2008 Australian Football International Cup

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2008 Australian Football International Cup
2008 AFL International Cup
Tournament details
Host countryAustralia
Dates27 August – 5 September 2008
Teams16
Final positions
ChampionsFlag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea (1st title)
Runners-upFlag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Third placeFlag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
Fourth placeFlag of Ireland.svg  Ireland
The victorious Papua New Guinea Mosquitos celebrate winning the cup for the first time Png victory 3.jpg
The victorious Papua New Guinea Mosquitos celebrate winning the cup for the first time

The 2008 Australian Football International Cup was the third time the Australian Football International Cup, an international Australian rules football competition, has been contested.

Contents

It was scheduled for 2008 (as part of the 150th year celebrations of Australian Football), with 16 nations competing.

The tournament was hosted by both Melbourne and Warrnambool in Victoria, Australia between 27 August and 6 September, with a single match additionally played in Geelong. [1]

Like previous tournaments, the competition was open to men's teams with strict nationality eligibility rules.

The Grand Final was played between New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. Papua New Guinea were victorious by 8 points with a goal kicked after the siren. Like the Grand Final in previous years, the match was played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground as a curtain raiser to the 2008 AFL Second qualifying Final which attracted a crowd of 76,703 spectators. However unlike previous tournaments, the final was not televised.

History and build up

The WAFL and Perth, Western Australia raised the possibility of bidding for the tournament soon after the 2005 cup had been completed, [2] however the AFL has confirmed that the cup will once again be held in Melbourne for at least for one more year, as the 2008 Cup will coincide with Australian Rules football's 150th anniversary. The AFL later indicated that a regional round and semi-finals would be held in Warrnambool.

The AFL indicated that unlike earlier cups, it would likely be split into two divisions, a premier division and development division, with some discussion as to whether the eligibility rules could be loosened for the development division, to enable more countries to participate. Leagues were given the opportunity to nominate which they would prefer, with eight in each division being an initial target. [3] Ultimately, this idea was dropped, with the sixteen teams being seeded into four pools.

In December 2007, it was announced that Melbourne and Warrnambool would co-host the two division event, with Melbourne matches to be played mainly in Royal Park North. Several potential new sides were announced by the AFL, including an Israeli-Palestine combination supported by the Peres Centre for Peace, China and India. [4] [5]

The USA Women's team announced an intention to send a squad to play against Australia and possibly Papua New Guinea. Additionally Canada and England announced their intentions to send Under 17s squads. [6] As a result, there was speculation over an inaugural women's and under 17 divisions. However the AFL denied these divisions in favour of a senior men's competition only. In response, and with the Barassi International Australian Football Youth Tournament being cancelled, British and Canadian junior teams had to organise their own tours and matches against Australian schools. Despite both international teams being in Australia at the same time, they did not play against each other. [7] The US women's team announced a 2009 tour instead.

Competing Nations

The AFL confirmed in July 2008 that sixteen nations will compete. [8] In addition, there will be friendly matches played between Melbourne-based migrant community teams under the names "Team Africa" and "Team Asia", as well as the Tongan side which was unable to commit to the full tournament. Also despite a previous appearance, the Spain Bulls will not be competing.

Pool APool BPool CPool D

Games

Round 1

TeamScoreTeamScoreGroundDate
Flag of Ireland.svg Ireland Warriors 12.12 (84) Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden Elks 1.0 (6) McAlister Oval Wednesday, 27 August 11:00 AM
Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand Falcons 13.13 (91) Flag of Japan.svg Japan Samurais 0.2 (2) Ransford Oval Wednesday, 27 August 11:00 AM
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Northwind 18.22 (130) Flag of Finland.svg Finland Icebreakers 0.0 (0) Western Oval Wednesday, 27 August 11:00 AM
Flag of Samoa.svg Samoa Kangaroos 16.20 (116) Flag of India.svg India Tigers 1.0 (6) McAlister Oval Wednesday, 27 August 1:00 PM
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Great Britain Bulldogs 20.15 (135) Flag of Israel.svg Flag of Palestine.svg Peres Team for Peace 1.2 (8) Ransford Oval Wednesday, 27 August 1:00 PM
Flag of the United States.svg United States Revolution 11.6 (72) Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark Vikings 1.4 (10) Western Oval Wednesday, 27 August 1:00 PM
Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa Lions 20.26 (146) Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China Red Demons 0.0 (0) McAlister Oval Wednesday, 27 August 3:00 PM
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg Papua New Guinea Mosquitos 10.9 (69) Flag of Nauru.svg Nauru Chiefs 3.2 (20) Ransford Oval Wednesday, 27 August 3:00 PM

