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2009 EU Cup: Czech Lions team announced!

Tuesday September 1st, 2009 - Prague. The 2009 EU Cup is just 5 weeks away and the final squad of 15 hungry lions has been selected. Coach Neil Palmer says, "selections were difficult this year, due to an increase in players making themselves available. Our selection staff have worked hard on their committment to deliver the best Czech Lions team for the EU Cup in Croatia. I look forward to working with the team to push for the best possible result."

Czech Lions 2009

BACK ROW (l-r): David "Singa" Singleton (Asst Coach), Mike Gouteff, Jakub Komarek, Jan "Honza" Brynych, Greg Johnson, Sam Lalloue, Mark Cichon (Asst Coach), Brent Hadley
FRONT ROW (l-r): Pavel Smolen, Neil Palmer (Coach), Mark Pace, David Vetvicka, Jan "Honza" Kren, Jiri "Jirka" Duron, Matej Sliacly, Tom Poxton (Emergency)
ABSENT: Jan "Honza" Dubec, Michal Becvar and Dan Vella

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Monday night training for Czech Lions

Monday night training at Vypich Marketa Stadion is now reserved (& compulsory) for EU Cup team members only. Map and location to training venue here

Round #4, CAFL Season 2009

Sunday, 30th August Marauders -v- All-Stars - full scorecard

A reprieve in the weather this weekend everywhere in Prague except the sizzling Slavia stadium!! CAFL round 4 was contested in near perfect conditions and turned out to be the season decider.

There was a small change in preparation for the 9-a-side EU Cup for this match, dropping the extra player and imposing the additional EU Cup rules. Players could score only inside the forward third of the ground and only one bounce on the run was allowed.

All-Stars headed into the game with a 2-1 lead in the 5 match 2009 league and were keen to cement their place as innaugural CAFL Champions. Marauders had the work to do and they knew it, coming into the game down on points and percentage. They needed a win and a big win at that.

Stand no.2 was beginning to fill from the overflow as the crowd took their seats, and the tension was mounting. After almost two months since round 3 and a month since the last match, the punters were keen for the 4th round footy furor to get underway.

The first bounce was decidely won by the Marauders and they advanced into their scoring third within seconds. The ball was tied up in front of goal and finally cleared by the All-Stars defence. But the Marauders pounced again in the centre and forced their way back in to open the scoring. Their tails were up and first blood was drawn.

By the first break, the Marauders had posted 3 goals to All-Stars 2 and a air of confidence surrounded them, with all players urging each other on to push even harder in the second. The second quarter produced some more even footy, mostly contested on the ground. Everyone was going in hard for the footy and trying to gain the upper hand. Shots on goal were plenty, but not many could find the big sticks. The Marauders got of jail a few times in front of the All-Stars goal and were unlucky not to go to the main break down by a larger margin. As it was, the All-Stars managed to kick themselves ahead by 7 at half time.

The long break between games was showing, with both sides showing inaccuracy in kicking and even some tiredness in the legs.

The third quarter proved to be the Championship quarter, with the All-Stars kicking out to 22 points in front courtesy of some poor Marauders disposals and careless tackling. Again, the Marauders were lucky not to go further behind as the All-Stars squandered three clear chances on goal.

At the other end, the Marauders were not able to exploit their luck and were also wasteful of some good chances in front of goal.

Marauders coach, Dan Vella was furious at the last break and he stood over his charges, demanding everyone lift their pedestrian like efforts and take the fight right to the end.

Again, the Marauders broke first and kicked two goals in two minutes to bring the game back to two kicks. But it was too little too late as goals either side from the All-Stars ensured an even quarter and they held on to the 20 point margin to run out winners, 67 to 47 and Champions for the first season of CAFL League Football.

John CrehanJohn Crehan (left) was welcomed back with a solid performance and 2 goals for the All-Stars, while Kevan Lyons (below) played his first match for the Marauders, helping out in defence and shifting forward in the last quarter and chipping in with a goal as well.Kevan Lyons

Thanks go out from all players and supporters for the umpiring, shared between Mark Pace and Greg Johnson (below), while also wearing the selectors cap for the EU Cup, to be held in Croatia in the first weekend of October.

