IT was a big week for junior football in the state with the AFL NSW/ACT holding the IEC Cup, while the Allies took it up to a title contender in the National Under 18 Championships and there were mixed results in the North Eastern Australian Football League (NEAFL).

IEC Cup

The 2018 Intensive English Centres (IEC) Cup was held last week with more than 250 students taking to the field at Blacktown in western Sydney. The cup is an AFL 9s round-robin tournament which follows on from a four to six week, AFL NSW/ACT ‘Introduction to AFL’ course, held at each centre. The main aim of the program is to test out the Australian Rules skills learned during the course, while doing so in a social and friendly environment.

AFL NSW/ACT Multicultural Programs Manager, Nickie Flambouras told the AFL NSW/ACT website that it is always a thrill to offer the program to students.

“Being able to deliver quality programs and provide quality experiences to new and emerging migrants who come to Australia is a great pleasure for our business,” Flambouras said. “The more players of diverse backgrounds who can partake in our sport, the better our sport will be for it. “Our sport prides itself of giving people opportunities to learn our game and/or become fans of the AFL. Our focus is on promoting the benefits of regular exercise and using sports to help people connect with their local community.”

The close competition made for compelling action, with each of the three grand finals decided by less than two goals. Miller IEC was triumphant in the Senior Boys Grand Final, defeating Holroyd IEC by 10 points, while Bankstown IEC defeated Miller IEC by a goal in the Senior Girls Grand Final, and Lurnea IEC got the chocolates against Evans IEC in the Junior Boys Grand Final by 11 points.

Andrew Elchah, an IEC teacher at Bankstown Senior College said that the IEC Cup provided his students with an opportunity to interact with other students from different areas, something they might not otherwise have been able to do without the program.

“The students are apprehensive at first about trying a new game but after the ball bounces the competitive nature of all the students comes out and they all have a lot of fun,” he said. “Personally, I love seeing the students at school the day after. Sometimes they are carrying injuries or have a little limp, but once some of the staff and students start congratulating them, their smiles go from ear to ear and they walk around with a well-earned strut.”

Elchah said the flow-on effects for the game in NSW/ACT were profound with students signing up to play the sport locally.

“We have participated in the IEC Cup for the last four years, and will continue to do so as long as we are invited,” Elchah said.

If you would like to learn more about AFL NSW/ACT Multicultural Programs, please contact Nickie Flambouras at nickie.flambouras@afl.com.au.

Keep up-to-date with all AFL NSW/ACT related news by following us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. 

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Allies go down in unlucky defeat

The Allies took it right up to one of the National Under 18 Championships title contenders in Vic Metro last weekend, narrowly going down by two points. Despite leading at the final change by a goal, a late Ben King major to Vic Metro saw them snatch the lead in the dying minutes, the only goal of the final quarter. The Allies were held goalless in two quarters, booting 0.12 up one end and 6.2 up the other, but it was the second term which yielded nine scoring shots, all of which were behinds that will have the home side disappointed not to walk away with the win.

The Allies would be disappointed with the loss, but also buoyed by their ability to match it with one of the title contenders for four quarters, and indeed, might have won with greater accuracy in the second term. Key position defender Jacob Koschitzke was sensational on potential number on pick King, holding him goalless up until the final few minutes. Midfielder Fraser Turner was named the home side’s best, racking up a team-high 25 disposals, nine marks, three inside 50s and four rebounds. Bailey Scott and bottom-ager Mitch O’Neill shared 19 disposals each, and combined for 11 marks and eight clearances. Top talent Tarryn Thomas had 18 disposals, five marks, six tackles, five inside 50s and four rebounds in an improved performance from the first week, while other potential top 10 pick Nick Blakey was better for the run with seven disposals, three marks, four inside 50s and a goal roaming up the ground at times.

