Lots of ‘ins’ following Round 1, and a few high profile recruits amongst the mix.   We are facing up to Putney in all 3 grades, playing at their home ground.  Detailed directions on how to find it are below.  Please make a big effort to be at the ground nice and early for all 3 grades.

1^st Grade (game kicks off at 3pm, be there to support the early games):

-       Sher, Stevo, Jake the Snake, Cheap Tickets (Ryanair), Grima, Littlechild, Fernandez, Keebs, Fish, Hawker, Wood, Norris, McGeever, Dicker, Masemann, Maple, Clement, Burwell, Rand, Chipperfield, Sammy Howard, Juan, Canada

2nd grade (game kick off art 12.30, be there 11.30am latest)

-       The Boot, Pres, Chris Brennan, Biscuits, Craig K, Fabulous, Austin, Ev, Snowman, Franky V, Gazza, Beau, Sammy D, Matty H, Jack, Hammer, Tommy Parsons, Occa the Pigeon, Pauly Nicol

3^rd Grade ( game kicks off at 11am sharp, try to be there for 10am):

-          Robbie C, The Dogg, Strugnall, Little Brad, Geoooffry, Jonny Drennan + mate, Colm, Luke Harley, Benny Alcock, Pete, Mr Maynard, Richy Oakes, Stevo, Mick Friendly, Rhys, Shauny Mac, Franky A, Levi’s mates

How to find the ground

We’re playing in Putney, which sounds simple.  However it’s not.  It takes a tube ride AND a bus ride to find the ground, and will take you at least 30 mins longer than you think it will.  So give yourself some extra time.

The ground is at the Richardsons Evans Memorial Playing Fields.   It’s in a place called Roehampton and the postcode is SW15 3PQ.  Below we’ve broken out the trip into 3 easy to follow steps:

1.  Get the tube (district line) to Putney Bridge Station.  The bus leaves from outside the station.  Or catch the overland train (out of Waterloo / Clapham Junction) to Putney Bridge Station, and again the bus leaves from directly outside the station.

2.  Catch the 85 bus.  Sit on the bus for quite a while (20+ mins), until it goes past a large cemetery (on your left), and turns off the main road (the A3) to stop at an enormous Asda.   Don’t get off the bus before this.   You can’t miss the Asda, and you’ll have a long walk if you get impatient.

3.  When you get off the bus at the stop out the front of Asda, walk to the roundabout which is just ahead of you, and cross diagonally to the opposite side.  You should be able to see the ground  and park on the other side of some trees and bushes.

You can find detailed directions and maps on the Putney website, although we wouldn’t recommend spending too much time on there:  www.putneymagpies.com

Also, a map of the 82 bus route is here:  http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/gettingaround/maps/buses/?r=85

It’s a huge challenge to start the year.   Additionally, coming off a long and very damp pre- season we may have the added challenge of adapting to dry and warm conditions on Saturday (if the weather reports are to be believed).  While these aren’t conditions that we’ve had much experience of so far in 2012, the coaches are confident that the Lions will adapt as necessary.

Congrats to all the new Lions taking the field for the first time this weekend, it’s great to see so many new faces at the Club.

1st grade (game starts 3pm sharp, be there to watch 2^nd grade):

Sher, Keebs, Didsy, Matty Doyle, Jake, Deano, Ryno, Stevo, Fish, Levi, Matty Freo, Poole, Irish, Marty P, Morgs, Tommy McAra, Dicker, Jonny Drennan, Canadian Morgs, Maple, Connor O’Malley, Jase Rand

2nd grade (game starts at 1pm sharp, be there to watch 3^rd grade):

Matty Pearce, Fatty, Boot, Pres, Benny Alcock, Occa, Fabs, Jase Norris, Snowy, Ev, Franky V, Scully, Beau, Biscuits, Richy Oakes, Lee Harte, Austin, Scotty D, Paul Nicol, Ian Watt, Matty, Franky Italia

