Veteran Axemen Joel Tjernlund, Sean Donnelly and German ruckman/enforcer Mats Wurmbach have been selected in the squad.

Furthermore, the Axemen’s premiership winning coach, Adrian “Patch” Knee, will be putting the team through its charges at the tournament with “runner” assistance from Axeman and Wandsworth Demons journeyman Tristan Smith.

The Elks have a good history in the tournament finishing runners-up in 2005 in London, winners in 2007 in Hamburg and 4th place in 2008 in Prague. Strangely Sweden didn’t enter a team in 2009 and 2010 which was unfortunate as more 9-a-side games are played in Sweden than any other format and the Elks would have been expected to finish strongly in both 2009 and 2010 as well.

Nevertheless, the Elks are back and hoping for a high finish, if not victory in this years tournament.  They will need to start well as they have dark-horses Italy and Germany in probably the tournaments “pool of death”.  Anyone can win this pool and it may just take a little “rub of the Irish green” to finish in first place and head into the gold medal round.

LIVE streaming of games is available here during the Tournament.

Cats fans in raptures

The 2001 AFL Grand Final breakfast in Stockholm was a tremendous success.

PRE BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL and are to be made via an email to grandfinalbreakfast@gmail.com

Once pre booked – you can pay in advance by payments to our plusgiro account, or you can bring cash on arrival. Prepayment is strongly suggested as it helps us to plan the logistics of the morning (and therefore is priced at a discount).

PRICES:
Admission, light cooked breakfast and a medium strength beer
150kr in advance
180kr on the day

Admission only
75kr in advance
90kr on the day

Admission includes a coffee or a juice – further refreshments are available on the bar.

Please direct all pre-payments to our Plusgiro account 47 16 39-5 and don’t forget to clearly list your name in the reference field of the payment, so we can track your payment.

Doors to the pub will open at 6am, with the telecast of the coverage commencing immediately. The first bounce is scheduled at 6:30am.

Following the game there will be live Rugby World Cup matches shown – England vs Scotland, and Australia vs. Russia. It’s going to be an awesome day.

PRE BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL and are to be made via an email to grandfinalbreakfast@gmail.com.

Once pre booked – you can pay in advance by payments to our plusgiro account, or you can bring cash on arrival. Prepayment is strongly suggested as it helps us to plan the logistics of the morning (and therefore is priced at a discount).

PRICES:
Admission, light cooked breakfast and a medium strength beer
150kr in advance
180kr on the day

Admission only
75kr in advance
90kr on the day

Admission includes a coffee or a juice – further refreshments are available on the bar.

Please direct all pre-payments to our Plusgiro account 47 16 39-5 and don’t forget to clearly list your name in the reference field of the payment, so we can track your payment.

The Axemen do it again

In bright sunshine and a perfect day for football for the crowd of 200, the Axemen lifted the Stockholm league premiership cup for the fourth time in five years with a commanding performance across the ground in the 2011 SAFF Grand Final.

Spurred on by final match playing captain and 40 somethings pom, Leslie Clarke, the Axemen started cautiously with 2 goals 5 in the opening quarter. The trend was reversed in the second quarter with both teams going into half time all squared.

The Premiership quarter lived up to its name and the Axemen took a slim 14 point lead into the final change, however the match was far from decided.

Södermalm came out fighting in the fourth quarter and threw everything including the kitchen sink at the Axemen.

With 10 minutes to go, the Axemen were leading by a few straight kicks however the nature of the contest changed dramatically. The Axemen lost two of their midfield generals to yellow cards and one sensed that it was game on.  Södermalm upped their efforts and desperation scoring a number of unanswered goals out of the midfield. The final moments of the match were engaging with dramatic end to end play and both clubs trading goal after goal.

The final siren finally blew and it was an exhausted yet joyous Axemen who left the field and were presented the SAFF Premiership cup, winning 114 to 102.

Coach Knee was delirious “The boys really came through today compared to the laissez-faire game we played against the Swans in the semi-final last week. We were far more physical around the packs and held onto our marks in the one on ones. I couldn’t be more happier with the way the team pulled together and hung on when a couple of the boys hit the showers early.”

Ruckman Wurmbach commented “Four flags in five years. We are ze best!”

