World Footy News

Back in 2004, a group of Solomon Islanders and Australian defence personnel formed the Solomon Islands Australian Football Association with the hope of forming a stable, organised league in the country. However, after some promising initial clinics and scratch matches, the organisation went into hiatus.

Three years later and the game is back on with a memorial match held in Honiara last Saturday. Two sides, mainly formed of local Islanders with a few Australian army personnel thrown in, took the field decked out in Eagles and Bombers gear, with the Bombers holding on to win the Clark-Dunning trophy in a very tight tussle.

Previously most of the interest in AFL was in the Namoliki community in southern Honiara, however this is now expanding further north as well. Saturday's training activity was advertised throughout the high school communities of Honiara with the support of the Australian High Commission through Defence Assistant Warrant Officer Mike Winters from the Australian Navy.

Around 200 kids from the age of 5 through to 30 came from communities from all over Honiara, namely Tenaru, Burns Creek, White River and Borderline as well as the high schools as well. Basic kicking, handballing, marking and bouncing skills were taught with the aid of soldiers and Police officer from Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI). The handball competition using old military shooting targets were a big hit, as too was the goalkicking practice using goalposts fashioned out of old tent poles - both aids showing the ingenuity of the Australian soldiers.

The game itself was a wonderful success, played on the Panatina Rugby Fields where two pitches had been combined to create a footy oval. The only difference between the two teams was the jumpers they were wearing. They were a mixture of local boys and soldiers from the Army contingent serving with RAMSI. 70 players in total took the field using the Bombers and Eagles jumpers donated by the AFL. The brand new Sherrin match ball used for the first time was certainly a thrill for all the players, particularly the locals who had never seen a brand new Sherrin before.

The game was played in good spirits with the locals showcasing their flare and poise throughout. The fearlessness of the locals was the most notable aspect of the locals’ game as they threw themselves onto the ball and into packs often against much taller and heavier opponents without thought for their own safety.

Despite a fight back from the Eagles in the last quarter the Bombers held on to win by a narrow margin. The Clark-Dunning Trophy was presented by the Commanding Officer LTCOL Ian Upjohn to the winning co-captains - a senior local player and a senior soldier. Team photos were taken, then the locals and Army joined to sing their theme-song "Oh When the Saints".

While the Solomon Islands may not be ready for the IC 2008, the growing interest in the region may see the often-touted inclusion of Australian Football or at least Footy 9s in the Pacific Games. Hopefully in future we'll see more of the potential in Samoa, Tonga, Nauru, PNG and the Solomons make it to AFL level.

Source: afl.com.au