World Footy News

Footy has finished for the year in Port Moresby, the capital of PNG. The Senior Men’s final was marred by violence but in great news for the sport the girls and boys junior finals were completed very satisfactorily in a range of age grades from under 12 to under 19.

The senior final saw the Pro-Mak University Bulldogs captained by Mosquitoes captain, Rex Leka, live up to their top billing claiming the Port Moresby Kelloggs Mars AFL premiership. The Dogs beat Moresby Swans 11.7 (73) to 8.9 (57) in a nail biting showdown during which violence marred the final. The Dogs were dominant throughout, leading at the end of all quarters but nearly failed to shut out the Swans in the final quarter.

Fights broke out twice in the second and fourth quarter and nearly got out of control but fortunately police managed to quell the situation. Indeed according to the Post-Courier “If it weren’t for Swans spectator violence, the boys in red should have taken out the title when they had the chance in the last quarter.”

Unfortunately the fighting was obviously a huge distraction and when the Moresby Swans’ supporters ran onto the field attacking Bulldogs players it immediately resulted in the Doggies fans getting out and amongst it. The Swans, at this stage, were a goal in front after scoring three goals in the last quarter. Police again moved in firing a couple of shots to break up the fight. This evidently quietened the game enough for it to recommence!

Bulldogs coach Douglas Lai was hit on the head with an empty bottle and was carried out of the fight. The game continued but the momentum had swung towards the Dogs as they scored two quick goals to seal the match.

This is possibly one of the toughest senior Leagues in the world of footy and why the AFLPNG are working so hard to bring through juniors who see footy as a game and an opportunity.

As part of this it was pleasing to see the junior finals of the Port Moresby District completed successfully with KELU Mixmates crowned the queens of the under-19 girls division following an impressive win over Taurama Diggers in the grand final. The game showed some poor goalkicking but it was very intense with final scores Kelu Mixmates 1.5 (11) defeating Taurama Diggers 1.2 (8). The luckless Diggers failed again in the under-13 and under-15 girls divisions to win their titles when Idubada Tigers and Gordons Kokofas blew the lights out for them with impressive victories. Final results in the under-13’s the Tigers 1.3 (9) just nudged out the Diggers 1.2 (8) while in under-15’s Kokofas 3.3 (21) defeated the Diggers 2.4 (16).

In the boys grand finals, Taurama Diggers 3.3 (21) were a little too good for Kila Kila Primary 3.0 (18) to win the under-12 title in a close match while Taurama Diggers 4.6 (30) quite comfortably accounted for Kila Kila primary 1.2 (8) to take the under-13 boys crown.

In the under-15 boys Uni Bulldogs 4.2 (26) were too good for Idubada Tigers 2.2 (14) with a two goal victory. For a little more information see the Post-Courier.

Editor (Brett): Hopefully no one was seriously hurt. We have to remember this reflects the country not the sport. With AFLPNG recently taking control of senior footy they clearly have some work to do, but to be fair, footy can't necessarily change the existing culture of the people, at least not quickly. There's quite a contrast. So many PNG people are very quiet and gentle, yet the capital Port Moresby has terrible violence at times.