World Footy News

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By all reports the inaugural Australian football Oceania Youth Cup in Fiji was a great success, with Tonga the surprise winners, see Tonga the champions in rollercoaster day.

Now thanks to AFL Fiji we have a pictorial story of the work behind the scenes and some of the on-field action. In particular thanks to Damian Ames, Robert Wolfgramm, Max Wolfgramm and Alea Williams, the latter two for the photos you will find in our album.

As Fiji battened down for Cyclone Mick, we were honoured to host this inaugural international event. Thank you and congratulations to AFL Asia-Pacific’s Andrew Cadzow and his staff for making it so. We held it at Cathedral Secondary School Grounds in Suva. Teams from Nauru, New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga and Fiji competed. Pre-cyclonic windy drizzle couldn't dampen their good will and desire to succeed.

Joining the various team staff, umpires, local supporters and diplomats in braving the Melbourne-like elements (minus the cold) were a number of AFL club recruiting personnel assessing the potential on display. AFL representative, Jason McCartney, was special guest for the occasion. By all reports, our visitors were impressed with the staging of the tournament, if not the weather.

For AFL Fiji committee and volunteers assisting tournament manager Cadzow, it was an unforgettable experience. Our job was made light by the ardent preparation put in by Chairman and Logistics Manager, Damian Ames, our chief sponsor, Williams & Gosling, the David Rodan families (senior and junior of Melbourne and Adelaide respectively) and the Narruhn family. The willingness and enthusiasm of all involved to make the event work were evident. Doris Rounds and her staff at Corpus Christi College where teams were hostelled also deserve mention.

In blustery conditions, the fiercely, but fairly contested Cup eventually went to Tonga. FDP’s Max Wolfgramm and AFL consultant, Alea Williams, were on hand to photograph the historic spectacle.

The photos are presented here in two albums below, one for each day of the tournament.