The Bali Geckos have become the first team to defeat the Jakarta Bintangs on their home deck since 2013 after cruising to a 28 point victory and in doing so took home the Trade Indy Cup.
The much anticipated clash didn’t disappoint and was an action packed encounter, which included long-raking goals, heated spotfires on occasions, momentum swings galore and some fantastic individual performances.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
– Rick Olarenshaw won the inaugural Mat Jolly Medal for his Best on Ground performance, which saw him wind back the clock on his trusty left foot, as he slotted 7 goals straight.
– Match up of the Day – Bintangs Captain Kalen Iselt vs. Damian Hoo. Kalen is pound for pound one of the strongest and most courageous footballers in Asia and came up against the journeyman Hooey, as he represented his fifth club. Kalen was an absolute bull around the stoppages, whilst Hooey’s inside work was a feature as he earned the title as AFL Asia’s version of Dale Kickett. In two separate incident outside of their match up, the heroic Bintangs Captain later received 11 stitches in what only could be described as nasty injuries.
– Bali Geckos Captain Jack Ahearn faced plenty of attention from the Bintangs midfield brigade, but eventually outran them with his supreme endurance and went on to kick 3.5 in a dominant display.
– The All-Indonesian Curtain Raiser between two Jakarta-based high schools – Jonggol and Halim – Highlighted the Bintangs investment in their local community and ensures that their local Indonesian football factory has a pathway into the Bintangs squad moving forward into the future.
