World Footy News

Who’s the toughest footballer you ever saw? Leigh Matthews? Ted Whitten? Luke Hodge? Maybe  it  is Jonathan Brown.  Well here’s something which may sort the wheat from the chaff. How often did you see them play in temperatures of 7 degrees, with a chill factor that made it more like minus 7? 

Well that’s exactly what faced the tough, fearless and enthusiastic Russian players who competed in last weekend’s Gagarin Cup in Moscow. 

The event, named in honour of the Russian Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the first man into space, was played in the Russian capital in front of a motivated, albeit teeth-chattering crowd. The event is also played on Cosmonaut Day, a national holiday observed in Russia. It is the largest Australian Rules showcase in the country, just tipping out the Concrete and Steel Cup played each September (2nd) to observe the anniversary of the end of World War Two (won last year by the Space Pirates).

It is interesting, and just a little humbling, that the two biggest Australian Rules football events in Russia should be linked to two such momentous occasions. 

As a sign of the continued growth of the game in Russia, six teams were formed for the event. As the game is yet to flourish beyond the Moscow area to any great degree, those players interested were spread across the six teams, being the Shooters, Moskali and SKA (Sports Club of the Army) in Group A. Group B was made up of the Space Pirates, Slavs and Thrashers. Thrashers never really got to the field, but their presence in name only just adds further to the idea that the game is still growing. 

President of AFL Russia, Roger Scott, also managed to get the games some air time as “we had a TV station there filming as part of a documentary about Australia.” 

According to Roger, “the traditional winners, the Shooters, were going in as slight underdogs, as the younger teams - the Slavs, SKA and Moskali - had really matured over the winter.” 

The results of the carnival were as follows:

GROUP A

Shooters vs Moskali 20 - 28
Shooters vs SKA 4 - 1
SKA vs Moskali 9 - 19 

GROUP B

Slavs vs Space Pirates 13 - 10
Space Pirates vs Thrashers 30 - 00 (forfeit)
Slavs vs Thrashers 30-00 (forfeit)
 

1st place match: Slavs vs Moskali 14-05

3rd place match: Space Pirates vs Shooters 11 - 14


Final Standings:

1 Slavs
2 Moskali
3 Shooters
4 Space Pirates
5 SKA
6 Thrashers

 As a further point of interest, the umpire for the day was Ian Humphrey-Smith, whose brother Derek umpired at the highest level in AFL ranks from 1992 until 2003.

 As the temperatures warm up in Russia, we can look forward to the next Concrete and Steel Cup in September. But for now a hearty “Well done!” to Roger and the crew is Moscow who made another great international Australian Rules football event a reality.

 One question remains unanswered. I wonder how Lethal, Mr Football, Hodgy and Johnno would go in near or below freezing conditions. Thoughts welcome!