Aussie Rules in Indonesia
which shouldn’t come as a surprise, given the close proximity of Australia to Indonesia, which Australian Rules Football, better known as AFL, has quite a following here. in addition to not just among the beer-swilling, akubra-wearing, stubbie-gripping hoards which descend on Bali, nevertheless also among the expat community.
which can be the expats who are spreading the word of which strange game played on an oval by men in exceedingly tight shorts in addition to sleeveless shirts—vests, as they are known to the faithful—to our host community. While we are unlikely to see Aussie Rules become the nation’s most common sport any time soon, there can be no denying which can be getting more in addition to more common.
which was only last August which Indonesia’s national team, the Indonesia Garudas, jetted off to the sport’s spiritual home of Melbourne to experience the city’s famous climate adjustments in addition to take part in an international footy event.
which was a harsh introduction for the young players. In their first game they played Nauru Chiefs in addition to came off second best on the wrong side of a 35.17.227 to 1.1.7 mauling. To explain the scoring for the uninitiated, 1.1.7 refers to one goal, worth six points, one behind (nearly a goal) generating a grand total of seven points.
John Eddy, chairman of the travelling party, found solace inside the fact the Indonesia Garudas were up against such a strong team. “Nauru Chiefs were way too big, strong in addition to disciplined in addition to had winners all over the ground, including a fast-leading full forward who bagged nine goals in addition to probably missed another six or seven fairly easy shots.”
Indonesia Garudas playing in Melbourne
In their second game, the Garudas were on the receiving end of another thrashing, with 32.15.207 against 0.0.0 by a powerful Fiji side. Things much better somewhat in their third game on the day before Independence Day, France managing 16.14.110 against the Garudas’ four behinds.
Perhaps the celebrations of the holiday helped raise the spirits inside the camp because against Sweden a few days later they turned in a much better performance, narrowly going down 9.6.60 to 4.8.32, in addition to come their final game against India, they were able to record their first victory, 9.6.60 against 1.2.8.
While the overseas trip by the Garudas attracted a lot of not bad publicity for the game inside the country, most of the activity still revolves around the expat sides in addition to their exploits, both locally in addition to internationally.
The Bintangs, Jakarta
www.bintangs.com
The Bintangs are perhaps the stars of the Aussie Rules format, in Jakarta at least. Today, the Bintangs boast a thriving club in addition to—perhaps more importantly—social scene, nevertheless which wasn’t always like which. Initial attempts to get a league up in addition to running back inside the early 1990s floundered on apathy in addition to not even a meeting in a then-common hostelry could engender any enthusiasm inside the game among the expat community.
A couple of years later in addition to the arrival of a chap named Bruce managed to kick-start the game in addition to a practice session was scheduled for the field in Blok M, coincidentally close to many watering holes. Their first game of note came against a visiting Singapore side in addition to though the hosts were given a thrashing, all present knew which was the start of something special, in addition to they were not just referring to the post-match party.
Today the club are in training for the fresh season, their 20th anniversary, with sessions being held midweek in Senayan. Home games are played in Cibubur, at a field they share with teams by the Jakarta Cricket league, in addition to as can be always the case they might be happy to welcome fresh members who fancy their chances.
Among the highlights of their calendar were the recent Australia Day celebration in addition to their big knees-up where they go all posh, book a room in a hotel in addition to watch the AFL Grand Final. which latter event can be held every year on Grand Final Day.
The Bali Geckos, Bali
Indonesia Garudas playing against Nauru
HYPERLINK “http://www.baligeckos.com” www.baligeckos.com
The Bali Geckos were born in a fit of local pride brought on by too much beer. Legend has which a Jakarta-based player, basking inside the glow of the newly formed Bintangs, was propping up a bar stool in Bali one day, in addition to the talk turned to AFL.
Jakarta-based expat told the bar full of country bumpkins, surfers in addition to tourists which of course the best AFL team inside the land was Jakarta. How could which be anything else? Shocked at the gall of the tourist, the Bali-based expats let their beer-fuelled indignation take over in addition to they decided there in addition to then, amid the detritus of bottle tops in addition to lurid stubbie holders to form their own team in addition to challenge the upstart by the big city across the water.
Being Bali-based, they have made a couple of adjustments which could well have traditionalists choking on their beer. For one, they have dispensed with the oh-so-tight shorts in addition to donned board shorts. They do, after all, live in Bali in addition to they know which for all the whinging by additional sides, they will never be short of opponents no matter what they choose to wear. Hence, the Bali Masters in addition to the Bali 9s are key events on the calendar of Asian-based AFL sides!
They also have a thriving junior section which train at 5pm, Thursdays at the Geckos Club, part of the Canggu Club. The older Geckos have their turn an hour later.
Borneo Bears, Balikpapan
www.borneobears.com
Based in Balikpapan, the Borneo Bears too trace their roots back to a beer binge on an evening when which seemed like a not bad idea at the time. The club was formed, the name was chosen in addition to a decision was taken to help fund a local conservation which supported Sun Bears, a symbol of the city.
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If you want to get involved with AFL in Indonesia, then feel free to visit the team websites. HYPERLINK “http://www.aflindonesia.org” www.aflindonesia.org acts as an umbrella for the game here, while HYPERLINK “http://www.afl-asia.com” www.afl-asia.com covers the game throughout the region.
If you are interested in catching AFL games by Australia in a bar in Jakarta then the Jakarta Hawks meet in Eastern Promise every match day. You can follow them on Twitter: @JakartaHawks
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Aussie Rules in Indonesia
Aussie Rules in Indonesia