Tuesday 23 October 2018

AFL Asia Champs 2018

The 2018 edition of the Asian AFL Champs was held in KL in October. Once again it was a monumental event with over 20 teams competing including a womans division for the first time.

I pulled on the boots for the Philippine eagles one last time. Played the first 3 games of 5. We made the grand final only to be beaten in a hard fought contest by the super strong Indonesian Volcanoes.
Matt Rutter, Anthony Sacco, Winner Santos, Evan Spargo, Ed Newbound and Mr Aisa Kaweng NG lead the team once again. This core group are no doubt a big reason this team has reached such great heights which includes the last 3 AFL Asian grand finals. Whilst it was comiserations after the final,we managed to pull ourselves together and celebrate the weekend with all the other teams.
Another great weekend and I believe a very resepctable result. Next year the tournment go to Vietnam.

7am arrival

Coach Sacco giving me the word

The boys post match

Me and my roomie

A team that drinks together...

Silly Sunday

More silly Sunday

..and more..

..and a bit more

Newspaper article about the finals

Friday 1 June 2018

2 stadium run in Melbourne

One of my sporting highlights this year included A footy tour to Melbourne with Levi's team, the Wembley Downs Cats to play a couple of junior league games and catch some AFL at the home of footy, the MCG!
The trip included a fantastic Saturday morning training session with the North Melbourne Kangaroos, the dream time match between Richmond and Essendon at the 'G', and lots of sight seeing around the streets of Australia;s coolest city.
The highlight of the tour was playing 2 thrilling matches with the Keon Park Football club and the Hampton Rovers. The boys came away with a 1-1 record but far more significant was the hospitality extended to us by both clubs.
As with all trips I tried to get some running in, so with a mild hangover one early, cold but very pleasant Melbourne morning, I managed to run Ethiad to the MCG. Turns out there is a beautiful river side dirt path a lot of the way between the 2 stadiums which tracks along the Yarra.
Although we had to sit through another Freo thrashing, the boys got to go out on to the MCG during half time and I got into a dust up with the Collingwood mascot...so that made our weekend complete.
P.S. All dads got the bed by 9pm every night.

...I'm high on ridge, looking over the bridge..to the MCG...
The WDFC at the 'G'

(This pic must have been around 8:45pm....max)

Running route

Levi and I having a coffee break

Coach Mike and the boys walking the lane ways of Melbourne

The Keon Park club made us a beautiful welcome

This is a keeper. Levi and Majak

Team photo with the Hamptom Rovers (Came out of retirement to coach this game) 

This animal assaulted me