# 2008 Australian Football 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.
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.
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

The WAFL and Perth, Western Australia raised the possibility of bidding for the tournament soon after the 2005 cup had been completed, 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. 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.
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. 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. The US women's team announced a 2009 tour instead.

## Competing Nations

The AFL confirmed in July 2008 that sixteen nations will compete. 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 |
| New Zealand Falcons Samoa Kangaroos Japan Samurais India Tigers | Papua New Guinea Mosquitos Great Britain Bulldogs Nauru Chiefs Peres Team for Peace | United States Revolution South Africa Lions Denmark Vikings China Red Demons | Ireland Warriors Canada Northwind Sweden Elks Finland Icebreakers |

## Games
### Round 1

| 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

| 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

| 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
### Pool A

| 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

| 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

| 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

| 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
### Finals Round 1

| 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

| 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)

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

## Individual awards
### World Team

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 |
| Int: | Cian Quicgley | Chris Candelaria | Jes Djernes |
| Coach: | Not Named | Not Named | Not Named |

### Tournament Best & Fairest winners

| Player | Nation | Club |
| Mike Finn | Ireland | Heidelberg Football Club |

## Gallery

* New Zealand's captain Andrew Congalton takes a strong mark in front of an Indian opponent
* New Zealand's Richard Bradley takes a high mark against India
* The USA and China contest the ruck
* Canada's ruckman Manny Matata takes a kick against Sweden in round 2
* Canada's Scott Fleming kicks one of eight goals against Sweden in round 2
* Swedish team lines up for the national anthem before taking on Canada
* A British Bulldog gets a kick away despite close checking from a Nauruan opponent in Britain's round 2 loss
* Robert Dipierdomenico coach of the Peres Peace team joining with his team to sign the joint anthem
* The Papua New Guinea Mosquitos line up for the national anthem before taking on the Peace Team
* Samoa lines up for the national anthem before taking on Japan in round 2
* Big pack mark by Ireland's Mike Finn over South Africa
* Another Mike Finn special
* Irish player gets a kick downfield
* South African player kicks the ball against Ireland
* Running shot for goal by Ireland's Mike Finn
* South Africa and Ireland contest the high ball with South African attempting to spoil
* Irish player takes an overhead mark
* Nauruan takes a shot on goal
* Peace team gets a kick away against Finland
* Papua New Guinea shortly after the final siren at the MCG
* Papua New Guinea celebrates winning the cup
* Papua New Guinea after a lap of honour