Six teams took part in this inaugural event: two teams came from Collingwood AMES, another two travelled up from Dandenong AMES and our centre also provided two sides. Monash A comprised current Japanese Study Group students while Monash X was made up of former students who are now studying at Monash University.
The teams were divided into two groups of three, with one team from each school per group. In the first round of matches, the Monash teams took on the Dandenong sides. Monash A got off to a good start with a win over Dandenong B, and Mamoru showed that he was the player to watch with a dazzling midfield display. The other Dandenong side fared no better as the experienced Monash X students used their homecourt experience to good effect. Yang, veteran of two Grand Finals, helped his team to a 3-1 victory.
In the second round of matches, Dandenong faced Collingwood. Unfortunately, some of the Collingwood players came ill equipped to play indoors, which led to a few minutes of uncertainty! However, after a quick change of shoes, play resumed. Even with the right footwear, the Collingwood boys were unable to hold the younger and faster Dandenong players: Dandenong B thrashed Collingwood A 4-0 while the other game finished in a 2-0 Dandenong win.
In the final round of matches, both Monash teams claimed comfortable victories to win their respective groups. The Collingwood boys (that should be men!) played off for 5th place, and eventually, after a protracted and amusing penalty shoot-out, the A team emerged victorious.
In the first semi-final, the young Japanese boys faced a tough Dandenong side, and Ibrar led his side with some tough (at times, too tough!) tackling. However, Mamoru was once again unstoppable, and a late rush of goals sent Monash A into the Grand Final. Monash X were hoping to join them, and, halfway through the semi-final, with Andy's goal separating the teams, it looked like Monash would have a clean sweep. It was not to be; Alnour and Isaac stepped up a gear, and three goals in five minutes sank Yang's hopes of a win at last! In fact, the disappointment got even greater as the ex-students went down 2-1 to Dandenong A in the 3rd-place playoff.
Monash A went into the Grand Final with great confidence, having already beaten Dandenong B at the group stage, but their opponents had improved as the competition progressed and showed this by dominating the first half. The Monash boys, lucky to only be 1-0 down at half-time, tried to regroup in the second half, but Dandenong made their greater fitness and physical presence felt. Mamoru again impressed, but he was unable to prevent Dandenong dominating. Two goals in the second half gave them a richly deserved victory.
After the Grand Final, the winning team received their medals and were applauded by their opponents. It was then time to decide the best player. Ibrar, Isaac and Alnour all played well, and Yang had again pulled his team along. For Collingwood, Patrice had shown great spirit and organisation (and some good goalkeeping skills). Howver, there was only one choice for the best player medal. Mamoru had dragged his team's level up with his constant energy levels, and he fully deserved the award.
Thanks to everyone who helped make the event possible. Hopefully, we can have another competition later this year, but not for a while: I need to recover first!