JANUARY 2016 AFL ASIA NEWSLETTER

2015 WRAP UP How good's Footy in Asia! Its great to think back over this great year as one of constant growth and great achievements. With a huge number of AFL Asia season games, Malaysia leading the way in numbers of games won (11), Vietnam played the most games (17 internationals). A massive and well publicised ANZAC round with several games around the region, great tournament in Manila, with Vietnam winning there for the first time.

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AFL ASIA INTERNSHIPS!

AVAILABLE FOR 2016

AFL UPDATE WHAT'S NEW FOR

2016

AGM 2016 JANUARY 27TH

"The best Asian Champs ever!"

AFL ASIA NEWSLETTER

JANUARY 2016 AFL ASIA NEWSLETTER

The INDOCHINA cup once again showcased some great talent and was won again by the Thailand Tigers. There was the great SCAFL competition gaining funding and visibility from Port Adelaide F.C. and Indonesia's local competitions and great local development initiatives recognised by Australian government and the AFL.

That leaves us with October. With a mountain of organisation from the Thailand Tigers, the AFL ASIA committee, assistance from the AFL and all of our sponsors around Asia a massive thanks have to go around to everyone for their involvement in of one of/the BEST ASIAN Champs ever!

Following the recommendations from the biggest survey of Asian footy, Dividing into two divisions was a winner, creating two close competitions where every game was imperative for the final trophies. Also the first time a 100% local game was showcased at the champs, with a mix of South East Asian players V East Asia in a friendly match that was both monumental and extremely enjoyable for both players and spectators!

Congratulations to the Hong Kong Dragons for a solid win! And to the Laos Elephants for their inaugural Div2 win, and all of the All Asian players selected. The quality of Asian AFL football was on display, and it was awesome, mega awesome!

October also saw the formal signing of all clubs to the AFL Asia MOU, which while transparent to the near 2000 senior and junior players in our Asian region, is massive step forward to the AFL and relations with them. More on that later.

November saw the SAASTA team of young indigenous Australian players travel to Hong Kong and China to play the HK Dragons and team China! Once again ground breaking stuff! Thanks again to Port Adelaide FC, the Australian Government and all others involved in making this happen.

Thanks to the hard work of man volunteers the Auskick and junior numbers are showing impressive growth, the locally based GDAFL is underway again and the start of a local domestic competition in Borneo!

Guys, we've had a great year in 2015, please read on below and see how we can all help to make 2016 even bigger and better!

Regards,

Darren Whitfield,

President AFL ASIA

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AFL Indonesia leading the way

Indonesia is leading the way in 2015 with local recruitment numbers and showcasing our sport to new faces.

Shown here at a local Indonesian school and also pioneering a sports teachers AFL training programme. Well done guys!

JANUARY 2016 AFL ASIA NEWSLETTER

2016 Planning All teams are now busy planning their AFL ASIA season for 2016. Team Presidents can go into the calendar attached to offer games and record your dates which will be transposed to www.afl-Asia.com once confirmed:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Q_-3LEyz0AwusnVjr_MS-VGcmqmoc_4EBHTXjDNPrgQ/edit?usp=sharing

It would be great to see all teams lock in a game for Anzac super Saturday April 23rd, and the month or two leading up to champs.

If you need playing kit contact Nick at Brand HK: http://www.brandhk.com/afl/default.asp?activity=

2016 AFL Asian Champs We're hoping to lock in Asian Champs for Sept 3rd or OCT 15th before or at the AGM in January. As per the previous email the Swans committee is keen to get feedback on two dates - 3 sept or 15 oct and if teams might be prepared to play a game friday night. We are also exploring, when we can find time, hosting the first girls game at Champs and will ask for expressions of interest to maybe play a Vietnam vs Rest of the world exhibition match?

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JANUARY 2016 AFL ASIA NEWSLETTER

AFL UPDATE After the mega awesome AFL Asian Champs 2105 and the official signing of all clubs to AFL ASIA there is sincere improvement in relationships with the AFL. There has been a reshuffle in the head office, Andrew Hughes has moved into the international portfolio. During recent discussions we were reminded that the AFL cannot speak directly to clubs only through its affiliates like AFL ASIA, so please email your requests and thoughts to us which we will collate and request for you.

Expect to see similar AFL support for 2016. However we have been requested to put in a submission for the new TV rights budget for 2017-2022. We welcome any new solid suggestions?

The AFL's focus is always local development but now also women's teams and mixed AFL 9's. Vietnam has been doing mixed AFL 9's for two years already. Billy Crang and Maz Scanlon have been organising the Saigon 9's mixed comp and this is something we'd love to see replicated around the region. It would be great to see games showcased at tournaments including the Asian Champs sometime in the future.

IC17 Dates The AFL have confirmed the date for the International Cup 2017 from Saturday August 5 to Sunday August 19, 2017. Great news this year the new "Indochina Bulldogs" team has been approved by the AFL to enter IC17, along with Indonesia, China, Japan, India, Pakistan all preparing to participate. This is a massive opportunity for your local players. Teams should be recruiting heavily to bolster numbers and if you haven't already, please start your fundraising events and sponsorships now for this massive and expensive undertaking.

We hope to be having another all AFL ASIA function again, sponsors will be required for the event which in 2014 generated extensive TV and media coverage.

AFL Asia Coach & Umpire Clinics We have had a few clubs requesting coaching clinics to qualify new Auskick and senior coaches. Could teams please write back to us if you would be interested in Clinics for Auskick and coach/umpire clinics and any preferred month? It is probable that these could happen at tournament weekends to increase the coverage and numbers.

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JANUARY 2016 AFL ASIA NEWSLETTER

AFL ASIA AGM: Jan 27th? Tentatively Scheduled for Jan 27th via Skype or phone hook up. We will elect the new AFL Asia committee for 2016 and at this meeting will confirm the Champs date for Sept 3rd or Oct 14th!

All of us involved in Asian footy are very busy but if you have a few hours a week available to improve all AFL teams in Asia please get involved.

Positions to nominate & elect:

• President

• Vice President

• Secretary

• Treasurer

• Operations Manager: Sherrin, logistics

• Communications: Social media, website Etc

• Sponsorship Coordinator: developing current and prospective relationships

• Asian Champs committee

• Local Development committee

• Auskick Representatives/Committee

• Interns: We are open to offer internships to young people in Asia or Australia wishing to expand their resume while assisting AFL Asia. Applications to president@afl-Asia.com

Please start thinking about any position you think you or your committee members might be suitable for. Please email president@afl-Asia.com with your area of expertise. Also email any agenda items, other than the obvious, that your team would like to bring up.

P.S. TEAM ACTION ITEMS ACTION ITEMS:

• Urgently Reply with your teams requested coaching clinic requirements for 2016:

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JANUARY 2016 AFL ASIA NEWSLETTER

• Share your 2016 schedule and game offers at: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Q_-3LEyz0AwusnVjr_MS-VGcmqmoc_4EBHTXjDNPrgQ/edit?usp=sharing

• Save the IC17 dates.

• Save the AGM date and discuss nominations. Reply with any new agenda items.

Hope you've all had a great holiday and looking forward to making a great 2016.

Thanks to our partners:

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