Aussie football’s Magpies return to NAU

Australian Football has learned that being high up pays dividends for Down Under teams.

The Collingwood Football Club from Melbourne will arrive at Northern Arizona University next week to train for the upcoming season.

It’s the second consecutive year the Magpies will land at NAU to work with the Center for High Altitude Training. The team of 51 players and staff will be in Flagstaff from Nov. 7 to 21.

The Magpies will practice in the Skydome. All sessions are open to the public

Practices will be conducted from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Nov. 8 and 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Nov. 10, 13, 15, 17 and 20. The team also will be conducting weight training, working out at the Wall Aquatic Center, at the Grand Canyon, on the San Francisco Peaks and in the Sedona area.

For information, including any schedule changes, go to www.nau.edu/highaltitude. A preview of the team’s stay in Flagstaff can be found online.

Australian Football, also known as “Footy,” looks like a cross between rugby and American football. For a history of the game and all kinds of information, go to the AFL web site. Or visit the Australian Football Association of North America web site.