6 days: Australia returns to the IFAF Senior World Championship, opens vs. USA (video)

With the IFAF Senior World Championship just six days away now, each day we will preview a team competing in the tournament. Here is a look at Australia.

About American Football in Australia and Gridiron Australia:

Gridiron Australia is the recognized governing body of gridiron (American Football) in Australia. Gridiron Australia has been in existence since 1996, while the sport has been played in Australia for 25 years and is played across the country. The sport is played on an amateur basis in Australia and is administrated, coached and officiated by volunteers who have a great passion and commitment to the sport of gridiron.

Australia consists of six States (New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania) and two Territories (Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory) and American Football is played in each of them.

Gridiron Australia is a proud member of the Oceania Federation of American Football (OFAF).

There are currently more than 70 teams playing football in Australia.

Australia competed in the first IFAF Senior World Championship in 1999 held in Italy. In 2009, the Senior national team competed at the 2009 Tri-Nation Competition in London where they defeated the Great Britain Lions 20-3.

The team is led by head coach John Leijten, who comes to the Outback with an unique coaching background. John has coached all phases of the game on the amateur and professional level. In the NFL Europe’s off season John was responsible for scouting European leagues and players and was in charge of the football development program of the NFL Europe in the Netherlands. Leijten has coached all levels of amateur football in the Netherlands before joining the Cologne Crocodiles in 2000 as their Defensive coordinator. After the 2000 championship year in Germany he was asked to join the Amsterdam Admirals in the NFL Europe as their running backs coach. After the 2002 season he moved to the other side of the ball and coached the linebackers until 2007.

Coaching Staff:

John Leijten – Head Coach

Martyn Carlton – Offensive Coordinator & Offensive Line

Andrew Ogborne – Defensive Coordinator

Luke Chapman – Defensive Line

Brendon Bowe – Running Backs

Paul Garnham – Special Teams

John Roe – Quarterbacks & Wide Receivers

Players to Watch:

Running Back Matt Croasdaile

5-9, 198, Sydney University Lions

Croasdaile has excelled on the football field with his explosive speed and leadership and in 2010 led his New South Wales Wolfpack to an unprecedented fifth consecutive Gridiron Australia National championship.

He was named MVP during four NSW State championship in 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010 becoming one of the top rushers in the nation. In 2010 playoffs, Croasdaile led the Wolfpack with five touchdowns and had 100 plus yard games in all three games of the tournament.

He also plays for the Sydney University Lions where he holds multiple records including most rushing touchdowns in a season with 29 touchdowns in 11 games during the 2009 season. He also holds the record for career touchdowns with 89.

Tight End Liam Erby

6-0, 207 – Sydney University Lions

Liam Erby, a Inner West resident, began playing American football eight years ago and immediately made an impact for the Sydney University Lions team.

This past season the Lions won their twelve NSW Championship and eight straight Bowl with a commanding 37-0 victory over the UTS Gators on Saturday, December 11. In the game, Erby recorded 119 yards including two touchdown catches.

The Lions finished the regular season undefeated and Erby was named Offensive and League MVP.

Other Player Notes:

Australia has one player, offensive lineman Domenick Radman – who previously played in an IFAF Senior World Championship. Radman competed at the inaugural event in 1999 held in Italy when Australia lost two group games to Sweden and Japan before beating Finland 10-7 to claim fifth place.

Game Schedule for Australia:

Friday, July 8: USA vs Australia Innsbruck, Austria

Sunday, July 10: Mexico vs Australia Innsbruck, Austria

Tuesday, July 12: Australia vs Germany Innsbruck, Austria

Placement Games July 15 & 16 in Vienna, Austria