The European Crusaders are an international Australian rules football team composed of European citizens. Although Team Europe operates with a similar concept, the Crusaders were notably the first female all European team to compete in Australia for the Australian Football International Cup. The team was also the first female combined team to play in the International Cup with players originating from Croatia, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Northern Ireland and Scotland. A male European Crusaders team was originally formed but disbanded prior to the tournament.
2017 AFL International Cup In 2017 the European Crusaders formed and competed in the International AFL Women's Competition. Meeting only a few days before the beginning of the tournament, the Crusaders became known for "their spirit, determination and improvement" as it progressed. They trained at Princes Park, South Melbourne. The majority of the team and staff are French women competing in the French Australian Football League, with a number of Paris Cockerels.
2017 Squad Members +Staff MembersRoleNameTeam ManagerFanny MailletCoachGraham AndrewsSupport StaffJon Sculley, Paul Ritchie, Joanne Mouradian +2017 International Cup TeamPlayer NumberPlayer name CountryTeamNotes1Isabella RositanoItalyRookieIsabella is an Australian canoeist who made her Australian Rules debut with the European Crusaders in the first game of the tournament.2Mathilde CombesFranceParis Cockerelles3Joanne MouradianFranceParis CockerellesJoanne sustained an injury during training so took on the role of runner during the International Cup.4Coline DuquetFranceParis CockerellesColine was notably awarded a place on the 2017 World Team after her work in fallback. 5Naima Ait El MoudenFranceParis Cockerelles 6Marine AssematFranceALFA Lions7Berengere PortalFranceParis CockerellesCaptain8Catherine GilesFranceParis Cockerelles9 Linn GardellSwedenPort Malmo Lynx11Amanda KingSwedenBoston Demons (USA)12 Emilie GiancarliFranceBordeaux Bombers13 Rachel UrquhartScotlandSouth MelbourneVice Captain14Dagmara RatinskiCroatiaPerth Angels17Leila MorgenrothGermanySydney Uni Bombers18Charline WoodGermanyNewtown Breakaways19Helene PittetFranceToulouse Hawks22Ana BarisicCroatiaZKAN Zagreb Panthers26Anne PilleFranceParis Cockerelles33Laura GaussGermanyNorth Shore Bombers (Australia)40Camille PortalFranceBordeaux Bombers47 Frances FinnNorthern IrelandPerth Angels (Australia)81 Claire PerezFranceParis Cockerelles
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