World Footy News

The AFL Vanuatu season reaches it's conclusion tomorrow (Saturday October 4th) at Kazza field in Port Vila. The Mele Eagles managed to book a date with the Erakor Golden Star Tigers for the 2014 AFL Vanuatu Grand Final showdown with a stirring preliminary final victory. The win didn’t come easy – a hard fought 4 point win over the well-credentialed Onesua Magpies.

Mele and Erakor are established rivals in the AFL Vanuatu circles and the Grand Final match up should be a fitting finale to another positive season of growth and development for footy in Vanuatu.

The Eagles won the preliminary final narrowly 6.12.48 to Onesua 6.8.44. This was a big win for the Eagles who had to fight their way from the Elimination final and having finished the regular season with a loss to Onesua who with that win had secured top spot heading into the finals. With assistance on the day from the Olinda Ferny Creek Football Club who have returned to Vanuatu for a post season trip again – there was plenty of help with umpiring and running water. Olinda Ferny Creek helped out further with donated sporting equipment including the beaut scoreboard (pictured below).

Another feature of the day was the Vanuatu Volcanoes taking on Olinda in an invaluable hit out with the visitors taking the day by 4 goals. The AFL Vanuatu finals kicked into action with the Mele Eagles eliminating the Malapoa Kangaroos in the Elimination final and the Onesua Magpies going down to the Erakor Golden Star Tigers in the qualifying final. The Magpies would be disappointed to mirror Fremantle and Geelong in going out in straight sets.

In other news – AFL Vanuatu has benefitted from a donation of footy gear from the Southport Sharks AFLQ side, in association with the Gold Coast Suns (of which the Southport Sharks are ‘Patron Partner’). As reported in June, new AYAD arrival (at the time), Blair Mortimer had a quality footy background and as reported here {on the Sharks website }, Blair’s links have seen the Southport Sharks take an interest and between Sharks and Suns players were able to gather 52 pairs of ‘old’ boots, along with the Sharks suppling 54 of their previous years jumpers, 45 pairs of shorts and 20 pairs of new socks. A large parcel was freighted in August.

It’s great to see more Australian based clubs at any level increasing their awareness of footy players anywhere. Be it Vanuatu, anywhere else in the Pacific, Asia or Africa in particular – or, for that matter, ‘disadvantaged’ indigenous communities within Australia – I’d encourage anyone with a connection to look into helping even in some small way.

Nancy from AFL Vanuatu shows of the trophy and medallions to be competed for.

The new scoreboard - courtesy Olinda Ferny Creek