Latest news | Find your nearest club Latest AFL Explained Get Involved Competitions Partners About Shop STAFF AFL EUROPE IS THE REPRESENTATIVE BODY FOR AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL IN EUROPE, WHO SUPPORT OVER 20 COUNTRIES ACROSS THE CONTINENT TO GROW THE GAME OF AFL AFL Europe's vision is to expand the sport and help implement strong frameworks throughout its member leagues. With a strong focus on game development and event planning, we intend to provide nations across Europe with a platform of contacts, equipment and facilities to grow the game within their nation. Through events such as the Champions League, ANZAC Cup, European Championships, and Euro Cup, we are continually looking to develop the standard of football from both a qualitative and quantitative standpoint. As a game which is foreign to much of its market in Europe, we continually strive to embrace all individuals willing to take part in the sport. With the administration repeatedly producing new projects and initiatives to promote both attendance and interest within the sport, AFL Europe remains motivated to ensure the game can prosper and progress through all male and female competitions in Europe. PATRONS & AMBASSADORS HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS, THE PRINCE OF WALES Patron His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales, officially became a Patron of AFL Europe in August 2013, having developed a fondness for Australian Football after spending time at Geelong Grammar in 1966. The heir to the throne has a great passion for the development of young people, which contributed to his support of AFL Europe. BILL MUIRHEAD AM Ambassador Renowned adman and passionate South Australian, Bill Muirhead AM was South Australia’s 25th Agent General. In 2013, Bill became a Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia, for significant service to the community of South Australia through the promotion of international trade. Bill is an Adelaide man through and through who believes there is no better place to watch footy than the Adelaide Oval. SIR LYNTON CROSBY AO Ambassador Sir Lynton Crosby has had an esteemed career as a political strategist right around the world, having joined the Liberal Party of Australia after graduating from the University of Adelaide. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2005 for his service to Australian politics, and was knighted for his service in 2016. ROBERT CHAMPION DE CRESPIGNY AC Ambassador Robert Champion de Crespigny is the founder of Normandy Mining Limited and influential Australian businessman who hails from Melbourne. Having graduated from Melbourne University, Robert also spent time in football mad Perth and Adelaide during his professional career. THE COMMISSION TRENT SMYTH AM Chairman In 2020, Mr Smyth became the Executive Director of the Chief of Staff Association, a Public Benefit Corporation headquartered in New York, drawing Chiefs of Staff from the world’s largest companies, governments, family offices and militaries. Mr Smyth is the founder of the Sports Diplomacy Foundation. The Sports Diplomacy Foundation assists companies and major international sporting events tap into diplomatic and government channels to export their specialist capability through strategic advice and partnerships. In addition to the commercial opportunities, sporting events provide an exciting and engaging platform to inform and influence targeted demographics, particularly youth, emerging leaders, CALD communities and women. Between 2014 and 2020, Mr Smyth was the Secretary of the Consular Corps Melbourne, an organisation that comprises the diplomatic missions of more than eighty sovereign nations located in Victoria. Mr Smyth was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia in 2021, recognising his significant service to international relations, motorsport, and business. JOSH PHILPOT Commissioner Josh has strong expertise in sport, commercialisation and technology consultancy. He worked in professional sport across a number of coaching and administrative roles during an eight-year stint working for the Victorian Rugby Union and Melbourne Rebels, and was involved in the Melbourne Uni Blacks Australian Football team for many years prior to his move to London in late-2017. He works at PMY Group, supporting sport and entertainment clients to maximise the benefits of technology across their physical and digital asset base, leading business development, strategic partnerships and commercialisation across the UK and Europe. MELISSA OBERHOFER Commissioner Melissa is an accomplished AFL Player Agent, who worked with top-tier players and negotiated with industry elites for more than a decade. One of only six female player agents in the country during her time at Connors Sports, Melissa has guided the likes of four-time premiership player Luke Hodge, Brownlow medallist Patrick Dangerfield amongst many others, and continues to assist West Coast star Nic Naitanui from her new base in London. Melissa made the move from Melbourne to London in 2019 to join the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team in their Partnership Services Team, fulfilling a lifelong dream to work in Formula One. RYAN DAVEY Commissioner Ryan joined the Commission after almost five years in the role of AFL Europe Managing Director. During his time as Managing Director, Ryan has overseen significant growth in all areas of the game