucky (Rebirth of this club) St Louis Bakersfield California Las Vegas
There has been a LA game update included in the latest AFANA newsletter dated Dec 25 on the front page of their site. They mention a virtual internet event -whatever that is. Goto www.afana.com
This article from the Sydney Swans web site ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Short and sweet for Swans 5 January 2006 Angus Morgan Sportal for afl.com.au While the clubs that did not compete in last year's finals enjoyed a clear 10-week lead-up to the holiday break to set a foundation for the coming season, and now a further six weeks or so to prepare for the NAB Cup, the timetable has been far tighter for the 2005 premiers. Coming off a compressed pre-Christmas period, the Sydney Swans have the special challenge of an exhibition game against the Kangaroos in Los Angeles in mid-January - Sunday week, the 15th. That means throwing resources into match strategy and body contact at a time when, in any 'normal' pre-season, the focus would be moving from fitness to skills. According to Sydney assistant coach Ross Lyon, however, the club is coping well. "We saw it as a real positive. When you finish early it's quite a long period before Christmas and it can become a bit of a grind," Lyon said. "You're always looking at how to mix things up and provide a bit of variety, but with a five or six week period you can focus effectively. "There's a light at the end of the tunnel that you tend not to get with a longer 10 or 11 week lead-in and it allows us to attack every session that they get involved in." Lyon said the club was better-placed than in recent pre-seasons in terms of players in 'rehab' and the truncated pre-season was offset in one sense by the improved confidence among the playing group flowing from the premiership. He had special praise for the leadership shown on the training track by Jude and Craig Bolton, but said the entire list had returned from the holiday break in excellent shape. "Our players were aware that they needed to come back with good body weight and skin folds and, off the top of my head, I can't think of one player that we were disappointed in. "The threek time trials were all relatively pleasing. We don’t sit here now and say we're disappointed with how any of the players have come back, that they've dropped the ball and let themselves go. It is valid to compare and we do do that. "Their brief was to enjoy the break but to come back with good weight and skin folds and be ready to switch on. We've just noticed that there seems to be an extra belief in the group, that what they do and how they go about it has been validated. There's a genuine confidence that's come to the fore a little bit more with each session."
The Kangaroos have their say about the LA trip Article courtesy of the Herald Sun ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Roos push for youth 08 January 2006 Sunday Herald Sun By JACKIE EPSTEIN AFL flies flag in LA FOOTBALL heads to the glitz of Los Angeles this week in the form of an exhibition game between the Kangaroos and Sydney. Both teams will take in the sights of Hollywood, including an INXS concert on Sunset Boulevard and a visit to Universal Studios. The match, at UCLA next Sunday, looms as a David and Goliath battle, with the Kangaroos fielding a young team against the full-strength reigning premiers. Kangaroos captain Adam Simpson and veterans Glenn Archer, Brent Harvey, Jade Rawlings, Jonathan Hay, Shannon Grant and Saverio Rocca are being given a break. The 30-strong Roos contingent fly out on Thursday for a week to join in Australia Week activities. "We have young blokes we'd like to see, those who we haven't seen enough of," Kangaroos football manager Tim Harrington said. "Against good competition, the reigning premiers, it will be a good test. "It's an exhibition game, so it's going to be exhibition football. "We're expecting it will be fast and clean, as is normally the case with the first few games that you play in the new year. "It's worked out reasonably well, given we've got blokes who are training for the NAB Cup and getting over some injuries." The Swans are taking their full list on the 11-day trip, which includes a stopover in Honolulu and the famous Waikiki Beach on the way back. They will attend an ice hockey game, an NBA match and visit Disneyland. "I'm told as we get closer to the event it's getting a fair bit of notice," Harrington said. "It's different than most trips because we are actually training for a game." Sydney assistant coach Ross Lyon said the trip has come at a good time, despite a short break since winning the flag in September. "We see it as a real positive," Lyon said. "When you finish early it's quite a long period before Christmas and it can become a bit of a grind. "You're always looking at how to mix things up and provide a bit of variety, but with a five or six-week period you can focus effectively. "There's a light at the end of the tunnel that you tend not to get with a longer 10 or 11-week lead-in and it allows us to attack every session that they get involved in."
The USAFL on their website have advised that the game at the UCLA is now officially sold out. Demand from the fans across the country and the US Clubs has exceeded all expectations. Tickets are still available for some of the associated football events prior to the Sunday games. This absolutely "has" to become an annual Aussie Rules football event in LA. Would definitely get bigger over time with more promotions. Also announced the formation of a new 4 team league in Southern California.
First report from LA now on the AFANA website. AFANA will have reporters at this event. www.afana.com
The Kangaroos easily beat the reigning AFL premiers the Sydney Swans at the UCLA. We also believe the Aussie expat team beat the US Revolution team in the first match. There are more reports and photos on the event and a report on the actual game at www.afana.com There will photos on the match later on the site.
in the Swans defense, they fielded almost an entirely different team compared to the one that won the title. anyone on here go to the game?
I think it just means that leading players not picked by both teams aside that the Kangas may be further advanced in their pre-season. Hope the fans enjoyed it.
Some news after the event. The Nth Melbourne President expected his club to play again in 2007 in LA subject to sponsorship. The Swans Chief also made a similar statement, adding he hoped to bring about 500 club supporters next time to LA. The organisers now say a crowd of about 10,000 needed for the footy event, which means a new playing venue next time. The US and Canadian footy players present were absolutely wrapped to have clinics with the AFL players and Coaches. The fans in Australia do not get that close very often. The new US Southern California League shop at the event and on their website had about 1,000 enquiries from fans and prospective players. What about LA 2007? We do know now that it will be LA AND New York for 2007. Footy likely for LA but not known for NY.