Round 2

TeamScoreTeamScoreGroundDate
Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand Falcons 35.19 (229) Flag of India.svg India Tigers 0.0 (0) Western Oval Friday, 29 August 11:00 AM
Flag of Ireland.svg Ireland Warriors 13.20 (98) Flag of Finland.svg Finland Icebreakers 0.0 (0) McAlister Oval Friday, 29 August 11:00 AM
Flag of the United States.svg United States Revolution 16.18 (114) Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China Red Demons 0.0 (0) Ransford Oval Friday, 29 August 11:00 AM
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg Papua New Guinea Mosquitos 20.20 (140) Flag of Israel.svg Flag of Palestine.svg Peres Team for Peace 1.1 (7) McAlister Oval Friday, 29 August 1:00 PM
Flag of Samoa.svg Samoa Kangaroos 4.7 (31) Flag of Japan.svg Japan Samurais 8.7 (55) Ransford Oval Friday, 29 August 1:00 PM
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Great Britain Bulldogs 2.6 (18) Flag of Nauru.svg Nauru Chiefs 10.5 (65) Western Oval Friday, 29 August 1:00 PM
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Northwind 16.12 (108) Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden Elks 1.1 (7) Ransford Oval Friday, 29 August 3:00 PM
Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa Lions 9.11 (65) Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark Vikings 3.2 (20) West Kardinia Oval Saturday, 30 August 12:00 PM

Round 3

TeamScoreTeamScoreGroundDate
Flag of Ireland.svg Ireland Warriors 4.6 (30) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Northwind 2.2 (14)Reid OvalMonday, 1 September 11:00 AM
Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden Elks 6.7 (43) Flag of Finland.svg Finland Icebreakers 2.2 (14)Reid OvalMonday, 1 September 11:00 AM
Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand Falcons 10.11 (71) Flag of Samoa.svg Samoa Kangaroos 1.2 (8)Walter OvalMonday, 1 September 11:00 AM
Flag of Japan.svg Japan Samurais 15.16 (106) Flag of India.svg India Tigers 0.0 (0)Mack OvalMonday, 1 September 1:00 PM
Flag of the United States.svg United States Revolution 5.6 (36) Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa Lions 8.10 (58)Reid OvalMonday, 1 September 1:00 PM
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg Papua New Guinea Mosquitos 7.9 (51) Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Great Britain Bulldogs 3.2 (20)Walter OvalMonday, 1 September 1:00 PM
Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark Vikings 17.20 (122) Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China Red Demons 0.0 (0)Reid OvalMonday, 1 September 3:00 PM
Flag of Nauru.svg Nauru Chiefs 28.9 (177) Flag of Israel.svg Flag of Palestine.svg Peres Team for Peace 1.1 (7)Walter OvalMonday, 1 September 3:00 PM

Group Results After Rounds

Pool A

PositionTeamPlayedWonLostDrawnPoints ForPoints Against %Points
1 Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand Falcons 3300391103910.0012
2 Flag of Japan.svg Japan Samurais 3210163112145.538
3 Flag of Samoa.svg Samoa Kangaroos 3120155133113.134
4 Flag of India.svg India Tigers 303064511.330

