World Footy News

Last Saturday (October 8th) was grand final day in the Solomon Islands AFL (SIAFL). The forecast was for a wet day, maximum of 8 and possible hail. And on the field the top team the Hawks (having only lost once for the year) were to face off against the 2nd placed Wolves.

The venue was the KG6 Cricket oval – and the SIAFL had a 1pm curtain raiser with a match made up from the various training centres around town. The main game starting at 2pm to wrap up the inaugural season of AFL competition in the Solomons.

On the Friday before the Grand Final, the team captains and SIAFL development officer Eddie Burton were in the Paoa FM radio studio at 8am promoting the game.

As it turned out, the day was mostly dry, but the ground a little muddy. The Hawks started better in a scrappy but hard fought opening term. The Hawks took the quarter time lead due mainly to better conversion in front of the big sticks. Hawks captain (and early SIAFL ‘star’) Freddy Una leading the way, while Wolves midfielder Eddie Wate worked hard to tag young guy Francis Ramo out of the game whilst picking up important possessions himself.

Hawks 2.3.(15)
Wolves 0.5. (5)

The second term saw the Hawks get on top, with Frank leading and marking strongly up forward and kicking several nice long goals. A decisive lead in the conditions attained.

Hawks 6.3. (39)
Wolves 1.6. (12)

Rather than throwing in the towel, Wolves coach Job Vulita was able to rally his troops as they came out firing in the third term. Junior Albert and Lucas Sili ran freely from half back creating opportunities for Jevvy up forward who was engaged in a tight battle with Henry Platoon. By 3 qtr time the gap had narrowed, but more importantly momentum had swung.

Hawks 7.5. (47)
Wolves 3.8. (26)

The last quarter saw the Wolves surge even more as the Hawks seemed to have come to a stop. Junior Albert was inspirational, running hard all quarter and goaling from the boundary in sensational fashion. Consecutive goals to James put the Wolves right in the game, but, Hawks skipper Freddy Una stepped up with effectively the sealer. However, almost undoing his good work, Una conceded a 15m penalty shortly after to put Eddie Wate within range. Wate’s goal brought it back to 3 points again but with only seconds remaining. The siren ended a memorable grand final with the Hawks just home.

Hawks 8.7. (55)
Wolves 7.10. (52)

SIAFL’s Eddie Burton wraps it up :

After being the best team all year the Hawks deserved to win and celebrated well. Hawks captain Freddy Una was voted ‘Best on Ground’, but there were many players the award could have gone to. It was a great way to end the first ever SIAFL club competition and everyone is looking forward to the competition growing next year. Francis Ramo received the ‘Player’s Player’ award for the year and Freddy Una, the ‘Leading Goalkicker’.

It should also be noted that the SIAFL has recently ‘promoted’ Job Vulita to the National Development Officer and Job will be continuing with the AFL school visits this term whilst Eddie Burton focuses on the cricket component of his role of AFL/Cricket Development Officer in the Solomons.