HAVING been involved in football for more than two decades Michael O’Loughlin has faced plenty of big challenges.
And next month the Sydney Swans' legend is fronting up for another one when he takes charge of the World XVIII at the NAB AFL Under-16 Championships, which will be played at Blacktown in Western Sydney from July 3-10.
O’Loughlin’s team will be made up of youngsters from a range of nations including Lebanon, Canada, China, South Africa and Sudan along with a number of local footballers from multicultural backgrounds.
“I’ve been doing a lot of coaching with the AFL and this will certainly be one of the highlights so far,” O’Loughlin said.
“Getting the guys together in such a short period of time is going to be a huge challenge, but I’m really looking forward to it.
“The boys are from all over world, although I reckon if I could understand Tadhg Kennelly at the Swans I can understand anyone.”
Among the players of Sudanese background who have been chosen to represent the World XVIII is Mella Opiew.
After being urged to take up Australian football by his teachers at St John’s Regional College in Dandenong, Opiew has grown to love the game and has shown plenty of potential while playing in the ruck for his school team.
“The work that the AFL’s done with the multi-cultural program, among all sections of society, has been fantastic,” said Matt Jones, who is at PE teacher St John’s.
“We have 100 students from the Sudanese community and they have a great ability to read the play. Given the opportunity and the correct training, they can certainly go places.”
Another person involved in the championships for the first time is former Hawthorn star Trent Croad.
The 2008 premiership player is coaching the South Pacific team - a combination that will include players from Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Nauru, Solomon Islands and New Zealand.
Endorsing the South Pacific team with Croad is 18-year-old Peter Labi, a young man who grew up in PNG but is now an international scholarship holder with Carlton.
Labi is currently honing his skills in the VFL with the Northern Bullants.
“I took playing Aussie Rules seriously when I was 14, as my dad told me he used to play it as a kid,” said Labi.
“I love the game as you have the freedom to run.”
The World XVIII and the South Pacific team (both can field players up to the age of 18) will meet on Sunday, July 4, and the opposing coaches are out to win.
“Croady’s already winding me up about it,” said O’Loughlin. “It’ll be a good game, with lots of great athletes out on the park, and I hope my boys can get the job done.”
