The inaugural, triennial European Championships in Australian Football will be held in Malmö and Copenhagen from August 1-7, 2010.  The mighty Solna Axemen are well represented with three players putting on a jumper for three countries playing in the tournament; and one administrator representing the European Australian Football Association on the tournament organising committee.

The Solna Axemen have always made a mark in international competition and this year is no different. However, some sort of a record has been set with all three players putting on jumpers for three different countries who also happen to be in the same pool division.

It isn’t beyond the realms of possibility that we will have an Axemen as a European champion, and perhaps a couple in the final Team Europe selection.

Brendan Egan in GAA action for Sligo

We start with gun Irish backman and Tourlestrane man, Brendan Egan, who will be playing for his home nation and tournament favourites, Ireland.  The Irish Warriors are the class act in European footy, having won the 2002 International Cup in Australia and always featuring in the top 4 nations in that tournament since.  They have the pedigree and Egan is sure to bring a great deal of stability and experience to their backline. My tip for Team Europe selection also.

El Presidente

The Germany Black Eagles selectors have cast their nets far and wide, and have reeled in a mighty player in sitting Axemen club president and man-mountain, Mats Wurmbach.  Cut surprisingly and controversially from the Elks squad, Mats was never to be denied glory at the EC, and will now adorn a German jumper to bring his tally of countries represented in International footy to two.  Mats is set to bring a lot of international experience to the Black Eagles in their quest for European glory.  If he can dominate the ruck and around the paddock, then Germany is every chance to cause a few upsets over some more highly fancied teams.  He might even pick up a Team Europe jumper as well.

Popular club man Rickard Barrefelt, one of only two Stockholm league players selected for the Elks (with Södermalm stalwart Lars Hagberg being the other), will put on home nation colours after an impressive debut for the Elks against Norway last year and in the warm up match versus the Stockholm Dynamite earlier this year.   A courageous and dynamic player who will bring a lot of athleticism and commitment to the ball, don’t be surprised if he impresses the umpires and racks up the votes.

Finally, yours truly has been working on the tournament organising committee, representing the new regional body, the European Australian Football Association.  It has been a lot of hard work but we sincerely hope the event will go some way to putting footy further on the map here in Sweden and in Europe.

We wish all three players a great tournament and look forward to hearing the stories of heroic battle and adventure when they return to Axemen training in August.