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2006 ASIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
August, Jakarta

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For the second year running, the Bali Geckos had to be content with second best team in Asia after being defeated by the Singapore Wombats in the Grand Final of the 2006 Asian Australian Rules Football Championships held in Jakarta late August. After performing admirably in the round robin games, the Geckos were outclassed by an experienced and skillful Singapore team in the final, a well contested encounter that would arguably be the best quality game ever played in Asian football.

Seven teams participated in the event, including Hong Kong Dragons, Singapore Wombats, Malaysian Warriors, Thailand Tigers, Jakarta Bintangs, Japan Goannas, and the Bali Geckos.

Sponsors and supporters can be well assured that the team did the club proud, especially considering the amount of Aussie Rules experience (or lack thereof) of the majority of players – where we were lacking in finesse we certainly made up with commitment and determination.

The Geckos were well represented by Leigh Hughes, Peter Muir, Nick Klaus, Ed Andrews and Sammy Gosling, who were recognized for their efforts with a selection in the All-Asian team.

Game 1
Bali Geckos 3-5 (23)
Jakarta Bintangs 1-2 (8)

The Geckos continually fought off the persistent Bintangs to earn a hard fought victory. Leigh Hughes and Shane Pritchard controlled the mid field while Sammy and Russell dominated the clearances out of the middle.

Despite the Geckos dominating the match in general play throughout, the Bintangs were still close, and were within six points half way through the final half. The Geckos were unable to convert a glut of good attacking moves with Nipples McColough being the main culprit with 4 points for the match.

Conversely, Jakarta had Ken Allan on the microphone calling plays, telling the side how long to go and whether a bad decision had been made against his beloved Bintangs. The home side’s straight kicking also helped the make the most of limited chances.

But the best players on the ground were clearly the Geckos running players and ground level ball-winners. Half-back Gun OAM was a standout with his tireless searching runs up the field, with his long right-foot kicks into attack setting up numerous scoring opportunities.

The toughest man in Asian football Greg Hinchliffe won plenty of early possessions. Leigh Hughes was also winning a stack of the ball, while the best Texan to ever play Aussie Rules Nick Klaus created several attacking moves with his running and long kicking from the halfback line.

Game 2
Bali Geckos 3-4 (22)
Hong Kong Dragons 1-4 (10)

The Geckos went into their second game confident but were outplayed by Hong Kong in the first half. Players were not being defensive enough and left the Dragons midfield with a lot of room, but luckily for the Geckos the Dragons were inaccurate in front of goal. The Geckos started better in the second half, running in numbers and making better use of the ball. And with a swan dive that should have earned him an academy award, Hinchy was instead awarded a free kick and squeezed the ball through the sticks from an acute angle to put the Geckos in front for the first time in the game. The Geckos then followed on with a final goal to ensure a win, but were not without their worries after the game. Injuries that would slow down Coach Gun and mobile tall man Shane Pritchard and keep key forward Nathan McColough sidelined for the rest of the day left the Geckos with some concern.

Game 3
Bali Geckos 7-4 (46)
Japan Goannas 4-3 (27)

Thoughts around the ground pre-match was that there was no need to consult the local tea leaf reader to predict the outcome of the match between the Bali Geckos and the midgets from Japan.

The Geckos, almost guaranteed finalists, armed themselves with experience for the occasion by bringing in Jason (Leo Barry) Childs, Scandal Metcalf, John Links, Gobbles and kiwi Riki into the starting line up.

The Goannas, on the other hand, put a team on the ground that had an average height of Papa Smurf. Coach Peter Muir’s centre-square combination at the opening bounce included ruckman Russell McGrath, Sammy Gosling, Buffet Dave and Steve Stiffler (Who am I) Jeisman.

If the clearly different dynamics made the result an easy one to forecast, they clouded the worth of the manner in which it was reached. The Geckos were dancing like a heavyweight and until Hughes, Scandal and Childs zipped three unanswered goals past Japan in time-on of the last half, the Geckos were scarcely better than the fourth worst team in the competition.

To that point, the sides often bore an unflattering resemblance to one another. There was lots of industry, lots of milling and buzzing about but little finesse. For much of the first half, in particular, it was as if the teams took it upon themselves to trade turns at trying to smuggle the ball across enemy lines, hoping to avoid detection by playing inconspicuously.

When, late in the last half, the game and the gap between the teams finally opened up, it was scarcely a surprise that it was the Geckos midfielders along with Ed Andrews up forward who profited most.

Game 4
Bali Geckos 3-0 (18)
Singapore Wombats 6-0 (36)

With a confirmed place in the finals, a number of key Geckos were rested for the game against the Wombats, the team that the Geckos would most likely face in the final. In retrospection, this decision did not entirely assist the Geckos in their cause.
The Geckos played in the spirit which did nothing but confirm our reputation as a team who gives 100% and more. Despite not playing our best side, the Geckos took it up to the reigning Asian Champions. A number of players, even with their minimal experience, performed admirably and certainly made the most of the opportunity to show that they deserved a spot in the Geckos’ best 22. Nick Klaus got plenty of the ball and used it well, and Russell and Gobbles battled hard in the ruck. The Geckos cause was not helped when their star midfielder Leigh Hughes was knocked out just before half time. In true Geckos spirit he later returned to the field.

Final
Singapore Wombats 8-3 (51)
Bali Geckos 3-11 (29)

Despite the Geckos’ best intentions, they were outclassed from the start of the final, with the Wombats using silky skills and cooperation to overcome our determination. With less fatigue in their legs, more experience and better teamwork, the Wombats proved too good. Gunny, Leigh Hughes and Dave Schonell tried hard as the Wombats rolled over their rivals, winning the ball out of the middle and rebounding through half back. The Geckos continuously bombed the ball forward, despite their forward line being controlled by a tall Singapore backline, who then ran the ball out in numbers into their open forward line. This style of play suited the Wombats; a point that should have been noticed by the Geckos’ coaching staff. To be critical, the Geckos wasted a number of opportunities, missing a number of relatively easy shots at goal and not capitalizing when they controlled the play as they went into attack. Adding insult to injury, two Wombat goals were scored after they were awarded with 50 metre penalties.

Geckos coach Peter Gun OAM Muir believes his side is close to challenging for the title of Best team in Asia, despite ending the championship in disappointing style.

Muir said the match exposed the weaknesses of his inexperienced players who were pushed aside by the bigger-bodied, more experienced fat-arsed Wombats. But he added those deficiencies could be quickly remedied. “If the team can continue to work on one or two areas, it won't take long to actually bridge that gap.”

“Things like better using the loose man in defence, which most teams use to negate our strong forwards, and clearance of a contested ball out of the centre needs to be worked on, as does our rebound out of defence.” Muir said, adding that he was proud with the continual improvements that the Geckos have made. “The belief in our ability as a team gained from winning the minor rounds against Jakarta, Japan and Hong Kong, were major positives to come from the championship.”

Star forward, 66 Podium Dancer and Bali “Team of the Century” Superstar Nathan McColough, said after the game that the Geckos would learn from the defeat to the Wombats and had high hopes for next season. “Good teams play well under any circumstances, whether things don't go well on the day, or you've got injuries," Nathan said. “The loss was a real learning curve for us. We've certainly got a group that's willing to learn and to take on any challenge and are looking forward to the championships in 2007.”