AFLSAMOA

AFLSamoa is the Representative of the Australian Football League (AFL) in Samoa.

Volume 1, Issue 4
Special points of interest:

Newsletter Date 30/01/2012

Motor1 Aaron Edwards Cup. Senior Football training Time-On News

Welcome to the first issue for 2012 of AFL Samoa , a newsletter from AFLSamoas Game Development, providing information and updates on our programs, our events and our participants around Samoa, including the latest news from Australia and news from the pacific. AFLSamoa Mission Statement AFLSamoa will provide a energetic sporting culture for all Samoans enabling them to achieve self-discipline and teamwork. We look for and foster natural talent and provide opportunity for individual growth and success. AFLSamoa Ready for a big year in 2012

Inside this issue:

AFL Oceania Youth 1 Cup

Motor1 Aaron Edwards Cup

Following a great year in 2011, a year in which we took some great steps forward AFLSamoa has some big plans for 2012, and some big events coming up. Development within the country has seen the game played within 6 rural villages as part of the Motor 1 Village Development pathway strategy. Our first tournament of the year will be held on the 25th of February with all six villages taking part in the inaugural Motor 1 Aaron Edwards Cup. AFL OCEANIA YOUTH CUP

Aaron Edwards Profile

Senior Football

New Zealand Hawks has won the 2011 AFL Oceania Youth Cup Grand Final, beating Nauru by 21 points in Suva, Fiji on Saturday December 17th 2011. The final was attended by AFL Star Nic Naitanui and new Gold Coast Suns Rugby League convert Karmichael Hunt.

Time-On News

Final Results were: 5 V 6 Play off: Fiji 13Goals 5Points (83) d Vanuatu 2Goals 1Point (13) 4 v 3 Play off: PNG 11Goals 8Points (74) d Tonga 1Goal 1Point (7) Grand final: NZ 8Goals 4Points (52) d Nauru 4Goals 7Points (31)

AFL Matches in New Zealand

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AFLSAMOA

Motor 1 Aaron Edwards Cup

AFLS Development Officer Gabel Stathis has been working closely with the under16 students in our partner villages under the Village Development talent program. Six schools over the past 4 months in Upolu have been inducted to the game of Australian Rules football and have had the opportunity to play in local scratch matches. Our six village partners currently playing Aussie Rules are Faleata College, Aana #2, Palalaua College, Falealili College, Lepa/Lotofaga College, and Aleipata College. Their development has progressed quickly and the decision has been taken to introduce a structured competition. Our schools will be able to compete in a lightning carnival competition. Who will eventually come out on top and take bragging rights by winning the inaugural Motor 1 Aaron Edwards Cup? The one day lightning carnival will be held on Saturday 25th of February kicking of at 9am and concluding with awards at 4.30pm. If you arent playing we encourage you to attend and support your friends and or family members in their efforts on the day, it will be a great opportunity to watch an exciting sport in a social atmosphere and perhaps see the next Aaron Edwards make his debut. Two Players at this tournament will be nominated for the Oceania Squad and will be presented with the opportunity to travel with the South Pacific squad to Sydney, Australia to play in the South Pacific cup. This is a great opportunity for us to showcase Samoas home grown talent. Motor 1 is the major partner of AFLSamoa and have been tireless in assisting AFLS to visit these schools and get around the island delivering the program. AFL Samoa is proud to be associated with Motor 1, Samoas most successful motor dealership. If you are looking for a new motor vehicle please take to opportunity to visit the Motor 1 car yard at Fugalei, Apia or telephone 29674.

Their

development has progressed quickly and the decision has been taken to introduce a structured competition. Our schools will be able to compete in a lightning carnival competition.

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Aaron Edwards Profile Samoas AFL star After starting his career at West Coast, Aaron Edwards returned to the VFL to play for Frankston. It didn't take long for him to get another opportunity though, a stunning year followed for the Dolphins in which he booted 88 goals and took home the Liston Trophy for the league's best player. Edwards was drafted by the North Melbourne Kangaroos in the 2006 National Draft where he has gone on to be one of the AFLs most enigmatic forwards. Aaron has become a cult hero to North Melbourne fans and has kicked 107 goals over his 73 game career. A proven star, Aaron has the ability to take spectacular marks and can make his presence felt up forward. Draft history: 2006 NAB AFL Draft 6th round selection (North Melbourne) No. 82 overall. First game for North Melbourne: Round 2, 2007 v Port Adelaide

Seniors Football AFLS will be kicking of Seniors football in early March! Training will commence early March down at Apia Park in the afternoons from 4.30-6pm and then follow every week thereafter. If you know of anyone who will be interested in playing please contact AFLS Development Officer Gabel Stathis on +6857293589. Seniors Football is 18+ We hope to organize a Super 9s tournament to be played at Apia Park if we get a high registration of players. So come on all you budding footy stars now is your chance to get involved. We have the ground booked, the umpires waiting to blow their whistles and we need YOU the players to make it all happen.

AFLS will be kicking of Seniors football in early March!

AFL Samoa

Time On

AFL Clubs continue to search around the globe for talent!

THREE years after signing a former Canadian rugby union international, the Sydney Swans have added an athletic US college basketballer to their books.
MESC Office Sports Division Malifa Apis, Samoa PO Box 2133 Phone: +6857293589 E-mail: gstathis@mesc.gov.ws

The Swans have now signed Alex Starling after testing showed he had the athletic potential to make the switch to the AFL. The 22-year-old certainly impressed former Sydney Swans coach Paul Roos, who believes Starling can make the transition to Australian football. Sydney have a history of turning sportsmen from other codes to AFL. Tadgh Kenelly was recruited from Ireland having never kicked a Sherrin and who then went on to play in their 2005 Premiership team.

NAB Cup: last years successful the round robin format continues this
year with kickoff on February 17 at Etihad stadium with Richmond Tigers taking on North Melbourne Kangaroos and concluding with the Grand Final on March 17. The NAB Cup gives the up and coming young footballers their best opportunity to impress the coaches and cement a spot in the first 22. Its also a great spectacle to watch with coaches trying out their new game plans.
We are on the web http:// www.facebook.com/? ref=tn_tnmn#!/pages/ AFLSamoa/193270187408 979

AFL matches in NZ
Former North Melbourne and Sydney Swans great Wayne Schwass has raised the question of playing games in New Zealand as a way of promoting the game in the Pacific regions. This columnist applauds the idea and looks forward to the day when we can have a regular competition between all the Oceania AFL nations.

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