Pool B

PositionTeamPlayedWonLostDrawnPoints ForPoints Against %Points
1 Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg Papua New Guinea Mosquitos 330026047553.1912
2 Flag of Nauru.svg Nauru Chiefs 321026294278.728
3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Great Britain Bulldogs 3120173124139.514
4 Flag of Israel.svg Flag of Palestine.svg Peres Team for Peace 3030224524.860

Pool C

PositionTeamPlayedWonLostDrawnPoints ForPoints Against %Points
1 Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa Lions 330026956480.3512
2 Flag of the United States.svg United States Revolution 321022268326.478
3 Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark Vikings 3120152137110.944
4 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China Red Demons 303003820.000

Pool D

PositionTeamPlayedWonLostDrawnPoints ForPoints Against %Points
1 Flag of Ireland.svg Ireland Warriors 3300212201060.0012
2 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Northwind 321025237681.088
3 Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden Elks 31205620627.184
4 Flag of Finland.svg Finland Icebreakers 3030142715.160

Finals

Finals Round 1

TeamScoreTeamScoreGroundDate
Flag of Samoa.svg Samoa Kangaroos 7.8 (50) Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden Elks 4.2 (26)Mack OvalWednesday, 3 September 1:00 PM
Flag of India.svg India Tigers 4.4 (28) Flag of Finland.svg Finland Icebreakers 8.4 (52)Reid OvalWednesday, 3 September 1:00 PM
Flag of Nauru.svg Nauru Chiefs 7.3 (45) Flag of the United States.svg United States Revolution 3.5 (23)Walter OvalWednesday, 3 September 1:00 PM
Flag of Israel.svg Flag of Palestine.svg Peres Team for Peace 5.7 (37) Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China Red Demons 4.4 (28)Mack OvalWednesday, 3 September 3:00 PM
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Great Britain Bulldogs 5.4 (34) Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark Vikings 4.3 (27)Reid OvalWednesday, 3 September 3:00 PM
Flag of Japan.svg Japan Samurais 0.3 (3) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Northwind 7.7 (49)Walter OvalWednesday, 3 September 3:00 PM
Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand Falcons 8.9 (57) Flag of Ireland.svg Ireland Warriors 2.3 (15)Reid OvalWednesday, 3 September 5:30 PM
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg Papua New Guinea Mosquitos 9.8 (63) Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa Lions 2.3 (15)Reid OvalWednesday, 3 September 7:30 PM

Finals Round 2

TeamScoreTeamScoreGroundDate
Playoff for 13th and 14th
Flag of Finland.svg Finland Icebreakers 2.2 (14) Flag of Israel.svg Flag of Palestine.svg Peres Team for Peace 14.5 (89) Western Oval Friday, 5 September 10:00 AM
Playoff for 9th and 10th
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Great Britain Bulldogs 8.9 (57) Flag of Samoa.svg Samoa Kangaroos 1.11 (17) Ransford Oval Friday, 5 September 10:00 AM
Playoff for 5th and 6th
Flag of Nauru.svg Nauru Chiefs 12.8 (80) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Northwind 7.7 (49) Ransford Oval Friday, 5 September 10:15 AM
Playoff for 11th and 12th
Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden Elks 0.2 (2) Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark Vikings 14.19 (103) Western Oval Friday, 5 September 11:45 AM
Playoff for 7th and 8th
Flag of the United States.svg United States Revolution 14.13 (97) Flag of Japan.svg Japan Samurais 2.4 (16) McAlister Oval Friday, 5 September 11:45 AM
Playoff for 3rd and 4th
Flag of Ireland.svg Ireland Warriors 5.2 (32) Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa Lions 4.9 (33) Ransford Oval Friday, 5 September 12:00 PM
Playoff for 15th and 16th
Flag of India.svg India Tigers 6.6 (42) Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China Red Demons 7.14 (56) Ransford Oval Friday, 5 September 1:45 PM
Grand Final
Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand Falcons 7.4 (46) Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg Papua New Guinea Mosquitos 7.12 (54) Melbourne Cricket Ground Friday, 5 September 5:30 PM

Knockout-Chart (Final 4)

Semi-finals Grand Final
          
A1 Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 8957
D1 Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 2 3 15
WSF1 Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 7 4 46
WSF2 Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea 71254
B1 Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea 9963
C1 Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 2 3 15 Bronze medal match
LSF1 Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 5 2 32
LSF2 Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 4933

Individual awards

World Team

The world team was selected based on player performance in the pool rounds only. India, China, the Peace Team and Finland all missed representation in the team.

