Recent news

(This story updates an item in this story: More Aussie Rules Related News Links.)
The NFL Draft was held the last weekend of April and another former Aussie Rules player has been signed as a punter. Ex-Saint Arryn Siposs, who has been playing with the University of Auburn in Alabama for the past several years, missed out on being drafted. However, the Detroit Lions signed him as a free agent.

Siposs, 27, played 26 games for the Saints 2011 to 2015. He was plagued by injuries in that time, including three shoulder reconstructions in his last two seasons. He was delisted at the end of 2015. He went on to join ProKick Australia, a specialist academy founded in 2007 by former AFL player Nathan Chapman.

Chapman himself tried out for the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears after his 76 game career with the Brisbane Bears/Lions and Hawthorn ended in 2000. He returned to Australia after his NFL aspirations ended and, in 2007, founded ProKick Australia to train others in the art of NFL punting. It also serves as a platform for possible scholarships to American colleges.

Siposs was in his junior year with Auburn when he declared for the NFL Draft in January of this year. The New York Jets (who previously had former Cat star Ben Graham on their list), Atlanta Falcons and Detroit all showed interest in Siposs. Even though the Lions have signed Siposs, he still has to prove himself to remain on the list as the club could cut him before the next NFL season starts (whenever that happens).

Sources: 7news.com.au, nytimes.com, AFL Record Season Guides

The film released last year in Australia about the final years of Adam Goodes' career is now available in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Ireland via iTunes at this link:
https://thefinalquarterfilm.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=63ee98bcd305aa14461c982fb&id=48ffe98cc8&e=52bdbdfbc4

Price to buy US$14.99, to rent US$3.99.

It is as powerful as I believed it would be. You may remember the ESPN 30 for 30 June 17, 1994 film, which framed O.J. Simpson's White Bronco chase with the start of the 1994 World Cup, the New York Rangers' Stanley Cup Parade, Arnold Palmer's last appearance at the U.S. Open and Game 5 of the NBA finals between the Knicks and the Rockets. This film is similar in terms of it being from news reports and not having commentators. However, there are no side subjects.

Highly recommended.

The AFL is already exploring options to reboot the season, but still aiming for only 17 rounds. Once given the clearance by the Australian states to resume, the league is considering relocation to one or two central areas (similar to what the NBA, MLB, and NHL are considering). They are also considering doubleheaders and the possibility of shortened games in a round-robin format to complete in 144 games in the least number of weeks possible. Even suburban grounds are being considered. When games do resume, they will be unattended by fans for the foreseeable future. The league appears to be focused on maximizing television revenue.

Another note to alert everyone that AFANA is closely tracking any developments the AFL makes to their season plans going forward. For now, everything downunder is suspended and the league is desperately trying to manage the financial impact. Fox Sports in the US is airing re-runs from March all month on Fox Soccer Plus but no other channel at this time. TSN is not airing any AFL coverage so far as we know in Canada. Our TV schedules are up to date through the end of April. Other pages like the radio page, draw pages, etc. will be updated as things become clearer. 

Fans have also asked for an AFANA financial status report. It's still unstable in the long run but thanks to some limited sales commissions from WatchAFL and severe cost cutting, we will survive for the next few months for sure. As long as the season is shut down, that revenue will cease after May and we'll reassess where we are in early June. We badly need donations, particularly monthly commitments to cement our long term survival. We know that all of the chaos brought about by the COVID-19 virus puts added financial pressure on each of you as well. If you are fortunate and can spare some dollars please consider a donation using either of our donation buttons (GoFundMe or PayPal) at the top of the page. Consider $10 a month but any amount helps. Thanks for your support.

More interesting stories about footy are appearing across the web. The Hugh Greenwood story made it to an American newspaper while the video of the Florida newsmen made it to Australia.