Greg Johnson & Mark Pace

The first selection was announced yesterday, for Coach of the Czech Lions team for EU Cup 2009:

Congratulations to Neil Palmer (right), who will now work at molding the 20-man squad into a pride of 15 hungry Lions to go on the hunt for EU Cup glory in 5 weeks time.Neil Palmer

A big thanks to all the supporters who filled stands no.1 and 2 in the beautiful conditions and also stayed on to enjoy a bbq and refreshments with the players.

 

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Final score: All-Stars 9 - 13 = 67 defeated Marauders 6 - 11 = 47

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More photos from the match can be seen under the Gallery.

To view more CAFL photos, visit one of the following links:

Czech Footy

CAFL Footy Pics

And keep you eyes open for video on YouTube, such as this snippet of action from round 1.

 

International Germany v Czech

Match review online now!

Read all about it!



Training update:

Wednesday training returns to Slavia

Slavia Rugby ground is back in operation after six weeks of regeneration to repair the pitch and trainings and are back on at the usual times, meeting at 6pm and training from 6:30 - 8:00pm

Monday night skills sessions

We are continuing to use the 'Marketa' ground in Vypich for Monday night skills sessions until further notice. Bear in mind the time change: training begins 30 mins later, from 7:00pm until dark. 

Change rooms: At least one will provided. (if a lot of peple there are two)

 

 

Welcome to CAFL

Hope everyone is doing well and winter has been kind to you. As the new Czech AFL season is now upon us (training is well underway on Wednesdays - see below for details) it is time we welcomed back all the returning players from last year, plus all the new players who will be joining us for the first time this season. So far the turnout has been sensational, with no less than 20 players attending training at each of the Wednesday sessions so far.

Focus for 2009

In previous years CAFL has been focused on putting together a team from Prague to play matches against teams from other countries such as Austria and Croatia in various international tournaments. Whilst this is still planned for 2009, our major focus will be to develop a local domestic competition with regular games here in Prague. It is anticipated that we will be able to put together 3 teams for the first season of the Czech League. These games will be played most likely on Sunday afternoons at the Slavia Rugby Ground with a quiet refreshment afterwards.

Sunday, 27th April, saw our first practice match for the year, with the Czech Lions matching up against the EU Crusaders at Slavia Rugby Ground for a preseason match up. It was a great day for all in the sunny conditions and a good start to the season.

2009 CAFL Committee

Firstly, as most of you know, Ashley Ball (our former President and driving force) has left the Czech Republic.

Ashley provided tremendous energy and enthusiasm to the CAFL cause that is simply not possible to replace with one person, so a committee was formed to take CAFL forward for the coming seasons. I have been given the honour of being the new President and look forward to seeing a continued growth of this sport in the Czech Republic.

Training Every Wednesday at Slavia Rugby Ground. Even though we will split our players into different teams the trainings will still be held each Wednesday at 6pm with everyone together. Training will be every Wednesday, as it was in 2008, from 6pm - 8pm at Slavia Rugby Ground, Vladivostocka, Praha 10 Vrsovice. Training will be conducted by Greg Johnson and Mark Pace.

Fees

Unfortunately, putting together a league, getting together equipment etc., does cost a fair bit of money. For this reason it will be necessary to charge playing fees.

The price for the 2009 season is 2,000Kc for adults and 1,200Kc for students. Included in this price are all training sessions, all Czech League games and a CAFL t-shirt. This upfront price averages out to about 60kc per session for adults and 40kc for students. (Those that prefer to pay per session, the cost is 100Kc for adults and 60Kc for students.)

For those who join later in the season a reduced prorata rate will be charged depending how far into the season they join. Also for new players who come down to try the game out there will be no charge for the first 3 sessions. If, after that, they decide they would like to become a regular then a partial prorata fee for the remainder of the season will be required.

Social Events

Finally as part of building an all round club atmosphere we will be also planning more CAFL social events which will not just be for players but for anyone who would like to join in (ie: friends, wives, girlfriends, spectators, anyone.) Information about these events will be sent out by email well ahead of time and posted on this site.

Kind regards and all the best for the 2009 Aussie Rules Season.

Mike Gouteff
CAFL President


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