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IC11 Squad - PNG Mozzies full of young guns

  • Thursday, July 28 2011 @ 10:25 pm ACST
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International Cup 2011

Note this article has been updated since first published on July 12 as we now have height and weight data and at least one change with David Meli into the team).

Defending champs Papua New Guinea have named their squad for IC11. Many things jump out as most obvious about the list - its youth yet experience, lack of height and wide spread from across PNG.

10 players are under 19 with 2 sixteen year old boys from the AFL Academy in Port Moresby. Only 5 players are 25 or older. Bruce Savare (36) and Nicholas Apamumu (35) will no doubt get plenty of good natured teasing from the teenagers in the team. The average age is only around 21 years.

In terms of height it has often been the Mozzies' Achilles heel, and while they are slowly unearthing taller talent it remains an issue when they come up against teams of similar talent. At 194 cm a key player could be Tiernan Carbry (only about to turn 20 and yet returning for his second International Cup), yet he has been named as an emergency. 5 cm (2 inches) taller than any team mate, it looks like PNG's onballers will once again be deprived of first tough in many ball ups. In some ways they will have to be significantly better than their opponents and against sides like New Zealand and a resurgent Ireland that could be a big ask.

Perhaps two of PNG's best, Donald Barry (Brisbane Lions listed) and David Meli (Essendon international scholarship player) were thought to be unavailable, but Meli has now been named (Barry is injured and possibly unavailable anyway). The list is still formidable with 17 players returning from IC08 and a swathe of young guns backing them up. They will surely make the top 4 and probably start favourites to go back to back, with the height issue the main nagging doubt.

 



2011 AFL International Cup - Papua New Guinea squad

Coach: David Lake

No. Name Club D.O.B. Height (cm) Weight (kg)
1 Theo Gavuri West New Britain 22/02/1994 168 69
2 Gideon Simon Western Highlands 30/10/1994 172 71
3 David Meli Central 10/09/1992 174 70
4 Wingti Pena Western Highlands 14/08/1992 170 76
5 Joe Ila Central 2/08/1986 172 73
6 Jim Logha West New Britain 9/08/1986 175 71
7 Brendon Beno Bougainville 10/08/1994 173 62
8 Fredrick Peni East New Britain 24/12/1991 173 71
9 John James Gulf 6/06/1989 181 75.9
10 Paul Philip Chimbu 13/12/1989 174 76.4
11 Larry Nao Gulf 27/10/1993 178 75
12 Lawrie Logo East New Britain 4/09/1993 178 78
13 Alestair Sione Morobe 11/08/1995 186 79
14 Peter Milaura Gulf 19/08/1987 182 74
15 Richard Stegman Western Highlands 14/05/1993 180 70.8
16 Greg Aki Western Highlands 27/09/1991 181 79
17 Henry Henry East New Britain 9/06/1982 175 85.4
18 John Vogae West New Britain 26/09/1991 180 81.8
19 Collins Slim Gulf 25/12/1993 188 77.6
20 Emmaus Wartovo East New Britain 10/03/1988 179 92
21 Peter Labi Morobe 30/12/1991 187 82.3
22 Major Alphonse West New Britain 27/05/1994 182 74.2
23 Stanis Susuve Gulf 29/04/1990 182 85
24 Ali Pinda Chimbu 18/10/1989 185 93
25 Amua Pirika Central 3/03/1991 187 85.7
26 Emmanuel Tupia West New Britain 22/11/1991 186 87.9
27 Jeffrey Nemete West New Britain 28/04/1990 188 75
28 Bruce Sovare West New Britain 27/07/1975 183 79
29 Nicholas Apamumu Kimbe 8/04/1976 186 80
30 John Ikupu East New Britain 20/09/1992 189 89
31 Tiernan Carbry Central (E) 1/09/1991 194 84
32 Willy Aisi Central (E) 5/11/1994 174 76
33 Gagu Kayage Western Province(E) 27/07/1991 176 80
34 Alois Melua West new Britain (E) 10/09/1987 178 82

E = Emergencies (in no order)