News

Australia wins All Nations Champs (Nov 1)
The Australian teams that competed at the All Nations Touch Championships in New Zealand recently have done what many teams before them have failed to do, defeat the “Touch Blacks” at home.
The ten finals included women’s, men’s and mixed open, women’s, men’s and mixed 30s, women’s and men’s 35s, men’s 40s and men’s 45s, of which Australia recorded victories in seven.
The Australian women’s open team defeated New Zealand 4-3 in a drop-off, the women’s 30s defeated New Zealand 1-0 and the 35s defeated Oceania 6-0. Unfortunately for the mixed open and mixed 35s teams, they were unable to emerge victorious over arch-rival New Zealand, however, all other Australian teams recorded victories.
The All Nations tournament served as a warm-up to the 2007 Touch Football World Cup in South Africa, of which Australia will be favourite in many divisions.
By Stephen Ritchie

Australia performing well at All Nations (Oct 27)
The All Nations touch football tournament is underway in Christchurch, New Zealand, with over 14 nations competing. Australia has sent teams in men's, women's and mixed open, men's, women's and mixed 30s, and men's 35s, 40s and 45s.
However, it is the Australian women's open, 30s and 35s teams that are the pace-setters early on in the tournament winning all their pool matches, defeating NZ Maori 7-0, Niue 14-0 and the Cook Islands 14-1.
Due to an insufficient number of teams, there is a combined women's 30s and 35s pool. The Australian women's 30s team began with a solid victory over Oceania 35s and the women's 35s easily defeated the Cook Islands 16-0.
The Australian women's 30s will now take on arch rivals New Zealand in the finals and they will be looking to use the match against their countrywomen as a build up to facing the 'Touch Blacks'.
The Australian mixed open team will also face New Zealand who have scored an incredible 51 tries on day one of the tournament. The Aussie team has dealt with its opponents with ease to date, defeating Singapore 15-0. Niue 6-2 and 10-3 over Samoa.
By Stephen Ritchie

Newtown holds on to title (Oct 6)
The Newtown Breakaways have defended their Sydney Women's Australian Football League (SWAFL) premiership title after winning the flag for the fourth consecutive year.
Being undefeated throughout the entire season, the Breakaways 10-12-72 defeated the Wests
4-1-25 in the grand final which took place on Saturday, September 3.
Formed in late 2001, the Newtown Breakaways debuted in the 2002 SWAFL season and went on to win the premiership title which they have held on to ever since.
They went into the 2005 Grand Final with 13 new players, 11 of whom had never played football before. A source has said that the new players were indistinguishable from the experienced players.
“What a game - what a team! (They) all played extremely well together and played one of the best games of women's AFL in Sydney I've ever seen.”
The team will commence training for next season in February/March next year at Alexandria Park, Alexandria and will work towards defending their premiership title once again.
All are welcome to attend the training sessions and become involved with the club, further information can be found on the Newtown Breakaway's homepage.
For those who do not live in Sydney, many women's AFL leagues exist around the nation and people who are interested can find out more about what is available to them from the Women's Football Australia website.
By Danielle Tralli
SWAFL

Features

Winning respect (Nov 7, 2005)
Women's AFL comes of age

Watkins rising to the top (Oct 13, 2005)
A look at touch football

Links

Football -- Touch
ACT Touch: http://www.acttouch.com.au/
Aus Touch: http://www.austouch.com.au/
NSW Touch: http://www.nswtouch.com.au/
NT Touch: http://www1.octa4.net.au/nttouch
Qld Touch: http://www.qldtouch.com.au/
SA Touch: http://www.touch-sa.asn.au/
Tas Touch: click here
Vic Touch: http://www.victouch.com.au/
WA Touch: http://www.touchwest.com./