World Footy News

Hot favourites the Dubai Heat have defeated the Muscat Magpies by nine points to claim the inaugural AFL Middle East VB Premiership, completing the season undefeated. Simon O'Keefe of the Muscat Magpies was awarded Best on Ground in the Grand Final.

Read on for a report of the day, courtesy of AFL Middle East Commercial Manager, Stephen Nugent.

An Australian Football League in the Middle East was until recently considered wishful thinking. But thanks to the hard work of six clubs and several individuals, the first Grand Final of the AFL Middle East VB Premiership was played at The Sevens in Dubai on Friday 20 March 2009.

The first season saw six teams from three countries compete, and Friday saw five clubs showcase what the last six months of the season had become. The first game of the day saw the supreme team of the competition the Dubai Heat field a reserves squad against the fifth-placed Dubai Dragons. The Dragons showed how far they have progressed since entering the competition, running out easy winners.

The Preliminary Game prior to the Grand Final saw The Dubai Dingoes take on the Abu Dhabi Falcons and with only two points separating these two great clubs in the regular season. The two clubs have formed a great rivalry in recent times and this match saw no love lost between the two tough-tackling teams. With the breeze behind them the Dingoes took an early advantage with a three goal lead into the first quarter break. The second quarter saw a more determined Falcons outfit take charge. Desire for the ball was lacking in the Dingoes camp and the Falcons took a nine point lead into the rooms. A talking-to by Coach Mick Patton and a change of tactics saw the Dingoes get their bite back in the second half and the run was back into the “Desert Dog”. Four second-half goals to Kym “Plugger” Harris and support from Kym Waldeck who also bagged three majors saw the Dingoes take third place.

Dubai Dingoes 10.11 (71)
Abu Dhabi Falcons 8.8 (56)

The Main Event for the day was the Grand Final between the dominant team of recent times the Dubai Heat against the league’s Cinderella team the Muscat Magpies. The Heat took a commanding six goal lead into the main break after some very physical and skilful footy. The Muscat boys seemed rattled and another blowout looked on the cards. How wrong that turned out to be. The third term or “Premiership Quarter” witnessed a stellar performance from the Muscat boys with their two country Victorian stars taking the game by the scruff of the neck. Class was the only word to describe the two Muscat lads who showed immense skill and heart for their adopted team to rattle the usually calm Heat, and lifting the whole Magpies squad. Going into the last term, the Heat led by a mere 6 points.

Anticipation was high, could there be a fairy tale ending? For once the Heat, regular achievers, were looking at a real fight to the end. The last quarter had the crowd at the edge of the sidelines. The match seesawed, with both teams missing. Muscat started to tire and the Heat looked rattled. But the Heat held their nerve enough to get across the line and claim the inaugural Middle East AFL VB Premiership.

The Kelvin Templeton Medal, awarded to the Best Player of the Final went to Muscat Magpie Simon O'Keefe. Jeremy Bruer, Australian Ambassador to the UAE presented the winner’s cup to the Dubai Heat.

Dubai Heat 11.11 (77)
Muscat Magpies 10.8 (68)

Friday undoubtedly showcased a great day of footy and the end of a hugely successful first season for this great game in the Middle East that will only progress forward into the future. Congratulations Dubai Heat for the premiership, but congratulations to all teams that took part throughout the hard-fought season.