PlayerNationClubPosition
Donald Barry Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg Papua New Guinea GulfHalf back flank
Joe Lla Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg Papua New Guinea CentralRuck rover
Overa Gibson Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg Papua New Guinea GulfCentre half forward
Stanis Susuve Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg Papua New Guinea GulfInterchange
Richard Bradley Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand Eastern BluesFull-forward
Andrew Crighton Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand North Shore TigersFullback
Andrew Congalton Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand Takapuna EaglesInterchange
Mike Finn Flag of Ireland.svg Ireland Heidelberg Tigers/Caulfield Bears (VIC)Centre half back
Ian O'Sullivan Flag of Ireland.svg Ireland Leeside LionsForward pocket
Cian Quigley Flag of Ireland.svg Ireland Leeside LionsInterchange
Julian Horn Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa North West ProvinceBack pocket
Thabiso Phakedi Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa North West ProvinceBack pocket
Scott Fleming Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Vancouver CougarsForward pocket
Emmanuel Mattata Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Etibicoke KangaroosRuck
Agir Amwano Flag of Nauru.svg Nauru TigersCentre
Torio Mwareow Flag of Nauru.svg Nauru Navarre Football ClubHalf-forward flank
Aiden Dillane Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Great Britain Putney MagpiesHalf-forward flank
Luke Matias Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Great Britain Caulfield (SFL, VIC)/NottinghamInterchange
Páll Tómas Finnsson Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark JyllandWing
Jen Djernes Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark JyllandInterchange
Chris Candelaria Flag of the United States.svg United States Denver BulldogsInterchange
Michito Sakaki Flag of Japan.svg Japan Waseda University Rover
Fia Tootoo Flag of Samoa.svg Samoa Moorabbin KangaroosHalf back flank
Andreas Svensson Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden Landskrona BulldozersWing
IC2008 World Team
B: Flag of South Africa.svg Thabiso Phakedi Flag of New Zealand.svg Andrew Crighton Flag of South Africa.svg Julian Horn
HB: Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg Donald Barry Flag of Ireland.svg Mike Finn Flag of Samoa.svg Fia-Tootoo
C: Flag of Sweden.svg Andreas Svensson Flag of Nauru.svg Agir Amwano Flag of Denmark.svg Pa'll Finnsson
HF: Flag of Nauru.svg Torio Mwareow Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg Overa Gibson Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Aiden Dillane
F: Flag of Ireland.svg Ian O'Sullivan Flag of New Zealand.svg Richard Bradley Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Scott Fleming
Foll: Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Emmanuel Mattata Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg Joe Lla Flag of Japan.svg Michito Sakaki
Int: Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Luke Matias Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg Stanis Susuve Flag of New Zealand.svg Andrew Congalton
Flag of Ireland.svg Cian Quicgley Flag of the United States.svg Chris Candelaria Flag of Denmark.svg Jes Djernes
Coach:Not Named

Tournament Best & Fairest winners

PlayerNationClub
Mike Finn Flag of Ireland.svg Ireland Heidelberg Football Club

See also

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References

  1. AFL International Cup goes to Warrnambool
  2. World Cup For Perth. 28 August Digby Beacham, Sunday Times, Perth
  3. Cup dates proposed as AFL ponders divisions
  4. "Israelis and Palestinians to play side by side". The Age . 3 December 2007. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012.
  5. Warrnambool to co-host 2008 International Cup
  6. Plenty of issues to consider for Cup organisers
  7. Wolfpack hunt in big numbers from worldfootynews.com
  8. World Footy News – 16 teams to contest IC08, a dozen more in the wings