Mature boots set to take on Ireland

By Paul Pickering
AUSTRALIA’S best-preserved footballers will pull on the boots again in Keysborough next weekend for a crack at Ireland’s finest in the international rules Wombat Tour.
Former AFL/VFL stars Gavin Wanganeen, Paul Hudson, Ronnie Burns, Shaun Smith, Richard Champion, Adrian Fletcher, Paul Dimattina and Andy Lovell will all be in action for the Aussies in the second match of the series at Keysborough’s Gaelic Park Sports Complex on Saturday, 1 November.
Since its inception in 2002, the series has pitted Australia’s over-35 stars against the legends of Gaelic football from across the pond.
The first game of this year’s tour will be played in Coolangatta this Sunday (26 October).
The remainder of the Australian players have been recruited from the Masters Australian Football competitions around the country and will be divided into ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams – with the second unit comprising mainly over-40s.
Hudson has taken over the playing-coach duties from ex-Hawthorn champ John Platten and is hoping to orchestrate a historic victory.
“We haven’t beaten them yet,” Hudson said this week.
“The game does swing the Irish way because of the style of play and the shape of the ball, but we’ve got quite a talented group this year and we’re pretty determined to beat them this time.”
The Wombat Tour has never been marred by the violence of the frontline international rules series, but it’s no exhibition match either.
“There’s definitely a bit of white-line fever once we get out there, but it’s played in the right spirit because we all want to be having a drink with the Irish guys five minutes after the game,” he laughed. Hudson has also effected a recruiting coup in securing the services of his father, Hawks goal-kicking legend Peter, to coach the B side.
The action starts at 3pm next Saturday (1 November) with the B’s game, before the top sides do battle from 5pm.
The Gaelic Park Sports Complex is on Perry Road, next to Jim Harkin Reserve.