The Hong Kong Dragons have restored their claim to being the most successful team in Asia following their 6th AFL Asian Championships victory, defeating a gallant Malaysian Warriors team 4.11.35 to 2.3.15 in what many have described as the most successful ‘Asian Champs’ in the 16 year history of the event, this year hosted by the Thailand Tigers at the Harrow International School in Bangkok on Saturday 17 October.
In the fading light of the day, an experienced Hong Kong Dragons unit prevailed against the Malaysian Warriors in the Div 1 Grand Final
Playing their 5th straight Asian Champs Grand Final, the experience of the Dragons in managing a large roster of players to get through the biggest day of footy in Asia shone through, running over the Warriors in the second half to put the Dragons back on top of Asian footy after last year’s Grand Final defeat to the Singapore Wombats.
The Warriors in their first ever Asian Champs Grand Final came out firing, getting the jump on the Dragons early and registering the first two goals of the game. With five competitive games already under the belt on a hot and sunny Bangkok day, injury, cramp and exhaustion soon took took its toll on the Warriors who just didn’t have the legs to finish off a great day for their Club, with their six-point semi final defeat of last year’s winners the Singapore Wombats a highlight.
The Jakarta Bintangs will also be pleased with their day out after playing their first Asian Champs final in some years, giving Hong Kong a big scare leading for much of the first half in their semi final.
Record numbers of teams and participants traveled to Bangkok to compete in a new two-division format, which is being hailed a success and will be continued at the 2016 Asian Champs to be held in Saigon, Vietnam. 404 players were registered for this year’s Champs, including a record 40 local players from China, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam, proving local football development efforts by AFL Asia Clubs in the region are beginning to pay off.
Some impressive local talent on display in the Lao Elephants vs Cambodian Eagles Grand Final
Nowhere was this more evident than in the new Second Division, where the Lao Elephants won their first ever piece of silverware, defeating their IndoChina neighbors the Cambodian Eagles in the Grand Final, with a total of 13 local Laotian and Cambodian players making significant contributions.
A Grand Final curtain raiser between local players from SE Asia and East Asia was another big highlight of the day, with former West Coast Eagle premiership player and Norm Smith medalist Andrew Embley helping out on the sidelines after conducting a successful training clinic for 35 local players on the previous day. For the record, the East Asian team, featuring 11 Chinese players from the Port Adelaide FC sponsored South China AFL defeated the SE Asians 30 to 25 in an entertaining display of AFL Asia’s local footy talent, the first time such a game had been held at the Asian Champs.
It was a massive day for footy in Asia with AFL Asia playing a constructive role in helping this most prestigious of footy tournaments in Asia grow and evolve. Much credit to hosts the Thailand Tigers for their management of the day’s logistics which saw 31 games and an Auskick session being conducted over two grounds between 7.30am and 5.30pm. Congratulations to Al, Brendan and their team of umpires and volunteers who worked tirelessly throughout the day to ensure the tight schedule went according to plan. Thanks also to sponsors Brand HK, Tenderloins Sports Bar & Steakhouse, Bangkok Hospital, Coca Cola (ThaiNamthip) and AFL Asia’s Official Photographer Mr Rob Brewer for capturing the day. Keep an eye out for photos as they are loaded up on the AFL Asia facebook page.
Results
Div 1 Grand Final – Hong Kong Dragons 4.11.35 def Malaysian Warriors 2.3.15
Div 2 Grand Final – Lao Elephants 4.7.31 def def Cambodian Eagles 3.0.18
Div 1 Semi Final – Hong Kong Dragons 5.4.34 def Jakarta Bintangs 2.3.15
Div 1 Semi Final – Malaysian Warriors 5.3.33 def Singapore Wombats 4.3.27
Preliminary Games (Div 1):
Hong Kong Dragons 4-0
Malaysian Warriors 3-1
Singapore Wombats 3-1
Jakarta Bintangs 2-2
Philippine Eagles 1-3
Thailand Tigers 1-3
Vietnam Swans 0-4
Preliminary Games (Div 2)
Laos Elephants 4-0
Cambodia Eagles 3-1
China Reds 1-3
Bali Geckos 2-2
Myanmar Fighting Cocks 1-3
Macau Lightning 0-4 
Award Winners
Div 1.
Best Player in Tournament: James Gillette (Singapore)
Leading Goalkicker: Tom Robinson (Singapore)
Best Player in Final: Christian Cook (Hong Kong)
Div 2.
Best Player in Tournament: Blair Bell (Laos)
Leading Goalkicker: Josh Young (Bali)
Best Player in Final: Steve Chapman (Laos)
Fastest Man: Hasanema Ziso Dachi (aka Dachi) (Bali)
Play of the Day: Joel Thompson (Cambodia) for 80 metre torpedo goal on half time siren.
2015 All Asian Team
Hong Kong: Sam Agars, Jock Auld, Darren Brakenridge
Malaysia: Kurt Stocks and Owen Lewis
Singapore: Chris Mitchell and Andrew Jacobs
Jakarta: Tom Harvey and Simon Quail
Laos: Ekkaphon Choumphavan and Handa Yattivong
Cambodia: Brett Norton and Peter Kokke
Thailand: Aaron Klutke
Philippines: Shane Hawke
Vietnam: Tim Pickert
China: Chen Shaoliang
Myanmar: Conor Smith
Macau: Dave Thomas
Bali: Josh Young
History
2000: Indonesia v Hong Kong (winner Indonesia)
2001: Singapore v Indonesia (winner Singapore)
2002: Singapore v Indonesia (winner Indonesia)
2003: Hong Kong v Indonesia (winner Hong Kong)
2004: HK v Sing (winner HK)
2005: Bali v Sing (winner Sing)
2006: Bali v Sing (winner Sing)
2007: HK v Bali (winner HK)
2008: Dubai v Sing (winner Dubai)
2009: Dubai v Sing (winner Dubai)
2010: Dubai v Sing (winner Dubai)
2011: Sing v HK (winner Sing)
2012: HK v Jakarta (winner HK)
2013: HK v Philippines (winner HK)
2014: HK v Sing (winner Sing)
(A precursor tournament called the Four Nations Cup was held in Bangkok in 1999, which was won by Singapore)
Photos: Rob Brewer http://ardmawrphotography.zenfolio.com/
