World Footy News

After the trauma and tragedy of Cyclone Pam earlier this year - for AFL Vanuatu the footy has helped provide a focus to return to normality. The season reaches its conclusion this weekend and that in itself is a victory given the starting point. Along with the AFL Vanuatu decider - this week has also seen AFL Vanuatu again playing host to a contingent from Adelaide's Concordia College.

It’s not always where someone is going but where they have been. With much focus in AFL circles currently around trade week – the movements of one James Aish are a talking point. A couple of years ago he was in Vanuatu with his school mates from Adelaide’s Concordia College, at the time a week after starring in the SANFL Grand Final. This year – Concordia College has again headed to Vanuatu as a continuation of their ‘Football Outreach Vanuatu’ Program.

The AFL Vanuatu season was dramatically impacted earlier this year when Cyclone Pam ravaged the Vanuatu archipelago. Having a footy season at all is a tribute to the hard work of the dedicated folk who make AFL Vanuatu tick.

The finals series kicked off with the Qualifying final in which the Mighty Malapoa Kangaroos (6-1-37) overcame the erratic Errakor Tigers (4-8-32), while in the Elimination final the Seveners Saints (10-4-64) getting past the Onesua Magpies (8-7-55). Last weekend it was the Seveners who continued their surge, getting past the Tigers to march into the decider against the Kangaroos.
This week is the big AFL Vanuatu Festival inclusive of the Grand Final between Malapoa and the Seveners. And in the morning there will be an exhibition game with the Concordia College lads taking on the Vanuatu Volcanoes.

The schedule for the day :
Saturday 10th October
9am - Pikinini Kick
10:30 am – Exhibition game – Concordia vs Vanuatu Volcanoes
Local Food for sale from Kensul Community
12:30 pm – Under 15 tryouts
1:30 pm – AFL Vanuatu Grand Final – Malapoa vs Seveners
3:30 pm : Presentation and Stringband Kensul Youth

It should perhaps be noted that the last time these sides met in early September it was actually the Seveners who took the points with a narrow 7-2-44 to 6-3-39 win over the Roos. The Grand Final clearly could go either way and should be a fine exhibition of footy.

Concordia help take Malapoa training during the week in the lead up to the Grannie....