3rd grade (game starts 11:30 sharp, be there no later than 10:30am)

Craig Stevo, Little Brad, Mick Friend, Brad Firth, Franky Brisbane, Reece, Mick Gallacher, Matty Alexander, Dave, Jake Taylor, Frenchy, Robby C, Luke Harley, Sam Howard, Jake, Will Metcalfe, Tony Foo, Juan

The Lions are scheduled for a HUGE triple header versus West London Wildcats, the reigning premiers, and the Club that has won about a million premierships in a row and generally made London a more boring and one dimensional place to be.  We’ve taken it on as our mission in Round 1 to try and smash them to bits, because it really needs doing at some point and why not us!? 

That means there are only 3 training sessions left to fine tune our game plan and build on our exceptional fitness levels.   Get along to Regents Park at 6pm sharp every Tuesday and Thursday evening from now on, and make sure you are in the frame for a spot on the ground for Round 1.

Because it’s a home game, we’ll also be turning on the hospitality at Bounds Green next weekend, with BBQ, beers, and free Pimms for the Ladies (until it’s all gone – which sometimes happens quite quickly if the crowd is in the mood).  Do invite friends along as it would be great to see a big crowd, and we’re all praying to BBC Weather for some much needed sunshine.

However, we have put our heads together with the Swans and Wests, and come up with a plan to ensure we still get a game of footy anyway. 

The Swans were able to get their home ground near Old Street for the afternoon only, so we are planning to play a round of games against both the Swans and Wests on Saturday afternoon.  We’ll play a half of footy against both teams, meaning we get a full game in over the course of the afternoon.

The schedule is as follows:

-          1:30pm:  Lions versus Wests

-          2:30pm: Lions versus Swans

-          3:30pm:  Swans versus Wests

With four 25 min quarters to play, we’ll need all hands on deck.  We don’t have time to arrange proper teams, so it’s a case of turning up on Saturday to have a run around.  New players to the club, (including guys that have never played before) are very welcome, as this is the only chance you’ll get for a run around prior to Round 1.  We’ll make sure everyone gets a bit of footy, so do come along. 

The ground is at Shoreditch Park (also known as Ply Park), about ten mins walk from Old Street tube station (head north from the Old Street Roundabout, and it’s just off New N Road).   You can find maps and directions on the Swans website (www.londonswans.co.uk) 

We’ll go directly from the game to Fernee’s Farewell in Westbourne Grove.  It’s going to be huge.  Spread the word and meet at Ply Park at 12:30pm sharp.   We’ll bring jumpers, shorts and socks, you bring boots and mouth guard.

He’s been here for about 10 years, played a record number of games of footy with the Lions, was Club coach for 4 years, and led the charge on countless footy trips.  Never the type to let the opportunity for a good party pass him up, there’s now a mammoth farewell planned to send he and Alex off properly. 

It’s all at The Metropolitan, next to Westbourne Park tube on Sat 28^th (from about 6pm).  We’ll all head there directly from the ground after winning the Anzac Cup, so make sure you bring your hair gel with you to the game.

Even better, it will be held at our home ground in Bounds Green, so we all get a taste of what to expect prior to Round 1 in a couple of weeks’ time.  The Lions have a strong track record in this event, and we’d really like to give it a shake again. But that means getting plenty of Lions out on the field come Saturday, and of course plenty of people at training this week.

Block out the full day in the diary this Saturday the 28^th, as games will likely start around 11am.  We’ll confirm exact starting times at training on Thursday.   There is no cover charge this year around, so do invite plenty of people along.

The Lions will supply players with jumpers, shorts and shirts, so all you need to bring are boots and a mouthguard.   Perhaps something to change into afterwards as well (you’ll not make many friends afterwards dressed only in footy boots) 

Afterwards we’ll all head down to ex-Coach  Fernee’s farewell extravaganza en masse. 

