It may resemble loosely-organized anarchy, but Australian rules football unites the best elements of mainstream North American sports, says a coach from Down Under.
So, the game is a natural fit for a trio of local lads who grew up playing more familiar pursuits, according to Aussie Ben Roberts, an assistant coach with Canada’s national team, the Northwind.
And now, Waterloo’s Alex Filipowicz and Zack MacDonald, along with Cambridge’s Adam Millen, are destined for the game’s birthplace.
The threesome will represent Canada at the International Cup, or world championship, in Sydney and Melbourne this August.
“All the guys on our team come from soccer, basketball, hockey, rugby or football backgrounds,” says Roberts, a Waterloo resident.
The three also play for a club team, the Guelph Gargoyles, where Roberts is a player/coach.
Australia’s national sport is perhaps best familiar to Canadians with insomnia as the game frequently merits TSN’s 2:30 a.m. to 5 a.m. time slot.
Often mistaken for rugby, Aussie rules football is played on a cricket oval and features skills like running, tackling, kicking, leaping catches and bouncing the ball.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE
All credit for this article goes to:
Website: www.therecord.com
Author: crivet@therecord.com