Ex College Basketball player Hugh Greenwood talks about his move to Gold Coast (from Adelaide) and his love of footy:

https://www.krqe.com/sports/local-sports/former-lobo-hugh-greenwood-starts-new-chapter-in-his-life/   

Ex-St Kilda player Arryn Siposs targets NFL draft success. His journey from St Kilda to USA college Auburn and his hope of being drafted by an NFL club and what he is doing to keep fit and practice his punting skills:

https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/nfl/ex-saint-siposs-targets-nfl-draft-success-20200331-p54fnl.html

US news anchor learns AFL. A video of one Florida news anchor explaining footy to a colleague with video clips of the Carlton vs Richmond game:

https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/us-news-anchor-learns-afl/video/92a9489199e38de533f487951aa487c6

Former NFL punter Pat McAfee, who is a recent and fanatical convert to AFL, interviewed American Magpie Mason Cox on his podcast. The interview runs about 37 minutes:

https://www.cowboysrideforfree.com/pokes-gone-pro/2020/4/4/21208098/oklahoma-state-cowboys-basketball-mason-cox-teaches-pat-mcafee-australian-football-league-explained

Sources: krqe.com, brisbanetimes,com.au, news.com.au, cowboysrideforfree.com

With so many sports competitions suspended, former AFL player Pat McAfee, who now has his own podcast, was looking for something to watch. He tripped across the opening round AFL match between Essendon and Fremantle and is now a diehard convert. Unfortunately, just after he discovered the game, the AFL announced the suspension of the season until the pandemic is over. While he couldn't quite figure out all the rules, he says he will keep watching when the game resumes and even has a dream of becoming an AFL player. Below are links to his stories and even a link to an "audition" video he posted.

3/21
https://www.espn.com.au/afl/story/_/id/28936855/americans-label-afl-incredible-vow-continue-watching

3/28
https://www.themercury.com.au/sport/afl/former-nfl-star-pat-mcafee-keeps-raving-about-onenight-stand-with-afl/news-story/d709108df44a1caa7e002e53ac7cb1cf

Former NFL player Pat McAfee's AFL audition video has received an endorsement from Hawthorn legend Dermott Brereton. Brereton believes he has potential. Below is the link to the full story with a video of McAfee kicking a Sherrin and a link to a related article:

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2020-pat-mcafee-interest-in-afl-dermott-brereton-reviews-former-nfl-players-footy-audition-video/news-story/0723707e9a2b110c319d37f9ab8f039f

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2020-pat-mcafees-footy-audition-nfl-punter-loves-aussie-rules-video-americans-loving-afl/news-story/e52400d044b3425809e298962f038625

Sources: espn.com.au, themercury.com.au, foxsports.com.au

Just hours before the end of round one, the AFL announced the season will postponed until at least the end of May due to the decision of several state governments to impose restrictions on travel due to the COVID-19 virus. The postponement will be reviewed at the end of April. The AFLW season, which just finished the semi-finals, has been completely canceled with no premiership awarded. The league did go ahead with the West Coast vs Melbourne match, the last of the round, which had yet to get underway. In a statement, CEO Gil McLachlan said, "...  this is the most serious threat to our game in 100 years ... It is unprecedented in the impact it is having on our game and the wider community ... we all need to take the unprecedented and required actions to get through this ... everyone involved in our game and our millions of supporters will be impacted ... and that many people will suffer significant hardship as are people right across the community but I also know that we all have a responsibility to the community and each other."

After Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the latest series of drastic measures on Sunday morning,

Before and during the opening round of the AFL, footy was getting attention internationally. This was due to the AFL continuing to play while so many other sports were on hold. Links to the various articles are below. While some make only brief references to footy, others are more in depth with stories about more American fans discovering footy with games played despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Articles often included brief outlines of the rules. Several journalists have already become fans and will continue to watch when the league recommences. Some of the articles have fan or Twitter comments, or video clips.

During the televised broadcast of the game between Melbourne and West Coast, commentator Gerard Healy asked if someone could explain for American viewers why it is only a point when the ball hits the goal post but no point when it hits the behind post. One of his colleagues said it was just the rules and that is how it had always been. (Click on "Read more >" to see the links.)

The AFL announced on Sunday, Australian time, that the season would be suspended following the conclusion of round one. Our staff, reporters, photographers, and staff working on areas like TV and radio schedules, tipping contents, etc. are hard at work on news articles and schedule changes occurring as a result. We'll be posting more here today and tomorrow. Stay tuned.

In the final game for round one of 2020, the West Coast Eagles showed why they would be considered one of the favorites to win the competition this year. (Ed. note: the AFL has suspended the season until at least May 31^st.) The home team enjoyed the warm day (88º F. ), but it was their team structure and discipline which cooked the visitors.  Melbourne started the game determined to show they are a better team than results from last year suggested. However, it was their delivery into their attacking zone that demonstrated they had learned nothing over the summer break. By quarter time, the Eagles were up five-zero in goals and it was already clear that Melbourne lack the structure of the home side.