If you’ve not been to Bounds Green before, it’s easy. Hit the Piccadilly line going North, and you’ll soon be at Bounds Green Station.  The ground is a five minute walk, and you simply have to cross the main road at the exit to the tube station and follow Durmsford Road down the hill. You’ll soon see Albert Road Rec on the right, immediately after the Garden Centre.  You can find a map and directions HERE.

The Bounds Green BBQ (and beers) will be on sale as per usual, so make sure you bring along friends, girlfriends and anyone else keen for a day out.  It’s strictly no alcohol in the gates however, so make sure people don’t buy on the way.  You can get everything you need at the café next to the ground.

Check out the announcement on the Dunlop Volley site.

A truly unique brand, these shoes are truly the great all rounder and we couldn’t ask for a better fit for our club.

If you feel like getting a pair yourself, visit The Lion Store and enter “ROAR” for a 10% discount.

Exciting times ahead…

This week you can read all about:

1. Memberships
2. Anzac Cup
3. Stockholm 2012 Highlights
4. Recruitment

MEMBERSHIP

The strict cut off for discounted 2012 Memberships is fast approaching.

At midnight on Saturday 28^thAugust (after Anzac Cup and during Fernee’s Farewell Extravaganza) the price of Memberships will increase from £30 to £40.  There will be no exceptions granted, and anyone whose money hasn’t landed in Clarence’s bank account at that precise moment will be paying the full amount.

So get in now and pay up.   You can do it all online, just visit the Lions Shop on the website and follow the instructions to pay via Paypal or via debit / credit card.  The link to the Shop is HERE.

ANZAC CUP

The organisation to date has been a little patchy, however you should all assume the Anzac Cup is going ahead.  The date in question is Saturday 28^thApril (next weekend) and the final venue should be announced by the end of this week.

The Lions have a strong track record in this competition, finishing runners up for a few years in a row until last year, and now definitely due a win.  So make sure you keep all day on the 28^thfree, as we’ll need plenty of Lions on hand to run out the 4 or more games required to bring home the trophy.

STOCKHOLM 2012 HIGHLIGHTS

In a cock up to rival the Iceland volcano a few years ago (when all our pre season trip flights were cancelled at the last minute), the weather in Stockholm this weekend just gone by has also conspired against us.

Having safely made the trip to Sweden on Friday, things started positively enough when we found ourselves as eye witnesses to Round 1 of the epic weekend-long competition between Keebs and Sher to see who would be the drunkest man in Scandinavia.   Both started with a full head of steam

Unfortunately we then awoke on Saturday morning to freezing temperatures and an unexpected dumping of snow, which had buried the ground we were meant to play upon and meant the game had to be cancelled.  A hasty team meeting established that we had all managed to fly to the most expensive city in the world, without any snow-suitable clothing, and with an agenda that suddenly only included drinking pricey booze.

Not the types to give in easily however, we collected everyone (and helped drunken Keebs and drunken Sher up and onto their feet), before heading out into the snow for the annual Lions pre season trip team photo.   Getting there was no easy task, however the pics that resulted were well worth the effort.  Next up our hosts in Stockholm chipped in with a venue where we could dry out, relax, play pool, eat and generally while away the afternoon.  Needless to say the Keeble / Shergold show was also soon underway again.

With a solid plan for Saturday night in place, plenty of hair gel, and our uniforms looking sharp, we were ready to head out.  The drunk man competition took an unexpected turn when Keebs went MIA, and shortly afterwards Shergold was escorted from the classy nightclub we were in by a load of serious looking Swedish bouncers.  Given it was only 9pm and the two favourites were out of action, it was up to the rest of the team to step up.   Without wanting to give away any of the detail, needless to say the lads did what was necessary.  It’s tradition not to give away the gory details of footy trips (unless it’s particularly stupid or particularly funny, in which case we are allowed to tell all – but only at training).  So instead we’ll wrap this report up with just a few of the many special mentions for the weekend away:

