World Footy News

Just a week after taking out the SAFF (Stockholm Australian Football Federation) premiership when the downed the Solna Axemen (see story Södermalm belt Solna to claim 2015 SAFF Premiership, the club has won its second flag of the season winning the inaugural Swedish League Elitserien (Elite Series) to be the Swedish national champions.

The competition, set up to be the nation’s elite competition above and beyond the regional and urban leagues across the country, kicked off for the first time earlier this year. The competition featured the Södermalm Blues, Stockholm Dynamite, Port Malmö Maulers and the Helsingborg Saints in a six round competition designed around the other league draws.

After five rounds the Blues were clear leaders, undefeated, but still had to negotiate the second placed Maulers for the title. The game was being played at the, Limhamnsfältet IP, Malmö ground which evened up the competition.

Come the final and it was the Maulers quickest out of the blocks to take an eight point lead at quarter time. By half time the Blues had clawed back after a four goal to one second term to lead by 10 points, 5 4 34 to 3 6 24.

The premiership quarter saw the conditions favour the Maulers and they played accordingly to again take the lead on the back of their own four goals to one term. Going in at three-quarter time they held an eleven point lead and would have to withstand the Blue’s comeback to the scoring end. Scores saw the Maulers 7 10 52 lead the Blues 6 5 41.

But Södermalm would not be denied and slammed home another four goals in the final quarter to take the Elitserien title, and their second major title in a week. The final scores saw the Södermalm Blues 10 10 70 defeat the Port Malmö Maulers 8 11 59 for an historic 11 point victory and the honour of being the winners of the first ever Swedish national Elitserien.

The double victory for the Södermalm team is a wonderful tonic after having waited for four years as perennial runners-up. The population of Stockholm may well be wondering what all that noise is coming from the direction of the Södermalm neighbourhood. But they needn’t worry. It is just the sound of joy, victory and Australian Rules football at its finest in Sweden.





Picture: Blues' players savour victory.