The event is set to start at 10 AM and continue throughout the day with the main match between Northwind and the OAFL All-Stars starting at 2 PM. There will be a BBQ, refreshments, and prizes available to keep the crowd happy. Buzz Energy will be distributing free product to those in attendance.

This event will serve as the launch of OAFL's online show called Footy Feast. To help with this launch, the FAN 590 and a team of photographers will be on hand to add player interviews and filming of the action.

This event promises to be the biggest day of Australian Football in Ontario history!

For further information, please contact Dan Walker at dwalker@aflcanada.com or (647) 818-4426 or Fraser Parrott at jfparrott@gmail.com or (647) 262-1286. For on-site information on the day, please contact Fraser Parrott at (647) 262-1286.

There will be giveaways, door prizes, a major prize draw and more! And, the Collingwood vs. Essendon match will be played (tape-delayed). Let's have a great night to kick off the season and the biggest year in Canada yet!

Download the flyer(PDF, 1.7 MB).

Darrel Perry - President
Peter Campion - Vice President
Robert Parker - Director
Dan Noone - Treasurer
Dan Walker - Secretary

For more details on their impressive credentials look in the About Us section of this website. This new group of talented and passionate individuals has high expectations for taking Australian football in Canada to the next level. One of the first orders of business is to create a 2008 Business Plan and long term vision for growth. Prior to the implementation of any of the initiatives which the new President was elected on, the Executive are working with the outgoing AFL Executive to ensure that all financial reporting is up to date. In addition, in order to improve communication to all levels of Australian Football in Canada the minutes from the monthly meetings will be made available on the AFL Canada website. Stay tuned for an exciting 2008 season.

• Saturday, January 26, 2007
• Saturday, February 23, 2007
• Saturday, March 15, 2007
• Saturday, March 29, 2007

All sessions will be held from 5:15 - 8:00 pm at the Metro Sports Centre in the east end of Toronto. See you there.

Metro Sports Centre
1510 Birchmount Road
416-751-0500
www.metrosportscentres.com

Listen to the 3AW interview (MP3).

Update: Martin also made an appearance on 107.9 FM ABC Ballarat. Listen to the ABC interview (MP3).]]> http://aflcanada.com/news/2008/01/northwind_gm_on_3aw_sports_today.php http://aflcanada.com/news/2008/01/northwind_gm_on_3aw_sports_today.php Northwind 2008-01-07T12:00:00-05:00 Braedon Reynolds, a promising junior from the North Delta Junior Australian Football League (NDJAFL) has had an experience of a lifetime for any international player, a chance to play football in Australia.

Spending 4 weeks in Australia to visit a family friend, Braedon wanted to keep his footy skills sharp as he would be trying out for the Canadian U17 (Wolfpack) team that was getting ready to play the USA in August '07. And so took the opportunity to help improve his football and contacted AFL Canada's Mike McFarlane to see if it was possible for him to play or train with an Australian team whilst in Australia.

Braedon (pictured next to Sydney Swans star Peter Everitt, along with a friend and the Swans' co-captain Brett Kirk) got his first taste of Australian style football on June 30 2007 with the U14's against Wyong, who had thrashed Gosford Park earlier in the season. With this being his first experience of 18-a-side footy, on a full sized field, it was bound to be an eye opener for the young Canadian. Yet Braedon took it all in stride playing three positions during the game (full forward, ruck and center half forward) and helped lead Gosford Park to a 68 to 8 win. The following game against United, Braedon continued to impress by kicking five goals while playing in the full forward and ruck positions. All up Braedon played four games with Gosford Park and helped them to three wins and a loss which was against undefeated Terrigal.

When asked what he thought of his experience in Australia, Braedon stated that he likes the Australian style of footy. "The Australian style of the game is so much faster and more wide open because of the bigger field." He also noted that they play more of a running and handball style of game and tend to only look to kick under pressure or for goal whereas the NDJAFL play a more kicking and marking style of game.

Speaking to the Tigers team coach Osie Nigr about Braedon's time at the club, he stated that Braedon was a great acquisition for the team with his height and pace as well as his ability to carry and deliver the ball. "He was a great asset for the team and club and everyone enjoyed his presence and the experience, we would welcome, with open arms any other Canadian footballers headed our way". Nigr also stated that if they were cashed up they would love to fly him back if they made the finals.

