In 2010 the Ontario Australian Football League in Canada (OAFL) with the help of the Hamilton Wildcats put together a rag tag team of mixed Australian and Canadian players down to Boston USA to compete in a tournament with the Boston Demons and the Washington/Baltimore Eagles. In 2011, the side founded and organised by Wildcats Club President Timmy Bulldog Wilson, will be taking this trip to the next level taking a full blown OAFL representative side to Chicago on the May 24 holiday weekend down to Chicago to compete against the "Best of the Midwest". Outside of the international scene, this will likely be some of the best footy seen not only seen in North America, but possibley the world. The OAFL boasts one of the most organised leagues outside of the home country of Footy, Australia, and too has some of the best non Australian players kicking around as seen in a recent Northwind article on www.oafl.ca. The Midwest also features some of the best players from around the US so the tone will be set for some cracker footy!
The jumper design (as seen below), features the Toronto skyline as 7 from 10 clubs are based here in Ontarios great city. The OAFL Steam concept came around by alluring Toronto beer giant Steam Whistle on board in a sponsorship capacity: "We were really lucky to get Steam Whistle onboard this year. Last year we organised it as more of a "footy trip' rather than an actual competitive football tournament. This year we have changed the tone of it a bit and are really looking to represent not only Ontario, but Canadian footy, and showing the US and the world the talent we have up here. We've invested quite a bit of time with the help of Benjamin Roberts (National Canadian team, Northwind Assistant Coach) into recruiting some Canadian talent to take down on the trip." spoke the man behind the OAFL Steam, Tim Wilson, earlier this week. With the growing nature of the sport in Ontario, the OAFL will take down 2 teams, an A and a B squad to enable some new recruits and rookies to come down and experience a day of high end footy.
Big Ontario names such as Shuttleworth, Settle, Falcioni, Alister, Luiser, Willis will all be on the trip, and all looking to make their stamp on their US counterparts. The OAFL Steam boys are stilling welcoming new and interested players to the team and encourage all to get involved regardless of skill level or ability to come and enjoy the weekend in Chicago.
The tournament will take place on May 21st in Chicago and is proudly supported by the OAFL, Steam Whistle, BCAP, Forrester resources, the Hamilton Wildcats AFC and the Guelph Gargoyles.
Last Modified on 02/03/2011 04:36