Adelaide’s SA/WA Recruiting Manager Phil Bunn has joined the AIS-AFL Academy on its two-week tour of Europe.
Bunn, who joined the Club from Port Adelaide late-last year, will keep a diary of the trip, bringing you up to date with the team’s performances and adventures, and providing an insight to this year’s hottest draft prospects.
Here’s the next instalment …
Day 7, London, Game Day
All was in readiness for a great day of Aussie Rules footy. The weather gods were on our side as the sun shone through and took the chill off the cool English spring day.
AFL Europe General Manager Ben McCormack and his team of volunteers had worked very hard to put everything in place for their Easter Series exhibition match.
Prior to the main game, the Irish Warriors took on the Great Britain Bulldogs. While the Irish had brought over a weaker than normal squad, these fierce rivals always have a physical contest. The football was willing for the whole match, but the GB Bulldogs proved too strong and ran out easy winners.
For the second year running, the AFL Celebrity 9's match was held, with a few of the old AFL legends including Dipper, Brady Rawlings, Steve Silvagni, Jason McCartney and Tony Woods pulling on the boots.
The main game followed with the AIS-AFL Academy boys running out easy winners after a bright start by the Europeans in the first quarter.
Match report
The AIS-AFL Academy team has defeated the European Legion by 86 points in an Easter Series exhibition match at Surrey Sports Park, Guilford, UK.
The match marked the 125th anniversary of the first game ever played in Europe. It was the third straight year the Aussie AIS-AFL and European Legion teams have faced off.
The AIS-AFL Academy team is made up of Australia's next generation of AFL stars, with an average of 80% of the team members drafted into AFL ranks. Last year’s No.1 draft pick Lachie Whitfield (GWS) played in the 2012 series, and AFL recruiters are watching the 2013 team closely to identify the next No.1 pick.
The European squad was comprised of the best players from Denmark, England, France, Ireland, Scotland, Sweden and Germany, who all travelled to London for a one-week training camp with Tadhg Kennelly (Swans premiership player and GAA All-Ireland winner) and Brad Ottens (Three-time premiership player with Geelong) prior to the match.
The European team surprised the Aussies in the first term, kicking two goals to leave the Aussies with a mere 14-point lead at quarter-time. The European team battled hard throughout the physical contest, but Australia’s finishing skills proved the major difference.
The end result was a reflection of the true class of the young Aussie stars, who will likely go on to become stars of their country’s most popular sport. However, the European team has improved each year since the 220-point loss in the first match between the two teams. It shows the sport is heading in the right direction.
Final score
Australia 15. 14 (104)
Europe 3. 0 (18)
Goalkickers - Matt Scharenberg (Glenelg) 3, Darcy Hourigan (South Adelaide) 3, James Tsitas (Vic) 2, Lloyd Perris (NSW) , Jack Billings (Vic), Matthew Crouch (Vic), Dominic Sheed (WA), Ben Lennon (Vic), Marcus Bontempelli (Vic), Cain Tickner (Qld) all 1 goal
Best - Matt Scharenberg, Ben Lennon, Dwayne Wilson (SA), Josh Kelly (Vic), Errin Wasley-Black (NT), Marcus Bontempelli, Luke Dunstan (SA)