When speaking to AFL Canada's Mike McFarlane about Braedon's experience he stated, "We (AFL Canada) feel the first experience of a Canadian junior going to play footy in Australia was a huge success. We have already begun negotiations with Gosford Park president Paul Steele, to make this a permanent exchange program between the two organizations. The more exposure for our juniors in Australia the better off our development in Canada will be. Maybe the AFL will begin to cast an eye to Canada as a new recruiting ground."

Saturday, December 15th, 2007 at 3 pm EST (12 pm PST)
Phone number: 1-800-669-6180
Participant code: 610819

Thanks in advance for attending.

Northwind Winter Conference

Sunday, December 16th, 2007 from 11 am to 3 pm
30 Grand Truck Crescent, Toronto
(one block west of the Air Canada Centre)

This is not a training session. Go to the reception and you will be directed to the conference room.

On the agenda will be:

• A forum on the team's successes, failures, goals, strategies and implementation for the 2008 season
• An outline of the schedule for the International Cup in Australia for 2008
• Important discussion on the Northwind's schedule for 2008
• Possible new appointments for the national team's leadership groups
• Introduction of Northwind's winter fitness testing program for all players and prospects
• Fund raising initiatives (Northwind membership packages, etc.)

For all Ontario players and prospects, however, this meeting is to be considered a TOP PRIORITY. BC Footy, Alberta Footy, coaches are encouraged to invite players and prospects to attend (not mandatory).

The third International Cup will coincide with the AFL’s 150 years celebrations in August next year. The battle for the Cup will begin on the 27th of August with the first two rounds taking place in Melbourne before teams travel to Warrnambool on the 31st for a further two rounds to be played on Mack Oval, Reid Oval and Walter Oval. At this stage the finals will still be played in Melbourne though the location is still unannounced.

So far 17 teams have expressing an interest in competing in the tournament; Canada will join teams from China, Denmark, Finland, Great Britain, India, Japan, Nauru, Spain, Papua New Guinea, Sweden, Samoa, Tonga, South Africa, USA and past winners Ireland (2002) and New Zealand (2005).

In addition to his OAFL duties, Dan will work directly with the administration and coaching staff at Northwind, Canada's National Australian Rules Football Team, as it prepares for the International Cup to be held in Melbourne in August 2008. Walker's appointment is fully funded by Ironbark International Limited, an OAFL sponsor. Dan joins the OAFL after a successful year in Victoria's GVFL where he played for Mansfield and was the club's leading goal scorer for 2006, before moving to the OAFL where in 2007 he won the league goal kicking award. Speaking after his appointment was made official, Mr. Walker made the following comment "I am excited about this opportunity and I look forward to working with the OAFL and its member clubs along with the Canadian National Australia Rules Football Team. Getting community involvement and increasing Canadian public exposure to the game through junior development programs will be a priority" he said.

For further information please contact Dan at dwalker@aflcanada.com or 416-363-8147.

YOU CAN PLAY!

Yes, even if you are not a member of the Northwind or a non-Canadian, you're invited. Just contact Rosscoe Heilmann (Northwind Team Manager) by phone: (416) 482-6153 or by e-mail: rheilmann@aflcanada.com. There are still spots available so register today to ensure your spot on the roster!

Cross border footy certainly has been a touchy issue for Canadians as of late. Ask any Northwind player about their success against the Revolution and you would have likely heard nothing but snarls. Although this match-up has always been close, until August 4th 2007, the Northwind had not beaten the Revolution in an official international competition. A record like that weighs heavily on a team. In Vancouver, B.C. however, the Northwind finally shed their past, and delivered a great performance in beating the U.S. side.

This marquee match was part of an expose of Australian football hosted at Thunderbird Stadium. From the grandstand, this spectacular venue offered spectators an impressive view of international footy played on an oval in pristine condition. The weekend was a jam packed 2-day schedule of non-stop footy, featuring not only the senior mens' national teams, but also Canada and U.S.'s junior, and womens' teams as well as teams representing Vancouver, Victoria, Calgary, Portland; even players from Japan who battled for the B.C. Footy Cup. Everything from newspaper and radio coverage, event programs, beer and meat pie concessions, even music and commentary ensured this to be the greatest amateur 'Footy' event that has ever been held in North America.