including participation, elite talent pathways, coaching and umpiring. Ryan has extensive experience and knowledge working within Australian Football, and prior to his move to London in 2016 he worked at the Gold Coast Suns within the Events & Community departments. Ryan has also worked at AFL Queensland as Club Development Officer. RYAN TUCKER Commissioner Ryan grew up a rugby league loving kid in Western Sydney, before the summer winds of 2009 took him to Norrtälje, a small city an hour north of Stockholm, Sweden. There, Ryan discovered his love of Australian Rules Football which led to him forming a team, and gradually expanding his contribution to the point that now sees him helping develop the game right across the European continent. SARAH HOWELL Commissioner Sarah found the sport of Australian Football in 2012 and having never seen or heard of it before, became instantly hooked. Sarah holds valuable experience in corporate management and volunteers in numerous roles throughout AFL England at club, league and national level. These roles include Secretary of Wimbledon Hawks, Co-Chair of AFL London, Travel and Finance Manager for Great Britain Bulldogs and Swans, as well as Treasurer of AFL England. Although she has never played the game, she is extremely passionate about building and developing the game throughout Europe. GEOFFREY PUZZI Commissioner Geoff is a twenty-year veteran of the trading industry focusing on Energy and Carbon markets. He contributes his entrepreneurial mindset in business development, fundraising and relationship management to the Commission. Geoff's passion for sports, especially Australian Football, and belief in the benefits of sport for mental health led him to co-found AFL Polska in 2018. Geoff desires to inspire others to pick up a footy and introduce the game further to Europe, whilst also hoping that they will join him in barracking for Collingwood Magpies. STAFF CLAUDIA DAVEY General Manager Claudia joined AFL Europe as General Manager in August 2021. Claudia has extensive experience in the AFL industry, previously working as Women’s Football Manager with Williamstown Football Club in the VFLW competition. Claudia also brings experience from her roles as Female Talent Manager in the NAB League, Victorian Country and Victorian Metro National Championships manager and current Board Member of Gridiron Victoria. In addition to her sporting roles, Claudia has lectured in Career Development and Sport Sponsorship & Partnerships at Victoria University and advised on multiple University, Council and AFL committees. Now based in London, Claudia will head up AFL Europe operations from our central London office. JACKSON JONES Digital Content Coordinator Moving to London from Melbourne in February 2020, Jackson joined AFL Europe as a Digital Content Intern. Prior to his move, Jackson worked in digital media and marketing including the role of Media Coordinator with the Sandringham Zebras in the Victorian Football League. At the start of 2021, Jackson was promoted to AFL Europe's Digital Content Coordinator to strategise and lead out all of AFL Europe's online content and communications. JAMES BROSNAN Digital Content Producer James is a former newspaper journalist and sports editor who started his career in South Gippsland, Victoria. A lifelong footy fan, he has spent time working at AFL Media and the media department of the Essendon Football Club. Now living just south of Edinburgh and working in marketing and communications, he has taken on the coaching role for the Edinburgh Bloods in AFL Scotland. KATRINA STOPINSKI Umpiring Coordinator In 2008, Katrina started umpiring in Melbourne's Eastern Football League. Over the next nine years, she umpired over 150 junior and senior matches, sat on the executive committee of the EFL Umpire’s Association, coached and mentored junior and female umpires and was a member of the AFL Female Umpires Academy. In 2017, Katrina moved to London and took on umpire coaching roles in AFL London and AFL England, as well as regularly umpiring across London, England and at AFL Europe tournaments. Outside of football, Katrina works as a HR Officer at University College London. STEPHEN O'SULLIVAN Reporter for AFL Ireland Stephen is from Kildare, Ireland and has been playing Australian footy with the South Dublin Swans since 2014. Stephen has an honours degree in Marketing from the Institute of Technology, Carlow and has worked as Public Relations Officer and Media Content Creator at the Swans for the past three years. He is also the Public Relations Officer for AFL Ireland and is a huge Carlton fan. KEELAN SENN Reporter for AFL Switzerland Keelan grew up in Gansingen, Switzerland with an Australian mum and a Swiss dad. He joined the Basel Dragons in 2019 and played in the inaugural season of AFL Switzerland that same year. He works in hotel communications and since the start of 2021, Keelan has held the role of AFL Switzerland's Head of Communications. He’s a massive Essendon supporter and passionate for everything footy. ZOLTAN MAROSY Reporter for AFL Hungary Zoltan grew up in Melbourne, Australia with Hungarian parents. He moved to Hungary when he was ten-years-old and co-founded the Budapest Bats in 2019, whilst being only 13. Away from Australian Football, Zoltan plays cricket and has represented Hungary in rugby union. He is a one-eyed Geelong fan and lives and breathes footy. 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