Above: Spartans goalkeeper Chris Bojarski eyes proceedings at Springers Leisure Centre.By Paul Pickering
SPRINGERS Leisure Centre became the showcase venue for one of the world’s fastest-growing indoor sports over the weekend.
The Keysborough stadium hosted the Australian Floorball Open from 10-13 July, as athletes from across the country displayed their unique skills in front of a gathering of curious spectators.
Often described as ice hockey without the ice, floorball originated in Scandinavia and has only just begun to gain a foothold in Australia.
While it shares many of its rules with ice hockey, the six-a-side sport is played with a light plastic ball.
And, according to the Australian Floorball Association, it is now the most-watched sport on television in Sweden, where it ranks second behind soccer for participation.
During the four-day tournament, four Victorian teams played clubs from New South Wales, Tasmania, Western Australia and Singapore.
In the men’s division, the Springers-based Spartans FC had a nerve-racking run to the grand final, only to be beaten 5-4 by the Northern Beaches Stingrays (NSW).
In the four-team women’s competition, Singapore visitors NTUC FC successfully defended their title from last year, beating the WA Emus 3-2 in Sunday’s final.
The other local teams, Vikings FC – men and women – and the Pakenham Squishies found the going tough against stiff opposition.
For Australian Floorball Association president Barb Summers, the event was a resounding success.
“The players really seemed to enjoy themselves and the tournament went really well,” she said.
“To have teams come from all over Australia – and Singapore – is great for the sport.”
Victorian Floorball Association president Mark Benfield, who played for the Spartans, said the standard of competition was outstanding.
“It was probably the closest it’s ever been,” he said. “The fact that every quarter-final was decided by a single goal showed that there were no weak teams this year.”
Both spokespeople were keen to thank the City of Greater Dandenong for its support in funding the newly laid second court at Springers.
The centre hosts weekly competition as part of the Melbourne Floorball League, and several local players are expected to be named in the Victorian senior and under 19 teams for next month’s Asia Pacific Championships in Perth.
For more information on floorball, visit www.vicfloorball.org.
