USA Freedom Team in Australia

The AFL Cairns Women's League will host it's first Womens AFL International game this Monday night (10th Aug) at Cazalys Stadium at 7pm.

The visiting US Freedom Womens AFL Team will be in Australia to play 4 games whilst on tour. The squad of 24 players and 3 coaching staff will tour the Eastern seaboard playing against a Sydney Womens AFL team, then up to Cairns to take on the AFL Cairns Womens League and finishing their tour in Victoria where they will participate in a schools clinic in Bendigo, play against a Bendigo Womens Development squad, watch a live AFL game at the MCG then take on the Latrobe University Womens AFL team before flying home to the States.

"We aim to make sure the US girls have a great time here in Cairns" said Mel Smith AFLCWL Organiser. The AFLCWL has had wonderful support from AFL Cairns in hosting the event and should be a cracker. It's a hectic schedule for the USA team, they fly into Cairns about lunch time Monday, play us that evening, have a visit to the Reef on Tuesday, followed by a dinner at the Buckin Mex and then it's off to Victoria the next day for the last leg of their tour".

The AFLCWL have selected a team of players from all four local teams as well as a handful of Cape Crusader stars. "We have been training well over the 4 weeks and the girls have gelled well' said AFLCWL Coach Heather Flannery. "We have a strong squad with plenty of experience, it will be interesting to see how we match up and how AFL has developed overseas."

"The game will also be a selection for those eligible for the up and coming 2009 Under 18's Youth Girls Interstate Challenge which is to be held at Coolangatta AFC on the Gold Coast in September. "We have 6 players hoping to make this squad from the Far North, Sarah Sailor, Eileen Ludwick, Mary David, Kathleen Peter (Cape Crusaders), Lauren James and new comer Dakota Noah (Centrals Trinity Beach Bulldog Babes)," said Mel Smith.

"The development of Womens AFL is the main focus here, our sport is becoming more popular and the skill levels are rising. When we kicked off our league 8 years ago, we never imagined we would have two Cairns representatives make All Australian and play in Ireland like Jo Butland and Kat Pender achieved in 2006, let alone hosting a team from the USA on our own home turf".

The Americans, who will be led by Jenny Sarbacker from the Milwaukee Bombers, has noted that the rivalry has already begun. Speaking on You Tube this week the touring USA Freedom skipper had a warning for our Aussie Rules stars. “We are looking forward to heading to your city and beating you at your own national game,’’ Jenny said. The US team have players from established USA teams like the New York Magpies, Milwaukee Bombers, Denver Bulldogs and Arizona Hawks. Seven of the players were in the USA team that went to the 2007 Vancouver Games for the football. 

Coach Wayne Kraska told the Bendigo Weekly “We have been working on this trip to Australia for just on two years and to play in some of the major capital cities as well as a visit to a country town will be great for our players."   The game will kick off under lights at Cazaly's Stadium, Tills St Westcourt from 7pm this Monday 10th August. "We would like to see a big crowd come and support the AFLCWL and to experience what an overseas team has to offer our National Sport. A gold coin donation will be collected at the gate to assist the AFLCWL in paying for training facilities kindly donated by the Cairns Saints AFL Club. There will also be refreshments and a BBQ on offer thanks to the Manunda Hawks Womens AFL Club."said Mel Smith

For more information please contact Mel Smith on +61 4 0076 5932.