World Footy News

The Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) Under 18s invitational side have just completed their third annual tour of New Zealand, coming away undefeated against the NZ Under 20s. The opportunity for these young men to travel and experience a different culture would be of tremendous benefit to them.

It is to be hoped that the football itself was a great experience as the NZ Hawks look to grow the game and close the gap further each year. With the Kiwis fielding a side with an average age of 17 this should translate into a long term benefit for the Hawks.

Match reviews follow.

Game One

VAFA 16.13 (109) defeated AFLNZ 4.8 (32)

The game was played in great conditions with Auckland putting on some good football weather and great spirit was shown with both teams fighting hard for the early ascendancy. There were only four points in it at the first break, but it was NZ which had enjoyed the first quarter breeze. In the second term, the VAFA started to play better as a team, applying scoreboard pressure and building a solid lead at half time having had plenty of runners all over the ground setting up many scoring opportunities. NZ Hawks player of the game Will Gregson was having a great contest with his direct opponent down back and was being ably supported by Ben Miller and Ash Wear.

Up forward the Hawks were struggling to hold the ball in the forward line for any significant period of time despite the best efforts of Martin Swart who was awarded best opposition player by the VAFA after the game.

In the middle of the ground Mitch Ryan and Rhys Panui-Leth were winning the ruck, however the Hawks were unable to capitalise on this advantage despite Hawks Captain Sami Tuitupou and Vandyn Hartman doing well around the ground.

Vic coach David Lappage set up great rotations and the players continued to play their role in the second half with all 24 players having an impact in the game. The VAFA ran out 77 point winners. Lachlan McDowell was voted the best VAFA player.

Vic Ammos:-
Goals: Turner 3 Cloke 3 Rowe, Gibney 2 Bennie,  Imber,  Greco, Benson, Mase,  Deneys 1
Best: McDowell, Riley, Deneys, Rowe, Imber, Bennie

Hawks:-
Goal Scorers:    S Tuitupou, M Swart, A Tuitupou, V Hartman 1
Best Players:    M Ryan, M Swart, B Miller, M Gregson, V Hartman, A Wear

Game 2

VAFA 14.11 (95) defeated AFLNZ 7.11 (53)

The weather was again windy for the second game. The Hawks came into the second game with a refined plan and confident that they could atone for the result in the first game. This wasn’t apparent however initially as the VAFA won the toss and kicked with the wind using it to advantage. By the first change they were 38 points ahead with a six goal first quarter. Matt Lyons kicked four of those with an impressive start to the game.

Coming out after quarter time the Hawks were able to arrest the tide but failed to capitalise on the score board with the assistance of a stiff breeze. James Fa’iva, Mike Gregson and Jordan Mueller were all taking the game up to VAFA and again Martin Swart up forward was a focal point.

However the Ammos continued from where it left off in the first game and worked extremely hard together. All players knew their role and the rotations assisted in sharing the workload. The boys kicked another four goals into the wind in the second quarter with the New Zealanders only managing two. The VAFA had a 48 point lead
at the main break and were looking very strong.

The second half had the Hawks getting on top. Three goals and a best on ground performance by the Captain Sami Tuitupou was a highlight with Rhys Panui Leth showing his athleticism to carry the bulk of the ruck duties for the day. The Kiwis never gave up and played with great spirit and passion. They out-scored the VAFA in the third quarter and the match was very tight in the final quarter with the Kiwis just winning the final quarter as well. The VAFA team still worked very hard in the second half and deserved their final winning margin of 42 points.

James Bennie was voted best player for The VAFA team by the coaching staff. Lachlan McDowell was awarded player of the series for the VAFA by the VAFA coaches.

Ammos:-
Goal kickers: Lyons 6, Cloke 2, Louis Greco 1, McDowell 1, Rowe 1,
Deneys 1, Klein-Breteler 1, Webber 1.
Best: Bennie, Klein Breteler, Riley, McDowell, Lyons, Imber.

NZ Hawks
Goal Scorers:    S Tuitupou 3, W Gregson, A Tuitupou, J Faiva, J Mueller 1
Best Players:    W Gregson, S Tuitupou, R Panui-Leth, V Hartman, J Faiva, B Sucu

For more see:-

U18s in the Shaky Isles

VAFA Take out Year 3