• Will, for paying over the odds on a last minute flight only to then miss it, which makes his the most expensive trip to absolutely nowhere for the weekend.
• Frenchy, for taking grass cutting to a whole new level when he interrupted a hard working team mate with the following quote (to be read in strong French accent): ‘These girls are very nice, I think I should be talking to them instead of you’.  To be fair this tactic proved to be a resounding success for our very own Sarkozy.
• Irish, who took up the challenge on Saturday night (in the absence of Sher and Keebs) to try and win the drunkest man in Scandinavia title.   The final result, by the way, was a 3 way tie between Sher, Keebs and Irish, each having excelled in different but extremely messy ways.
• Stevo, for falling head over heels in love in about 3 minutes flat, and managing this at least 23 times over the weekend.   Also to Fabs, for falling in love just the once, but spending almost 3 days in Stockholm following the poor girl around.  Points for persistence to both Lions.
• And finally, we couldn’t write this report and not mention it…. Occa the Pigeon!  King of the world!  Club veteran!  Dorm favourite!   And Lion with unexpected staying power!   If you’d like to know why, just ask him, as he’s not against sharing secrets.  If he does get shy, just ask anyone else in his dorm, who will happily share all the gory detail.

RECRUITMENT

We’re hunting new Lions for 2012, and given that the Season is really quite close now, this is the time to get involved.  If you know folk in London who are keen, get them down to raining.  We need 70-odd Lions ready and available to play come Round 1, so let’s not leave it to the last minute.   Ask around and chase up folk you know that are keen but haven’t made an appearance as yet.

You can sign them up for the email list directly on the Lions website, or even better, drag them along to training.

That’s all for now Lions. 

Remember, get to training, because we’re only a week and a half (3 training sessions) out from the Anzac Cup tournament, and less than a month (or 7 training session) out from Round 1!

Clarence

Having safely made the trip to Stockholm on Friday, we awoke on Saturday morning to freezing temperatures and an unexpected dumping of snow, which had buried the ground we were meant to play upon and meant the game had to be cancelled.  A hasty team meeting established that we had in fact all managed to fly to one of the most expensive cities in the world, without any snow-suitable clothing, and with an agenda that suddenly only included drinking pricey booze.   

Not the types to give in easily however, we collected everyone and headed out into the snow for the obligatory Lions pre season trip team photo.   Getting there was no easy task, however the pics that resulted were well worth the effort (see below)

Our hosts in Stockholm quickly sorted us out with a venue where we could dry out, relax, play pool, eat and generally while away the afternoon before embarking on a huge night out at Berns nightclub (highly recommended for anyone visiting Stockholm).   Without giving away any of the dirty detail, a few Lions drank (way) too much, a few fell in love, a few fell in love several times over, a few didn’t fall in love at all but tricked poor innocent Swedes into thinking they had, and Occa the pigeon… well, what can we say, but congratulations.

Despite no game, it was far from a wasted trip, and while we’ve managed to be snowed out in two attempted practice games to date, the drinking practice has been impeccable. 

While the weather has been a little trashy of late, training is building nicely and the 3 squads are starting to come together.   We only got 8 more training sessions to fine tune prior to Round 1, and so now is definitely the time to get involved if you haven’t quite managed to drag yourself down to Regents Park as yet.  

