AFL Israel to host nation’s first ‘international’
Much more than just a game, the AFL Israel 2023 Anzac Match program will begin mid-afternoon, when both teams will join a guided tour of the nearby Beersheba Anzac Memorial Centre
Excitement is building for Israel’s inaugural Aussie Rules football international match on April 29, to be played between the Israeli Beasts national men’s team and an All-Australian team, at Beersheba’s oval-shaped Sportek.
Much more than just a game, the AFL Israel 2023 Anzac Match program will begin mid-afternoon, when both teams will join a guided tour of the nearby Beersheba Anzac Memorial Centre (BAMC), before laying wreaths at the nearby Commonwealth War Cemetery.
A bugler will then play The Last Post at a twilight pre-match on-field ceremony, in front of an anticipated crowd of 500.
Jointly hosted by AFL Israel, the BAMC, the Municipality of Beersheba, and the Australian Embassy in Israel – and sponsored by the Trans-Tasman Business Circle (TTBC) – it’s hoped the landmark event will channel the Anzac spirit to further boost Aussie Rules in the Jewish State.
AFL Israel stalwarts Ido Schnitzer, and Shir Shalev – co-captain of the Israeli Beasts and founder of the Tel Aviv Cheetahs club – told The AJN last week they can’t wait until the opening bounce.
“The feeling is hard to describe in words, because after two difficult years due to the pandemic, we are experiencing amazing growth in the sport in Israel, culminating in this first international match.
“AFL has caught the eye mainly of native Israelis like us, who have no connections with Australia.
“It’s based mainly on a friend bringing a friend to training, and they stay because they’re having fun.
“Currently, the Tel Aviv Cheetahs have up to 50 players training together twice per week, and our vision is to have another two or three teams, so we can have a true domestic competition.”
Shalev added that Harry Sheezel’s recent AFL debut for North Melbourne “is also great for us, because his story, as the sole Jewish player in the AFL, helps Israelis relate to the sport on a personal level”.
As for the Israeli Beasts, they are on the rise, having come 8th in last year’s AFL Europe Euro-Cup, and they’re training hard for the 2023 Euro-Cup this July in Germany.
The Beasts co-captain is talented 27-year-old Israeli Shir Maran, and the squad includes brothers Yonathan and Uri Shapira, who live at Kibbutz Hatzerim, just a few minutes’ drive from Beersheba.
The All-Australian squad they’ll play against consists of Aussie expats mainly from the United Arab Emirates and Europe, including co-captains James Doohan from the Vienna Galahs and Tim Holt from the Dubai Bulls.
Both said they feel “incredibly proud to be involved in this match”.
TTBC’s CEO Tanya Oziel will travel from Australia to Beersheba for the match, 15 years since creating the AFL Peace Team.
AFL Israel said “we can’t thank Tanya enough for her support, and for all she’s done to promote footy and peace in our community”.
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