“The skill level was much better than what I was expecting and the Lions ability to use the ball in the wet was terrific. They weighted their kicks well giving their team-mates every opportunity to mark the ball downfield under difficult conditions”. Michael O'Loughlin, Flying Boomerangs Coach

In the first of two International Australian Football games (AFL), played at South Africa’s very own ‘MCG’ – the Mohadin Cricket Ground in Potchefstroom, the AFL’s Indigenous Youth team - the Flying Boomerangs, overcame a gallant South African Lions Inland team to win by 10 points.

After a week of seasonal rain in the area the new development ground at Mohadin township was very wet underfoot making life difficult for both teams however it was the local Lions who handled the slippery conditions better early in the game.

Former Sydney Swans AFL legend Michael O’Loughlin and fellow Boomerangs coach Chris Johnson (ex Brisbane Lions Premiership player) rallied their troops in the second quarter to kick 5 goals on the burst, going in at half-time with a narrow lead.

The second half saw the lead change several times before the Boomerangs steadied to eventually scrape home by 10 points in a thrilling finish.

A veteran of 303 AFL games for the Swans, Michael O’Loughlin was impressed by what he saw from the home team.

“The skill level was much better than what I was expecting and the Lions ability to use the ball in the wet was terrific. They weighted their kicks well giving their team-mates every opportunity to mark the ball downfield under difficult conditions”, said O’Loughlin during his first trip to South Africa.

Brisbane Lions Premiership player Chris Johnson was just as impressed, “I’ve no doubt that a South African will be playing at an AFL Club within the next 5 years,” he said.

For the Flying Boomerangs it was an awesome experience to be playing their native game in a foreign country.

Youngsters Jack Martin, Elijah Edwards and Chris Warrell were influential for the Boomerangs whilst for the Lions key forward Steven Matshane (Maplanka) was presented with plenty of opportunity from defenders Mazizi Sifanelo and Thabiso Phakedi to finish up with 4 goals.

The Boomerangs now spend a day on the hunt for a different type of lion at Pilansberg National Park
in the country’s North West Province, before venturing to Cape Town for game 2 against the SA Lions 

Coastal Squad in Nyanga township this Sunday.

Game 1 Results:

Flying Boomerangs 9.13.67 def South African Lions Inland Squad 8.9.57

Best Players: Flying Boomerangs – Jack Martin, Elijah Edwards, Chris Warrell, Terrence Curley, Lonnie Hampton

SA Lions Inland – Steven Matshane, Mazizi Sifanelo, Thabiso Phakedi, Benjamin Motuba, Samuel Sethibe