| Japan Australian Football Association - Samurai Match Report |
| - by Matthew Quinn |
Some of you may be aware that last year Melbourne hosted an international tournament of Australian Rules Football. Perhaps surprisingly, Japan fielded a team comprising the Tokyo Goannas FC bolstered by Australian resident Japanese. | Matt & I journeyed to Oakleigh to watch the Goannas take on one of the tournament powerhouses, Papua New Guinea (who went on to lose to New Zealand in the tournament final.) After the match, we caught up with a couple of the Japanese players. |
Tension filled the air as the young Samurais went into their mental warm-up prior to battle with competition heavyweights Papua New Guinea (PNG). This was the match the Samurais had been waiting for. A chance to pit their speed and enthusiasm against the brute strength and raw skill of the PNG Mosquito might. More than that, it was an opportunity to send shock waves through the competition, to let the other teams know that Japan had arrived ans that Japan meant business. Could this be the day of the biggest upset in International AFL history? The stage was set for an epic encounter.
As players went through their warm up, hardly a word was spoken. But there need not be any speaking. The steely looks on each players face as they glanced across the room to one another and smacked one another on the back said enough. Each knew his duty.
Then, all of a sudden, each player went into a somewhat state of rage as they feverously hand passed the ball back and forth in a circle, demanding ownership of what they refer to as "the pill". Surely there was something else to this madness. And there was. Each player was trying to impress one of the super coaches of the game who made his presence felt in the corner of the room. It was the great Mr. Alan "Yabbie" Jeans.
The native Australian coach addressed the team while having his directions translated through his Japanese assistant coach. Unfortunately, the full message was not getting through and may well have proven the teamsf downfall later in the game. When the coach said "each player will get a run today", he was translated into Japanese with "yoku hashite ne". Perhaps their fate was decided before they ran out on the field.
The young warriors formed a tight group one more time before crossing "the white line". Upon entering the arena, they were greeted by their ominous PNG opponents. Both teams then lined upon in front of one another for the playing of the respective national anthems for a shop of national pride. With one more show of camaraderie, the players moved to their respective positions for the start of the game.
