Gold Coast Football Club takes another step forward
Roar Guru By Michael C, 5 Sep 2009 Michael C is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- AFL, Dayne Beams, Gold Coast Football Club, Josh Thomas, TAC Cup
This weekend, the fledgling Gold Coast Football Club takes another stride forward as they contest their TAC Cup Under 18s Elimination final against the Northern Knights.
The squad thrown together has preformed promisingly. Who knows just how many will be drafted or at least rookie listed, not only by Gold Coast FC themselves, but by other clubs?
Already, Queensland local, Josh Thomas, has indicated that he wants to try his luck in the national draft – like Dayne Beams previously.
For the record, the squad includes (based on state of birth):
QLD 14, Vic 6, NSW 3, Tas 3, SA 3, PNG 2 and NZ 1.
For an elite under 18s AFL squad, this is a pretty interesting mix.
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- AFL, Dayne Beams, Gold Coast Football Club, Josh Thomas, TAC Cup
September 7th 2009 @ 11:22pm
bever fever said | September 7th 2009 @ 11:22pm | Report comment
I dont know if australian football was ever the dominant footy code overall in PNG, but it was certainly the dominant code in some parts of PNG, West New Britain was one such area.
PNG used to have teams in the old under 17 Teal cup up untill the early to mid 80s, but with PNG getting TV from Brisbane RL was a big winner.
I have played against a PNG side whilst in the Navy up in PNG and our ship got beat, i imagine that these games still go on.
Pretty exciting times for followers of international footy, we are getting some really good players coming through from PNG and AFL QLD seems to be doing a great job, Essendon just recently rookie listed one http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20090812091105174
September 8th 2009 @ 12:14am
westy said | September 8th 2009 @ 12:14am | Report comment
bever fever I have little problem with the facts quoted as to the current success of the AFL in PNG.i do have aproblem with a rewriting of history that is all. There are about 188000 in West New Britain less in the 70′s. Kimbe the regional capital has about 16000.
PNG has about 6 million people and from my visits there from the 70′s onwards rugby league was dominant before the exclusive broadcasts.
I saw as many rugby union games as Australian rules. The type of games in some areas were more dependent on expats . There was more local participation” in PNG” playing rugby league not in QLD but at home.
I am not trying to pick a fight nor am I querying your assertion about West New Britain but it does need to be put in the proper perspective of total population.
The future for Aussie Rules is good there is however no need to create apast that does not accord entirely with reality.
i was working on Australian aid projects all over PNG and the history put by some in the AFL never accorded with my observation of it ever being the major participatory sport.
The missionaries I worked with were mainly catholic brothers and sisters from NSW and QLD and were primarily skewed towards rugby league and rugby union and this was also reflected by the young boys they cared for . The Vic blokes i worked with were there for others and just went with the flow even if it was against the grain.
September 8th 2009 @ 12:43am
bever fever said | September 8th 2009 @ 12:43am | Report comment
Fair enough Westy…. have never lived up there so i will take your word for it.
My family (before i was born) lived up there on manus island in the early 60s and the code of choice was dependant on where the majority of servicemen came from (south or north OZ), which could change from year to year (postings)
September 8th 2009 @ 12:38pm
gazz said | September 8th 2009 @ 12:38pm | Report comment
the game in PNG?
September 8th 2009 @ 1:34pm
Michael C said | September 8th 2009 @ 1:34pm | Report comment
btw – back to the GCFC ,
the TAC side had a solid win on the weekend, and progress deeper into the finals.