Saturday's 2:00 pm feature match was the senior men. It started with the Revolution entering the field accompanied by Bruce Springstein's "Born in the USA" while the Northwind followed by BTO's "You Ain't Seen Nothin Yet" blaring over the stadium's P.A. system. After the teams lined up for national anthems, the battle was on. What an exciting start!

From the Canadians' standpoint, there was a strong sense of confidence in the changing room after that. In the third quarter, the Northwind took the lead back and would not let it go. The Revolution pressed heavily at times but Matt Lowden, Tasos Dimakacos, and Daniel Zimmerman provided dramatic smothers and incredible defense for the Northwind. Daniel Zimmerman did well to clear the ball from danger under some desperate situations with giant boots. Steve Carew saved the day with numerous wandering goal line saves and was awarded BOG for his performance. With only minutes to go, the Northwind held the game taking pokes at the Revolution goal. Although they didn't score majors there, they were able to execute a successful "offensive lock" and control the ball for the rest of the game.

The final score for the 49th Parallel Cup:
Northwind 45, Revolution 32.

On Sunday, the seniors played their second match. It was originally slated to be the Northwind Reserves vs. Revolution Reserves but, in all honesty, featured two badly battered and bruised squads from the day's previous game. Both the Revolution and the Northwind had numerous players out with injuries. Even from the beginning, the Revolution requested not to go through the pageantry of pre-game ceremonies. They just wanted to get on with the game.

On this occasion, the Revolution were able to dominate the larger percentage of play using their pack style of footy. They clearly did not want to go home 0-2. Frank Luisser had another great performance as did Daniel Zimmerman and Jacob Sone for the Northwind, but in the end, countless dropped balls, bad kicks and poor strategical maneuvering from most of the crew ended up in a narrow 6 point defeat. The Northwind's story is accurately described as a game of poor execution. Revolution 34 to Northwind 28. The Canadians left the field disappointed. They will probably look back at their performance wishing they had done a little more. A 2-0 record would have sent a much more powerful message to the international footy community about how far their program has come in just one year. They held their heads high afterwards, though, knowing the weight was off their shoulders for now. They can continue to develop knowing they will be a force to be reckoned with in 2008.

This international could not go by without recognizing the contributions of the Northwind's greatest stars. Aaron Falcioni (Assistant Captain), Matt Lowden and Kevin Minaker have consistently been the team's greatest performers. They view the game with creativity and intensity rarely matched by players outside Australia. The team's captain, Stefan Leyhane, has been the backbone of the team showing unwavering commitment to the national program. 17-year-old Vancouver native Scott Fleming impressed the hometown crowd with a great performance which bodes well for the future. And, of course after the success of the team, every player should be congratulated. For this tournament, however, no one deserves more recognition than Bruce Parker. Not only did he have a solid weekend performance, he delighted the crowd with the 'Specky' of the tournament in game 2, a high flyer which saw him bravely landing upside-down. After dusting off his shoulders, he pushed the play forward for one of the team's best down field passages. More than that, Bruce Parker was the Northwind's most active contributor on the management staff and one of the most generous sponsors. The program owes a debt of gratitude for this man's incredible contribution.

What does this win mean to the Northwind? Of course, everyone loves a winner. Firstly, this roster of players and management will always be remembered as the first team to beat the U.S. The management have much loftier goals than that though. Already, Northwind sponsors like Ironbark have offered to contribute enormous dollars to help develop Canada's football program. New players were immediately acquired from out of the B.C. Footy program. The press have already written articles in the Vancouver Province, radio interviews have been aired on Team 1040 radio in Vancouver, international footy websites such as: afl.com.au and World Footy News have written articles recognizing the success of the Northwind's rise to prominence. All of this in the first week. Can the Northwind meet the challenges of 2008's International Cup? Time will tell.

Great job Northwind!

Read the article.