2008 Australian Football International Cup

(Redirected from 2008 International Cup)

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

2008 Australian Football International Cup
2008 AFL International Cup
Tournament details
Host countryAustralia
Dates27 August – 5 September 2008
Teams16
Final positions
Champions Papua New Guinea (1st title)
Runners-up New Zealand
Third place South Africa
Fourth place Ireland
Papua New Guinea after a lap of honour
The victorious Papua New Guinea Mosquitos celebrate winning the cup for the first time

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

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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

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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 A Pool B Pool C Pool D

Games

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Round 1

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

Round 2

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

Round 3

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

Group Results After Rounds

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Pool A

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Position Team Played Won Lost Drawn Points For Points Against % Points
1   New Zealand Falcons 3 3 0 0 391 10 3910.00 12
2   Japan Samurais 3 2 1 0 163 112 145.53 8
3   Samoa Kangaroos 3 1 2 0 155 133 113.13 4
4   India Tigers 3 0 3 0 6 451 1.33 0

Pool B

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Position Team Played Won Lost Drawn Points For Points Against % Points
1   Papua New Guinea Mosquitos 3 3 0 0 260 47 553.19 12
2   Nauru Chiefs 3 2 1 0 262 94 278.72 8
3   Great Britain Bulldogs 3 1 2 0 173 124 139.51 4
4    Peres Team for Peace 3 0 3 0 22 452 4.86 0

Pool C

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Position Team Played Won Lost Drawn Points For Points Against % Points
1   South Africa Lions 3 3 0 0 269 56 480.35 12
2   United States Revolution 3 2 1 0 222 68 326.47 8
3   Denmark Vikings 3 1 2 0 152 137 110.94 4
4   China Red Demons 3 0 3 0 0 382 0.00 0

Pool D

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Position Team Played Won Lost Drawn Points For Points Against % Points
1   Ireland Warriors 3 3 0 0 212 20 1060.00 12
2   Canada Northwind 3 2 1 0 252 37 681.08 8
3   Sweden Elks 3 1 2 0 56 206 27.18 4
4   Finland Icebreakers 3 0 3 0 14 271 5.16 0

Finals

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Finals Round 1

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

Finals Round 2

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

Knockout-Chart (Final 4)

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Semi-finals Grand Final
          
A1   New Zealand 8 9 57
D1   Ireland 2 3 15
WSF1   New Zealand 7 4 46
WSF2   Papua New Guinea 7 12 54
B1   Papua New Guinea 9 9 63
C1   South Africa 2 3 15 Bronze medal match
LSF1   Ireland 5 2 32
LSF2   South Africa 4 9 33

Individual awards

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World Team

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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.

Player Nation Club Position
Donald Barry   Papua New Guinea Gulf Half back flank
Joe Lla   Papua New Guinea Central Ruck rover
Overa Gibson   Papua New Guinea Gulf Centre half forward
Stanis Susuve   Papua New Guinea Gulf Interchange
Richard Bradley   New Zealand Eastern Blues Full-forward
Andrew Crighton   New Zealand North Shore Tigers Fullback
Andrew Congalton   New Zealand Takapuna Eagles Interchange
Mike Finn   Ireland Heidelberg Tigers/Caulfield Bears (VIC) Centre half back
Ian O'Sullivan   Ireland Leeside Lions Forward pocket
Cian Quigley   Ireland Leeside Lions Interchange
Julian Horn   South Africa North West Province Back pocket
Thabiso Phakedi   South Africa North West Province Back pocket
Scott Fleming   Canada Vancouver Cougars Forward pocket
Emmanuel Mattata   Canada Etibicoke Kangaroos Ruck
Agir Amwano   Nauru Tigers Centre
Torio Mwareow   Nauru Navarre Football Club Half-forward flank
Aiden Dillane   Great Britain Putney Magpies Half-forward flank
Luke Matias   Great Britain Caulfield (SFL, VIC)/Nottingham Interchange
Páll Tómas Finnsson   Denmark Jylland Wing
Jen Djernes   Denmark Jylland Interchange
Chris Candelaria   United States Denver Bulldogs Interchange
Michito Sakaki   Japan Waseda University Rover
Fia Tootoo   Samoa Moorabbin Kangaroos Half back flank
Andreas Svensson   Sweden Landskrona Bulldozers Wing
IC2008 World Team
B:   Thabiso Phakedi   Andrew Crighton   Julian Horn
HB:   Donald Barry   Mike Finn   Fia-Tootoo
C:   Andreas Svensson   Agir Amwano   Pa'll Finnsson
HF:   Torio Mwareow   Overa Gibson   Aiden Dillane
F:   Ian O'Sullivan   Richard Bradley   Scott Fleming
Foll:   Emmanuel Mattata   Joe Lla   Michito Sakaki
Int:   Luke Matias   Stanis Susuve   Andrew Congalton
  Cian Quicgley   Chris Candelaria   Jes Djernes
Coach: Not Named

Tournament Best & Fairest winners

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Player Nation Club
Mike Finn   Ireland Heidelberg Football Club
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See also

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References

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  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
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