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As Deborah Conway once crooned, “It’s only the beginning.” Who knows how far this story will go by the time it’s complete. The 2010 AFL Under 16 national championships is underway, having fired up in Blacktown across the weekend.
This year’s event is a bit different to the past. It’s got an unmistakable international flavour. The World XVIII and the South Pacific sides are having a crack at it.
The South Pacific side is drawn together from PNG, NZ, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Samoa and Nauru.
The World team includes players from Canada, RSA, a single Dane, Ireland, China, Argentina amongst others plus some more recent arrivals in Australia representing Sudan, Lebanon, Iraq, Uganda and Kenya.
In their first match – charitably against each other on the weekend – the Pacific side fought hard to finally break away in the last quarter winning 7.12.54 to 3.4.22. Note, also in round 1, Qld knocked over NSW/ACT by 70 pts.
On Wednesday, the World team had a reality check, getting clobbered by Tasmania 15.18.108 to 3.1.19.
However, interestingly, the South Pacific lads put up a more than respectable effort against Queensland, going down 6.6.42 to 7.15.57. This result alone indicates there’s something here to work with.
This is only the beginning.
Interesting also that Peni Mahini and Simote Taunga, two young players from Tonga in the South Pacific team, are cousins of Issy Folau.
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