This Friday, August 12 the 2011 AFL International Cup officially kicks off in Sydney, Australia. More than 70 USAFL members are travelling to Australia to represent the USA Revolution and USA Freedom squads.

Both the Revolution and Freedom squads include players from all over the United States with a wide range of ages, experience, athletic ability, professional careers, ethnic backgrounds, you name it!

It is truly amazing how wide reaching Australian Football is within a huge country with a massive population and it is even more amazing to see how it brings together such a wonderfully diverse group of people with the intent to acheive one goal.

Every player has such a unique story to tell on how they first decided to pick up an Australian Football and to then decide to try and represent their country.

"I am extremely honored and excited to be representing the USA at this event", said Becky Kraft, from Minnesota and Co-Vice Captain of the USA Freedom.

"This is going to be an experience of a life-time and I am very fortunate to be able to share this amazing opportunity with a number of my team mates from the San Francisco area," said Mel Chen of the Golden Gate Roos.

"I am so excited I can not concerntrate on work!" Freedom new-comer, Tracy Corwin of Denver exclaimed.

The Captain of the USA Freedom, Judith Stein shared her thoughts on the tournament, "I think that the inclusion of the women in this competition is very exciting.  We have seen the development of the women’s teams in the USA and Canada and I'm excited to see how other countries have embraced the sport.  Of course, competing in an international competition and representing your country makes me incredibly proud.  And, competing in the first women's division makes our participation part of history.  It is all very exciting - I'm sure that I will pass along many stories from this experience."

Dan Sarbacker, the USA Revolution Captain and participaiting in his third International Cup, commented on what it's like to be a part of the International Cup "Representing my country is truly a highlight, even when approaching thirty career appearances.  When you add that to the fact that I get to play a sport I love, at an international level, while submersed in the culture where the sport was invented and evolved, it truly is a remarkable experience.  Spending two weeks playing footy in front of fans that revere the game… you can't beat it."

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