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AUSSIE
RULES SPAWNS TREND BUCKING SAMOAN FIATUPU |
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By Tuifa’asisina Peter Rees |
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When we think of Samoans
excelling in sports we often think rugby, boxing, league or even
netball. But Aussie Rules? Well, not exactly. But there is one Samoan
bucking the trend that not only plays Australia’s national game, but is
a highly rated award winning player.
Fiatupu To’oto’o is not a household name in the mould of David Tua or
Tana Umaga, but in Melbourne where he lives, he can lay claim to being
one of the stars of the Southern Football League, which is one of the
strongest competitions in the Melbourne city area.
For the uninitiated, Melbourne is the stronghold of Australian Rules
Football, more commonly known as ‘Aussie Rules’. In a recent national
survey done this year, Aussie Rules was voted the most popular team
sport in Australia ahead of rugby union and league.
If the 24 year-old Fia continues to improve his game, he could find
himself playing in the AFL (Australian Football League) – the top
professional competition which has some of the most highly paid
sportspeople in Australian sport.
“Playing in the AFL is every kids dream here in Melbourne including me,
so if the opportunity comes up I would definitely take it,” he told
Event Polynesia. But how did Fia get involved in a sport not usually
embraced by the Samoan community?
“My first involvement with Aussie Rules was in 1996 as a volunteer
boundary umpire for my brother’s (Anthony) Under 16’s team. I started
playing Aussie Rules in 1998 with North Dandenong Junior Football Club
(Under 18s) and I have been playing ever since,” remarked Fia.
“Samoans are suited to Aussie Rules because of their love of contact
sports and physical approach to the game and their natural size and
speed.”
Aussie Rules is not entirely new to Samoans. In fact the game is played
at an organised level in Samoa. The Samoa Australian Rules Football
Association (SARFA) has been around since 1998, set up by ex-pat
Australians and a few keen locals. An annual schools and club
league is run in Apia and in August, the national team Samoa Bulldogs
will take part at the International Cup in Melbourne. |
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Fia receives the top award for Umpires choice for Best Player of
2004 in division three at the Southern Football League (SFL)
awards presentation in 2004.
(Photo: Peter Rees) |
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Fia, at the far right during the singing of national anthems,
makes his international debut for the Samoa Bulldogs at the 2002
International Cup held in Melbourne. (Photo: Peter Rees) |
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Playing Aussie Rules runs in the family: Fia (left) plays at the
same club as his brother Anthony (middle left) and cousins Chris
(middle right) and Gerard (right). (Photo: Peter Rees) |
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Fia will be part of the team having been a member of the national team
which took part in the inaugural Cup in 2002. Fia was named the Most
Valuable Player of the 2002 International Cup from all the
international teams that took part. He was hot property afterwards and
scouted by several top clubs. He now plays for the Moorabbin Kangaroos.
Fia has also delved in rugby union and this year while playing in a
sevens tournament organised by the local Samoan community, he caught
the attention of rugby union scouts. They were amazed at his
athleticism and combination of size and agility, honed by playing
Aussie Rules where the field of play is much bigger than rugby and
requires a high level of speed and fitness. Not long later, he was
invited by Manu Samoa coach La’auli Michael Jones to attend the Manu
Samoa trials in May.
“They were impressed with the way I played and before I knew it they
signed me up with the Manu Samoa Elite Squad here in Melbourne in
April,” Fia recollected.
After passing a fitness test and playing a full game of rugby in front
of the selectors, he was flown to Auckland for the main trials. Though
he did not make the final squad, he was encouraged to develop his game
as he had the raw attributes to be a great flanker – this coming from
the legendary La’auli himself.
“Michael Jones is an icon of Rugby, and it was an honour for me to meet
him and learn from him. After the first trials, Michael introduced me
to the other players. He said: “Fia is an awesome athlete. He is one of
the brothers, so we are going to nurture and look after him, and teach
him”. His advice was, “I have the ability. I just need to play more
games of rugby to get experience”.
But for the moment, Aussie Rules is his preferred sport and he hopes to
help Samoa improve its world ranking in August.
Fia was born in Samoan and hails from Fasitoo-tai on Upolu.
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Copyright Event Polynesia Ltd.
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