The much anticipated annual event for Hawthorn's Multicultural Schools Program saw 300 Victorian primary school students represent their respective AFL club, in a group of round-robin matches played for either a boys or girls team cup.
The focus of the day was to provide students from culturally diverse backgrounds, many of whom don’t play any competitive sport, with the opportunity to showcase footy skills learnt during the Multicultural Program in a safe, friendly, comfortable yet competitive environment.
The two Hawthorn teams won through to the event, by taking home Hawthorn's Multicultural Cup, held earlier in the year at the Ricoh Centre.
The schools were confident of doing well following a number of solid training sessions leading up to the carnival.
The Australia Post Multicultural Schools State Cup draw did not favour Hawthorn as both schools played all six of the qualifying matches in a row before receiving their allotted bye prior to the finals.
Fatigued but still determined, the Hawks' boys side from St. Andrew’s in Clayton South won five out of six matches qualifying for the Cup's Grand Final.
The team got off to a flying start scoring the only two goals in the first half. Unfortunately the second half didn't mimic the first, with the tired Hawks team only managing two behinds to the Bulldogs three goals, going down admirably by four points.
The thirteen girls from Wooranna Park Dandenong North, started the day strong with two comfortable wins against Essendon and North Melbourne.
Their luck changed in the following three matches, with losses by less than a goal, before a thumping win against Richmond in the last match. The 3-3 ratio seeing the girls fall short of a grand final berth.
Hawthorn's Multicultural Development Officer, Michael Nguyen praised the efforts of both schools
"St. Andrew's Grand Final appearance was especially impressive given it's their first year in our program" he said.
"Hopefully this experience will encourage the boys to take on footy at junior level at one of their local clubs.
"The girls from Wooranna Park showed great improvement and developed their skills over the course of the year - when starting out they were afraid of the ball and struggled with skills.
"Now, they can take overhead marks and run, bounce the ball like Grant Birchall and kick pin point drop punts.
"Good performances in the State Cup was a fitting end to a wonderful program that saw over 2500 kids from 17 schools learn about the great game of Australian football with the Hawks."
Wooranna Park girls and St. Andrew’s boys represented Hawthorn admirably at the Australia Post Multicultural Schools State Cup.
