World Footy News

It was a slightly dewy morning, even under the bright sun lacking on most days of this festival of footy, when the Finnish Icebreakers and the Japanese Samurai took the field on Ransford Oval at an early 9 am on Friday.

While both teams had struggled against either bigger teams (the Japanese) or more experienced teams (the Finns), it would be a morning of stormy weather for the players from Turku, Salo, Vaasa, and Helsinki. After several matches they had lost some players to injury, others (exchange students and local Finns) to exams, and were soon playing with 17 men – their vacant interchange bench contrasted with the to and fro of the Japanese team.

The first quarter produced some of the best football of the tournament, from the Japanese team. The Japanese combination of sure ball handling, confident marking, sharp passing, chains of handball, switching play, run on football and the metres gained was copybook stuff. It was only qualified by indifferent kicking for goal. Both offline shots and kicks falling one to two metres short.
 

With the early afternoon sun at McAlister oval nudging the temperature around and over 20C – the Canadian Northwind lined up ready to face the Tongan Storm in the 5th v 6th battle to decide the Division 1 premier. With a negligible breeze from the south aiding the Tongans it was the Northwind that looked sharpest from the outset.

 

At just 165 centimetres in height, Amina Humi might go close to one of the smallest full backs going around. Hard to image her up against modern day giants like Daniher (201cm), Tippett (202cm) or even Cloke (196cm). But in her own field, harassing opposition full forwards, she is a Tongan giant.

Our interview took a different direction. As a Hawthorn supporter, she still lists her footy idol as Lance Franklin. Amina says that her career highlight to date has been this current International Cup.

At just 21 years of age, Amina, who plays for the Nukalofa team back in Tonga, should look forward to a long career representing her country.

The USA Revolution has had a good run so far in the International Cup. On a win/loss ratio, their 3 wins from four starts has been a solid return. Jeff Talmadge is a part of the squad, and has shared some of his insights with us.

“I started playing footy in April 2013 so close to a year and a half. It’s been quite an adventure in such a short period of time. I was encouraged to come and check out the club in my home town, Austin, Texas, by an Aussie friend of mine from Adelaide. After my first game, I was absolutely hooked.”

 

Meet the players - Luke Matias (Great Britain).

Meet the players - Sam Pitman (Great Britain).

Meet the players - Steven Maguire (Great Britain).

Steven has been featured with the Round 2 goal of the day - somewhat ironically as a likely simple goal suddenly made more difficult.

Meet the players - Josese Natadra (Fiji).

Meet the players - Laure Kwoka (USA (Liberty)).

Laure kicked the USA Liberty's first goal of the tournament on Saturday afternoon against the Irish Banshees at Plenty in outer northern Melbourne. Marking in front within the last minute of play - she went back and slotted the goal despite half a dozen opponents trying to put her off.