It has often been suggested by some that the Axemen gains all their success from the quality of Australian players the club attracts.  However, I believe this statement to be a over-simplification and ignorant of many of the key facts. The core playing group has been together for four to five years with a number of our non-Australian players having been encouraged to pursue and be selected for national team honours (Sweden, Ireland & Germany). Our participation in two weekly trainings of two hours with experienced and able coaching staff in control as well as attendance in tournaments such as the Haggis Cup in Scotland clearly demonstrates the clubs commitment to playing group development. The sport of Australian Football is a complete team game and the Axemen’s recent success has been built on a cornerstone of commitment by a stable playing group and the support staff over a number of years.  This year’s victory is as much a victory for the previous players and coaching staff (who built the foundations for success) as it is for the players who played in the 2011 Grand Final.

The after match celebrations continued well into the evening at the league sponsor pub, The Liffey, also where the AFL Grand Final breakfast will be shown on Saturday 2nd October.

“We though we had him” commented club secretary Porublev “We genuinely believed the lure of a long cold, dark Swedish winter, the highest tax burden in the world, the famous Swedish blonds and the chance to play in the oldest ongoing 9-a-side league in Europe was irresistible. Ted would have been received as family here at the Axemen.”

“I don’t wish to go into specifics but the Axemen had presented the best possible financial incentive to bring Ted into the fold. We believed Ted would respond positively to our generous and far reaching offer” remarked club treasurer Näsman. When pressed, Näsman finally did suggest ‘off the record’ that the club had scratched up a few crowns after a recent BBQ, and just had added the alluring bonus of a C4 cabin (including all-inclusive buffet) on a midweek Mariehamn ferry as the coup de grace to the deal.

Club coach Knee was inconsolable with the news “Ted, why?”

Club president, Jake Richards, was equally disappointed. “Ted would have made a real different to our match strategy. We would no longer have to worry about ringing around the night before a game and begging/bribing 9 blokes to play. We would just have to send Ted out there all alone while we sit back in the stands and have a cold one.”

We attempted to contact former Axemen president, Wurmbach, but unfortunately he was fully engaged in a battle with long grass while on his ride-on lawnmower back at Villa Matzilla.

The Axemen still hold out hope in getting Richard’s signature in two years time. “We’re currently working on a multi-faceted proposal with our sponsors and the community at large in Solna in order to get Ted into the famous black and yellow jumper of the Solna Axemen. We certainly haven’t given up hope.” commented Porublev “Watch this space.”

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After the games and bbq we will move on to the Liffey in Gamla Stan. Hope to see you there!

Down by 31 points at the first break, the Axemen stepped up a gear to come almost level pegging at the half time break.

Led admirably both off- and on-the-field by playing Coach Adrian Knee who notched up a SAFF record of 10 goals in a match, the Axemen extended their lead into the second half and finally finishing 34 point winners.

“The boys had another slow start today and that’s something our game day review committee will need to take a look at” commented Coach Knee. “We can’t afford to be 5-6 goals down at quarter against the leading teams in Bromma and Söder and then expect to haul them back in and win the game”.

10 goal kicker Knee bags another

“Pleasing was the second quarter effort, the raw contests at the ball, the support and link up play in the midfield. The backline really lifted and the goal drain was plugged” mused Coach Knee. “I’m happy with how we closed out the game. I think all the extra fitness work is starting to pay dividends”.

Birthday boy and ex-Axemen President “Lill” Mats Wurmbach was also pleased with his efforts in the ruck and up forward bagging another goal bringing his season tally to 3 goals and 15th place in the SAFF goal kicking list.

The Axemen’s next match will be against newcomers Falun Diggers in Falun on Saturday 28th May.

On this match, coach Knee commented “We have to win this one to keep within a sniff of the top teams in the competition. There will be a bit of emotion with Falun’s first ever SAFF fixture at home. We’re prepared for that.”

Axemen whipping boy Porublev is hopeful for a strong Axemen victory but fears the Beer festival in Falun on the same day could present a banana skin.

“The boys are real pro’s and I’m hoping we confine our drinking to after the game”

New President Richards stated “I’m pleased we got the 4 match points over Årsta. While there is a bit of work to do, I think we’re building nicely towards the Sweden Cup in Stockholm in early June.”

Match data can be found here.

It was a good weekend for the boys – we won 2 out of 4 games, which was a great effort! There was a lot of positives to come out of the weekend – Mats did an great job in the ruck winning contest after contest. Sean and Jesus showed the oppostion just how strong the defensive players of the mighty axemen are with there pressure and determination which didnt stop until the final siren of the 4th game. Joel had a great day and showed that he will be a strong forward again this year, and also that he is a ball winner when moved up the ground.

Thanks to Viking for coming along and being a valued Axeman for the weekend.

I am proud the boys preformances and they did a great job flying the mighty axemen banner in the haggis cup.

-Coach Patch