Keidean Coleman provided run and carry out of defence, racking up 14 disposals, four marks, three tackles and six rebounds for the losers, while Nick Baker had 11 disposals, three marks and two rebounds. Murray Bushrangers’ mid/forward Mathew Walker was named in the best in his first game in the series for the Allies, booting a goal and notching up 10 disposals, six marks and laying six tackles. Potential top 30 pick Chayce Jones was again solid, racking up 17 disposals, three marks, eight tackles and three inside 50s, while key defender Dirk Koenen played his best game for the Allies, with 17 disposals, five marks and four rebounds.

The Allies will lick their wounds and have a week off before the big week in Melbourne for their final two clashes against South Australia and Western Australia. 

VIC METRO     3.4       5.5       6.5       7.10 (52)
ALLIES             3.1       3.10     6.11     6.14 (50)

GOALS:
Vic Metro: Williams 4, Butters, Taylor, King
Allies: T.Green 2, McFadyen, Blakey, Walker, O’Neill

BEST:
Vic Metro: Smith, West, Butters, Answerth, Khamis, Williams
Allies: Turner, Koschitzke, Scott, Coleman, Walker, Baker

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NEAFL Results:

Sydney University 11.9 (75) defeated by Aspley 13.10 (88)

Sydney University has sunk to its third straight defeat on the weekend, going down to Aspley by 13 points. Holding a narrow two-point lead at quarter time and 12-point lead at the main break, the home side looked good to bounce back from consecutive losses. But a five goals to three third term, and seven goals to four second half resulted in the top-of-the-table side dropping down to second after the loss to the Hornets. Ryan Hebron racked up 30 disposals and 14 marks to be Sydney University’s best player, while Craig Bird had 30 disposals, two marks and six tackles to be prominent in the midfield. Jacob Derickx was the key goal kicker with three, as the goals were shared around to see nine individual goal kickers, but it was not enough to get the win.

Canberra Demons 17.12 (114) defeated NT Thunder 6.13 (49)

Goal Kickers: J. Turner 4, L. Meline 2, I. Taylor 2, S. Tonkes, A. Bruce, J. Powell, A. Smout, T. Faul, B. Fulford, M. Hardie, N. Richards, J. Osborne.
Best Players: A. Paech, I. Taylor, T. Highmore, J. Turner, A. Smout, A. Baker

It was better news for Canberra Demons, who are now just four points from top spot, sitting in fourth after a handy percentage-boosting win over Northern Territory Thunder. Canberra held its opponents goalless in the opening term and by the final break, the Demons had piled on 13 goals from 21 scoring shots to just two goals from 11 scoring shots and hold a 65-point lead. Both teams booted 4.4 in the final term to keep the final margin at 65, with Canberra walking away with the four points. Alex Smout recorded 32 disposals, nine marks and booted a goal, while Jacob Turner was instrumental down forward, slotting four majors. Thomas Highmore (22 disposals and 10 marks) and Alex Paech‘s defensive work, were also among the best.

Sydney Swans 15.17 (107) defeated Gold Coast Suns 6.4 (40)

Goal Kickers: D. Cameron 3, J. Rose 3, D. Towers 2, J. Stern 2, J. Dawson, B. Stewart, M. Rogers, R. Stoddart, S. Wicks
Best Players: D. Cameron, N. Newman, J. Rose, D. Robinson, C. O’Riordan, R. Fox.

Sydney Swans proved far too good for Gold Coast Suns in their clash, storming to a 67-point win courtesy of a massive third term. Leading by just three points at quarter time and 19 points at the main break, Sydney came out all guns-blazing in the third quarter, piling on six goals to zero to effectively end the contest with a 58-point lead at the final break. The Swans then extended that by a further nine points with a three goals to two final stanza. Darcy Cameron continues to bang down the AFL selectors door with a 26-disposal, 12-mark and three-goal game, while Daniel Robinson had leather poisoning with 37 touches, seven marks and four tackles. Nic Newman‘s good form continued with 31 disposals, six marks and three tackles, while Colin O’Riordan was also impressive with 33 disposals and nine marks. James Rose booted three goals, while teenager Josh Stern impressed with 18 disposals, seven marks and two goals.