The Abu Dhabi Falcons compete in the Middle East AFL competition that runs each year from October to March with teams based in Dubai, Muscat, Bahrain, Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
All Players are welcome to come along to training on Tuesday evenings from 6.45pm at Zayed Sports City. For more information please call Steve Watson on 056 1092346 or email steve@abudhabifalcons.com
The Abu Dhabi Falcons will play their next home game against the Muscat Magpies on Friday February 10 at 11am. Zayed Sports City Football pitch 1.
Aus Kick for children here in Abu Dhabi is Friday mornings 9am at Zayed Sports City, Football Pitch 1, contact Michael for more details auskick.abudhabi@gmail.com
For all the latest news on Football in the Middle East go to http://www.afl-me.com/index.html
With 2 rounds left of the home and away games, last year's premiers Abu Dhabi will need to win their last game by a huge margin and count Doha not dropping a game if they are to feature in this years Grand Final come March 2.
The Abu Dhabi Falcons won their first-ever Middle East AFL premiership by 13 points after a tough encounter with the Doha Kangaroos in an absorbing grand final played at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi on March 25.
The Falcons culminated a fine season by going through unbeaten but by no means had it all their own way over the tenacious Qatar outfit in the decider.
Abu Dhabi’s superior fitness and depth proved too much for the spirited Kangaroos in the final stages after a titanic struggle for supremacy that kept the crowd of over 400 enthralled throughout.
The Kangaroos made a blistering start in the first quarter and shocked the Falcons by booting the first 3 goals of the game – their attack on the ball was ferocious and they placed enormous pressure on the Abu Dhabi ball carriers. The Falcons kicked a couple of late goals in the quarter to be within 7 points at quarter-time.
The second term was goal-for-goal as each team moved the ball swiftly from end-to-end. Abu Dhabi’s highly-rated mid-fielders, Adam Trezsinski and Stuart Brohoaska, got into the game to drive the Falcons into attack where they posted 5 goals to Doha’s four majors to be a point in front at half-time.
It was much tighter in the third term as first one team then the other took control – it was the proverbial arm-wrestle – then in a stunning individual effort Doha’s Ben Simpson took on all-comers to boot a morale-lifting goal that put the Kangaroos in front at lemon-time by 3 points.
Doha kicked the first two goals of the final quarter and looked to have established a winning lead with the brilliant Ben Simpson dominate and his side-kick Joe Barnes taking marks all around the ground. Then, as the Kangaroos began to tire and injuries took their toll the move of Falcons’ skipper Dan Brooke to full-forward paid dividends.
It was a match-winning move; Brooke proved to be a major target up forward and his leading and marking led to 3 individual goals and a hand in one other as the Falcons stormed home to eclipse a gallant and brave opponent in an exciting finale.
The grand final culminated another great season of Australian football in the Middle East. The clash for third place in this year’s competition was won by the Muscat Magpies who beat the Dubai Dingoes by 26 points in an entertaining curtain-raiser.
Prior to the senior grand final Abu Dhabi Auskick held a kids v parents match which was thoroughly enjoyed by all involved.
Australian Ambassador His Excellency Doug Trappett was on hand to present the premiership cup to Abu Dhabi captain-coach Dan Brooke while in a new innovation the medals for each of the premiership players was presented an Auskicker.
Field umpire Steve Prien also received a medal to acknowledge his umpiring of the grand final.
1980 Brownlow medalist Kelvin Templeton presented the medal for best-on-ground to fleet-footed Abu Dhabi mid-fielder Stuart Brohoaski, who was also voted competition best and fairest this season.
The competition’s MVP award (based on the votes of the opposition clubs) went to Muscat stalwart Chris Holmes while the league’s leading goalkicking award went to Jess McGuirk from the Dubai Dingoes.
“It (the grand final) marked the end of another successful season of AFL in the Middle East” said Middle East AFL Operations Manager, Phil Temple, “ The match was a fitting of a grand final and congratulations to both teams on the manner in which they played the game”, he added.
“We are also greatly appreciate the tremendous support of our sponsors. Many thanks to Aussie Property.com, VB, and Rider Levett Bucknall for their continuing support of AFL in the region”, said Temple.
Final scores:
Abu Dhabi 3.3.21 8.8.56 10.12.72 15.14.104
Doha 4.4.28 8.7.55 11.9.75 13.13.91
Goal kickers:
Abu Dhabi: M. Wood 3, D. Brooke 3, S.Brohoaska 3, A. Trezsinski 3, A. Dustings, M. Molnar, M.Day
Doha: B. Simpson 5, B. Humphrey 2, J. Goldsack 2, A. Jay 2, R. Mitchell , D. Tilley
Best players:
Abu Dhabi: A. Trezsinski, J. Parmansche, S.Brohoaska
Doha: B. Simpson, J. Barnes, J. Goldsack
Umpire: S.Prien
Crowd: 400 (estimated)
Played at Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi on Friday 25 March 2011
