ENGLAND DRAGONSLAYERS

CONTENTS

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Dragonslayers History

Coaches Message

Player Profiles: Ian Mitchell (C) & Matt Whiteley

Player Profiles: Graham Bickerdike & Luke Booth

Player Profiles: Ross Ashman & Will Worthington

Player Profiles: Luke Murchie & Ashley Swift

Player Profiles: Myles Hudson & Martyn Hinchey

Player Profiles: George Dibble & Cameron Cope

Player Profiles: Adam Coxsell & Chris Britton

Player Profiles: Sam Willat & David Hastie

SPONSORS

OUR HISTORY

Named the Dragonslayers, the England national Aussie Rules team formed in 2007 and is comprised of players from accross all the leagues in Britain including AFL London, AFL Central & Northern League and AFL Scotland.

Boasting many honours, the Dragonslayers have proudly achieved a great deal since their formation including being ranked 1st in the 9-a-side rankings, twice EU Cup winners and Champions of the newly coined Axios Euro Cup which debuted in Bordeaux, France in 2013.

In preparation for the Euro Cup, the Dragonslayers hold at least one training weekend per year. These usually take place in Chippenham in August. Some years, we manage to hold one earlier in the season as well. These give all players who wish to be considered for selection the chance to train as a

group, impress in practice games and forge team spirit.

Shortly following the August training weekend is the highly anticipated Tri-Nations tournament which is contested each year in early-September between England, The Welsh Red Dragons and the Scottish Clansmen. This competition is used by all teams as vital preparation for the Euro Cup which follows later in the month. Each team plays the other teams in two short games to mimic the Euro Cup format of lots of short games in one day. The Dragonslayers have won this competition each time it has been held since it’s conception in 2011.

2013 was a big year for the England side who really wanted to impress in the new Axios Euro cup, expecially with the live streaming available. After tough group games the hosts France

were the obstacle which seperated the Dragonslayers from the cup.

“The Slayers charged to victory in the Bordeaux final to become European

Champions 2013”The Slayers charged to vistory in the Bordeaux final to become European Champions 2013, a feat they hope to replicate this year on home soil.

Head coach: Rob Fielder (Chippenham Redbacks)Team manager: Ian Baxter (Tyne Tees Tigers)Assistant Manager: Garth NevinPhysio: Clare Avenell (Chippenham Redbacks)Captain: Ian Mitchell (Wolverhampton Wolverines)

COACHES MESSAGEHistory writes that the future country of England once depended on survival in a few marshes around the Somerset levels in 9th century AD, againstViking invader. The England Dragonslayers have occasionally produced similar backs against the wall performances in thorny environments.

In 2007, bronze was a real disappointment for the coaching team of Rob Fielder and Rick Shrowder, but many lessons were learnt especially from the Swedish team who edged the Slayers in the semi. Preparation for subsequent seasons became increasingly meticulous with Shrowder and Ian Minns offering valuable advice and guidance to the whole squad in the new training sessions. The following year dynamic captain Adam Ballard, rover Will Worthington and full back Martyn Hinchey set strong new standards for the rest of the squad to follow. The success in the 2008 and 2009 Euro tournaments was a culmination of these raised standards.

After those highs, non-availability in playing and coaching personnel led to a few disappointing years losing in semi-finals in 2010, 2011 and 2012. The introduction of Ireland and Denmark to the Euro cup, traditional powerhouses in European footy, raised the bar and the Slayers now found themselves with teams competing at their level, being edged out by Ireland twice. Again. This galvanised the Slayers coaching team much as in 2007. The wishes of head coach Rob Fielder to have a national camp finally came to fruition in 2012. These camps enabled much

more focussed improvements to be made to the squad abilities and a consistency of selection along the lines of who fitted into the Slayers culture best and could perform in varying environments. Six key players who remain from the 2010 squad have provided a backbone to this second resurgence. Captain Ian Mitchell, Paul Francis, Matt Whiteley, RossAshman, Sean Walton and Matt Kilheeney have provided the granite and example to all new players coming into the squad, along with taking some responsibilities on the coaching front.

Euro Cup 2014 promises to be the biggest yet, with London in easy reach of all capitals and the big players all coming. Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, Croatia and including a resurgent Wales who could yet spring a surprise. The hard and clever work at Slayers camp 2014 again at Chippenham rugby club on 6/7 September, will largely decide what kind of England turn up at the tournament. Garth Nevin will provide experience to the coaching team and with the meticulous Ian Baxter managing again, the Slayers will be as prepared as possible for the 2014 quest in London on 4th October.

It would be superb to see many friends, family members and past Slayers supporting the team. Special mention for Dave Veale and Mark Williams. Dave was animportant part of the coaching set up in 2011 and 2012 and in the same period Mark ran the team manager role with relish.

