Damian Balassone has come up with an Asia-Pacific team to be reckoned with. Do you agree with his selections?
B: James Gwilt (PNG), Mal Michael (PNG), Alipate Carlile (Fiji)
HB: Dannie Seow (Singapore), Paul Bower (Maori), Karmichael Hunt (Samoa/Cook Islands)
C: Dustin Martin (Maori), Brian Peake (Maori), Wayne Schwass (Maori)
HF: Paul Medhurst (Malaysia), Setanta Ó hAilpín (Fiji), Andrew Embley (Burma)
F: David Rodan (Fiji/Tonga), Aaron Edwards (Samoa), Mathew Stokes (Philippines)
R: Nic Naitanui (Fiji), Daniel Kerr (India), Peter Bell (Korea)
IC (from): Trent Dennis-Lane (Burma), Wally Koochew (China), George Tansing (China), Enrico Misso (Sri Lanka), Craig Jacotine (Sri Lanka), David Gallagher (Sri Lanka), Jordan McMahon (India), Clancee Pearce (India), Alex Silvagni (India), Sudjai Cook (Thailand), Donald Dickie (Maori), Daniel McAlister (Maori), Danny Dickfos (Maori), Brett Peake (Maori), Israel Folau (Tonga), Lin Jong (Taiwan/East Timor)
Note: Asia-Pacific is the part of the world in or near the Western Pacific Ocean. Its definition can vary but for this exercise I am including East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Oceania, and excluding Russia and the Americas. The criteria I have used is i) the player has played at least one VFL/AFL game, and ii) the player was either born in one of the countries that make up the Asia-Pacific region, or has a parent or grandparent, who was born in the region. (Obviously, the one country I am excluding from the Asia-Pacific region is Australia).
I have stacked the interchange bench to gain as many inclusions as possible. Brian Peake is the obvious choice for captain. Lin Jong is the latest addition to the extended bench. Comments welcome. Are there any glaring omissions?
About Damian Balassone
Damian Balassone’s poems have appeared in a variety of Australian and international publications. However, he is first and foremost a delusional Collingwood supporter.
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I think you can have Megan Washington (PNG) perform pre-game. And at half-time. And post-match. And she can write and perform the theme song.
Fatui Ataata was very stiff. If he’d played a senior game he’d be a cert!
Very impressive memory Phil. I actually contemplated changing the criteria to try and get Fatui in. I think he played an Escort Cup game in 83-84 and was on the cusp of selection for a while. I know this because growing up my best mate Ben Naitoko (later a star for the Mitcham Footy Club & now a well known Pastor) was Tongan and knew Fatui and thus always talked him up. I always used to look out for Fatui in the Reserves.
Re Megan Washington, no argument from me Andrew.
Fascinating exercise. A side with loads of skill and flair, and a few hard nuts as well. Plenty of all-Australians, best & fairests & premierships in there. Also Norm Smith & Sandover medals. Look at that centreline! – I think the Maori contribution to Aussie Rules has been underrated. The only other dude I can think of is Trent Croad for CHB – wasn’t he a Kiwi?
He’s only played a handful of games, but pretty sure Marley Williams from Collingwood has Maori heritage.
Former WAFL player Les Fong deserves a mention, widely regarded as the greatest Chinese player of all time – could have easily slotted into a VFL team.
I think you left one player out… Not sure if you have heard of a player called Ben Naitoko, but he lives in Goodna (Brisbane, QLD). He plays as a small forward and is amazing. He runs like Gary Ablett, kicks lick buddy franklin, and is an up and coming star in local leagues. He comes from Tongan descent so I am sure he would be a great addition to your team.
thanks
Mike
Marley Williams is of Maori descent and has the Tatt to prove it. He is going to be a very good player in the next few years. I am pretty sure that he is the youngest player to play in Collingwood firsts for years.
What’s the difference between a Maori Tatt and a Collingwood Tatt Dave?
Thanks Dave, I will have to add Marley Williams to the extended bench. I thought he acquitted himself very well in the 6 games he played this season, particularly on his debut at Football Park in a tight contest.
Mike, I know Ben Naitoko well, having been his vice-captain and first rover for many years at Donvale Christian College (he was a ruckman too back in those days). I also ran second to him at every Athletics carnival event (I know how Yohan Blake feels). My only criticism of Ben is that he could have handballed to me a bit more.