TRENT SLATTER | THE CHRONICLE | 8 AUGUST 2013
FRENCH exchange student Leopold Khalfi says he doesn't much care for Vegemite.
But there is another great Australian icon which has captured his imagination.
The 15-year-old has a new favourite sport after pulling on the navy blue guernsey of Coolaroo for his first game of Australian football.
Khalfi calls Paris home but he has spent the past seven weeks experiencing all that Toowoomba has to offer.
He has been staying with the Creevey family and tagged along to footy training with host brother Daniel which soon led to him playing his first game.
Affectionately known as "the frog" among his teammates, Kahlfi admitted he wasn't sure of the rules at first but everyone was happy to help him out.
"I've played two games and I found it fantastic," he said.
"The first one, I was a little bit lost, but the second one was pretty good.
"They like having me on the team so that's cool. It was fun and we won the two games.
"The trainer looks really happy to have me on the team. He said it's really cool to help me discover Aussie rules."
Khalfi said he'd heard a little bit about the sport before coming to Australia but it wasn't what he expected.
"They said it's like the rugby but actually it's not at all like the rugby," he said.
"I played tennis and squash and a little bit of swimming (in France) but the Aussie rules is really different.
"I went to the training with Daniel and I also went to the Gabba and saw a professional game there.
"I found the sport really interesting. It's not like the rugby or like football but it's a very good game."
Khalfi hoped to play at least two more games with Coolaroo before he returns home but he conceded that might be his Aussie rules swansong.
"I actually tried to find some clubs in France," he said.
"There are a couple of them but it's only for adults.
"I was thinking maybe I could play in France but there are no clubs for teenagers."
Last Modified on 23/08/2013 11:52