Roll of honour 2008 Euro Champions - Rob Fielder (coach/captain) Adam Ballard, Will Worthington, Rob Kerr, Lee Tarn, Martyn Hinchey, Matt Bradford, Mike Shackleton, Jordan Illyat, Ramsay Illyat, Dan Marchant, Robbie DeJong, Dave Wheatley, Mark Todd, Christian Terry-Lloyd. coaches Rick Shrowder and Ian Minns, Sports therapist Clare Shapland, Manager Donna Fielder.

Roll of honour 2009 Euro Champions: Adam Ballard (captain), Will Worthington, Rob Kerr, Lee Tarn, Martyn Hinchey, Mark Todd, Glyn Smith, Danny Armitage, Karl Haigh, Ben Denham, Johnny Hope-Smith, Alastair McKinnell, Dave Wheatley, Lewis Brackstone, Steve Allen. Coaches Rob Fielder, Stu McKay and Neil Morrison, Sports therapist Clare Shapland, Manager Donna Fielder.

Roll of honour 2013 Euro Champions: Ian Mitchell (captain), Paul Francis, Matt Whiteley, Matt Kilheeney, Ross Ashman, Sean Walton, Mark Todd, Alastair McKinnell, Lee Tarn, Graham Bickerdike, Luke Booth, Jack Wood, Steve Maguire, George Dibble, Rory Auld, Tom Stewart, Coach Rob Fielder, Sports Therapist Claire Avenell, Manager Ian Baxter.

IAN MITCHELL

MATT WHITELEY

Squad Number: 6Club Side: Wolverhampton WolverinesPosition: Full Back/Half Back/On BallRepresentative Honours: Great Britain: 2010/11/12/13 England Dragonslayers: 2010/11/12/13 (European Champions)Sponsored by: SPONSOR NAME

Squad Number: 10Club Side: Huddersfield RamsPosition: Half Back/MidfieldRepresentative Honours: Great Britain: 2010/11 - England Dragonslayers: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 (European Champions)

Sponsored by: ALICE’S WONDERLAND BOOKSHOP

GRAHAM BICKERDIKESquad Number: 13Club Side: Huddersfield RamsPosition: Full Back/Midfield/RuckRepresentative Honours: Great Britain: 2013 - England Dragonslayers: 2013 (European Champions)

Sponsored by: SPONSOR NAME

LUKE BOOTHSquad Number: 16Club Side: Huddersfield RamsPosition: Rover/ForwardRepresentative Honours: England Dragonslayers 2012/13 (European Champions), European Legion 2013Sponsored by: PAUL BOOTH

WILL WORTHINGTON

ROSS ASHMANSquad Number: 12Club Side: Wimbledon HawksPosition: Representative Honours: Great Britain: 2010/11/12/13 England Dragonslayers: 2010/11/12/13 (European Champions)Sponsored by: SPONSOR NAME

Squad Number: 1Club Side: London SwansPosition: UtilityRepresentative Honours: England Dragonslayers 2008/09

Sponsored by: SPONSOR NAME

ASHLEY SWIFT

LUKE MURCHIESquad Number: 11 Club Side: University of BirminghamPosition: Half BackRepresentative Honours:

Sponsored by: SPONSOR NAME

Squad Number: 8Club Side: Nottingham ScorpionsPosition: Rover/Half ForwardRepresentative Honours: England Dragonslayers 200X/XX

Sponsored by: SPONSOR NAME

MYLES HUDSONSquad Number: 4Club Side: Manchester MosquitoesPosition: Midfield/Full BackRepresentative Honours:

Sponsored by: SPONSOR NAME

MARTYN HINCHEYSquad Number: 14 Club Side: Southampton TitansPosition: Ruck/Forward/Half BackRepresentative Honours: England Dragonslayers 2009/09 (European Champions)

Sponsored by: SPONSOR NAME

GEORGE DIBBLE

CAMERON COPE

Squad Number: 9Club Side: University of Birmingham Position: Half BackRepresentative Honours:England Dragonslayers 2013 (European Champions)

Sponsored by: SPONSOR NAME

Squad Number: 5Club Side: Wolverhampton WolverinesPosition: Rover/Half BackRepresentative Honours: World 18 2013, England Dragonslayers 2013 (European Champions), AIS Legion 2013Sponsored by: SPONSOR NAME

CHRIS BRITTONSquad Number: 2 Club Side: Manchester MosquitoesPosition: Rover/Half ForwardRepresentative Honours:

Sponsored by: SPONSOR NAME

ADAM COXSELLSquad Number: 7Club Side: Birmingham BearsPosition: Half Back/RoverRepresentative Honours:

Sponsored by: SPONSOR NAME

SAM WILLATSquad Number: 3Club Side: Birmingham BearsPosition: Full ForwardRepresentative Honours:

Sponsored by: SPONSOR NAME

DAVID HASTIESquad Number: 15 Club Side: Wimbledon HawksPosition: Full BackRepresentative Honours:

Sponsored by: SPONSOR NAME

Thank Youto all the businesses and individuals who have sponsored players and officials of the England Dragonslayers for the

2014 season.

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