Big V set sail for Ireland

The 2015 Ireland tour is set to commence this Sunday when a group of VAFA representative players and staff travel to Dublin to kick-start a series of International Rules matches.

Led by Big V senior coach, Cam Roberts, the VAFA invitational side will play four highly-anticipated matches against Irish opponents Nemo Rangers, Tuam Stars, Combined Universities and Donaghmore/Ashbourne before concluding their 17-day tour with a clash against AFL Great Britain in London.

Arriving in Cork on Monday, the playing group will have three days to settle in and acclimatise before going head-to-head with both the Rangers and Stars within a three-day period.

After a three-day break between their second and third matches, the VAFA will attempt to reverse last tour’s result against Combined Universities, after they went down to their Irish counterparts by 18 points in 2013.

Wrapping up their tour of Ireland, the VAFA will partake in a Friday night blockbuster against Donaghmore/Ashbourne – a side they defeated by just eight points two years ago before making the trip to London for a Sunday match against AFL Great Britain.

The VAFA is proud to offer these opportunities to its players and wishes the team the best of luck ahead of its five-match tour.

The VAFA will provide reports for all five matches, and you will be able to keep up with the boys’ travels via VAFA social media; @VAFA_HQ on Twitter, vafahq on Instagram and on the VAFA Facebook page.

This year’s Ireland tour will be the third of its kind, after the biannual initiative commenced in 2011 when the Big V was led by coach, Dean Anderson, and captain, Matthew Torney.

Match Schedule:

• Thursday, October 15: VAFA vs Nemo Rangers
• Saturday, October 17: VAFA vs Tuam Stars, Galway
• Wednesday, October 21: VAFA vs Combined Universities
• Friday, October 23: VAFA vs Donaghmore/Ashbourne
• Sunday, October 25: VAFA vs AFL Great Britain

Rules:     

• You can tackle below the shoulders and above the knees so around the waist is permitted.
• Two players in each team at the centre bounces.
• Goalkeeper kicks in after a point and over.
• A player must bounce, solo or touch the ball on the ground once every IO metres or six steps. Maximum of 2 bounces before disposing the ball. While players can solo the ball as often as they wish on a possession.The ball may be lifted di­ rectly off the ground, without putting a foot underneath it first. Players however cannot scoop the ball off the ground to a team-mate, nor pick up the ball if they are on their knees or on the ground. If a foul is committed, a free kick will be awarded, referees (called umpires in Australian Rules) can give the fouled player advantage to play on at their discretion.
• Maximum of Six successive handballs before kicking
• The Mark – a free kick awarded for a ball caught from a kick of over 20 metres, where the kick must be in the forward direction if originating from a teammate. Marks will not be paid for backwards kicks caught by a teammate
• Scoring in International rules football – Points are scored as follows:ln the goal net (a goal): 6 points, umpire waves green flag. Over the crossbar and between the two large posts (an over): 3 points, umpire waves red flag. Between a large post and a small post (a behind): I point, umpire waves white flag.
• An international rules match lasts for 72 minutes (divided into four quarters of 18 minutes each).
• Maximum of 16 interchanges per quarter – Unlimited number of interchanges allowed at quarter and half time breaks
• Goalkeepers required to kick the ball out beyond the 45m line after all wides, behinds and overs.
• Failure of a goalkeeper to kick over the 45m line will result in a free kick to the opposition (from the 45m line)