Greg Wass, or ‘Wassy’ as his mates call him, is on a mission. That mission is to establish an Australian Rules football (AFL) club for the kids around his home village; not too very far from the Black Mountain Golf Club outside Hua Hin.
He says he wants to give neighborhood kids not taking an interest in the round ball game, a chance to play the “greatest game on the planet’’. According to Wassy, that is Aussie Rules.
So far he’s managed to secure some ‘footies’, team shirts, the services of a team coach and permission to use the local school grounds. There’s a Saturday morning training session with more kids (and parents) welcome.
Come on the Black Mountain Blues; or in Aussie-lingo – C’arn the Blues’!
The team has been christened the ‘Blues’, as a reference to Wassy’s allegiance to the AFL team Carlton, also known as the Blues. He’ll give a rendition of that team’s song without too much encouragement with slightly amended lyrics. He’s also sent a message to Carlton looking for their support.
Support has already been received from contacts in Wassy’s Australian home city of Mildura sending footballs, both kids’ size training balls as well as match balls. Suitable football boots are better available locally and the ‘almost genuine’ Aussie Rules shirts have come from a Pattaya company; apparently also a supplier to the AFL.
Wassy’s own background in Aussie Rules has been as an umpire (AKA referee) and he boasts an ACME Thunderer, the world’s biggest selling whistle to assert that authority.
We joined Wassy, his wife Khun Nana and coach Phil Evans at the Blues home base to indulge in a sausage sizzle after a Saturday morning training session. That’s a very simple unadulterated barbecued snagger, smothered in fried onions with lashings of tomato sauce wrapped in fresh bread (no plate required). Great tucker and an important part of Aussie Rules culture!
Wassy’s hoping that after his own team has a regular group of players established, another village will follow the Blues lead so that a competitive element can be a further incentive for the local Black Mountain kids.
He’d like to hear from families who’d like to join his mission to grow the sport’s development; just check out his Facebook page and send him a message at https://www.facebook.com/greg.wass.1
About Aussie Rules
Australian Rules Football (“Aussie Rules” or ” footy”) is a physical contact sport. It is a form of football with an oval shaped ball (somewhere between a rugby and American football ball).
The rules were codified in 1858, and probably predate many other forms of football, such as American, Rugby Union and League, Association (Soccer) and Gaelic football.
Today it is a multi-million dollar sports business, drawing crowds of over 90,000 at big games with interest at an all time high both within and outside Australia.