We’ve got a nice run into the Season planned, and below are all the key dates that you need to know between now and then:

- Friday 13th April - Sun 15th April:  Stockholm Pre season footy trip extravaganza

- Tues 17th April:   Training, 6pm in Regents Park

- Thurs 19th April:  Training, 6pm in Regents Park (followed by drinks at The Windsor Castle)

- Tues 24th April:  Training, 6pm in Regents Park

- Thurs 26th April:  Training, 6pm in Regents Park (followed by drinks at The Windsor Castle)

- Sat 28th April:   Anzac Cup Pre Season lightning cup competition, followed by ‘Just One More’ (the official Trav ‘I swear I’m really leaving now’ Fernee farewell party)

- Tues 1st May:  Training, 6pm in Regents Park

- Thurs 3rd May: Training, 6pm in Regents Park (followed by drinks at The Windsor Castle)

- Sat 5th / Sun 6th / Mon 7th May:   Bank Holiday long weekend

- Tues 8th May:  Training, 6pm in Regents Park

- Thurs 10th May:  Training, 6pm in Regents Park (followed by drinks plus team selections for Round 1 at The Windsor Castle)

- Saturday 12th May:  ROUND 1.   All 3 grades playing at home in Bounds Green versus West London.  Footy action from 11am, free Pimms for the girls all day long, big bad BBQ, and loads of glorious sunshine (hopefully).

If you cough up the cash now, you’ll pay £30 instead of £40 (a saving a £10, or 25% for those non-bankers amongst us)

However this amazing (!?) deal is only available until midnight on Saturday 28^th April, or two weeks from now.   At that point the price will revert to £40 and everyone, with no exceptions, will have to front up £40.   Everyone that plays for the Lions in 2012 needs to pay up, so get in early and save yourself a few quid along the way.

You can pay online, via this very website.  Just click on the link to the Lions Store above, and away you go.  It’s set up via Paypal, however you can also pay with a credit or debit card – just follow the instructions.

Remember, the Club doesn’t run on cheap DVD sales, raffle proceeds or kebab sales, although we’ve tried all of those with mixed success.  Pay up now and we can provide you with even more water logged footballs, overly tight pairs of footy shorts and half cooked BBQ’s.

Everyone is welcome, from those who have played for years back in Australia right through to those completely new to the game. We’re always looking for Aussies, Brits, Irish, and other EU’s to join the Club. In fact it doesn’t really matter where you are from, as long as you are interested in playing footy.

We’re proud of our reputation as one of the most social aussie rules clubs in London, and also one of the most competitive. While we are based in North London, we draw players each year from all over town. We train all season in Regents Park, right in the center of London, on several tube lines, and so very accessible.

Each week we field 3 teams, meaning there are definite spots available for players of all standards. If you want to play, we can guarantee you a game.

However we also aim to have a seriously good time off the field. In 2011 we managed a couple of international football trips (to Copenhagen and Mykonos), we also did a pre season boot camp, the routemaster bus pub crawl, the £1000 reverse raffle, Thames boat cruise, and loads of other social events.

Most of our players juggle work, travel, the missus, and (regular) hangovers. It’s not always possible to make training, and you’ll probably miss a few games along the way too. We get it, and we’ll all work it out as we go along. So don’t let that be the reason that you don’t give it a go.

Aussie Rules is a great way to keep fit, to meet new people, to get out in the sun, and generally to have a great time in London during the Summer. So don’t hesitate to get in touch and sign up, or even if you just want to ask a few questions.

Training is on NOW, every Tuesday & Thursday from 6:00pm in Regents Park. You’ll find us near The Hub, amongst the sporting fields in the Northern part of the park (it’s marked on all the maps at the entrances to the park)

You can email us directly on info@aussierules.co.uk

Or just front up to training and meet the lads on the pitch.

We’ll be heading out with the guys after each home game during the season (as well as other occasions), plus they’ll be hosting a huge AFL Grand Final party in September.  As well as bowling, the Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes host all sorts of cracking nights out, including live music, DJ’s, Karaoke and more.

We stole the following from their website, so can’t claim it as our own, but it will help give you an idea of why you should be heading to the Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes soon:

Forget bowling past, London’s Bloomsbury Lanes provide the fun of bowling in a charming venue with a completely unique style.

The Bloomsbury Lanes has eight swish bowling lanes, complete with the only vintage above lane ball return outside the US.

Far more than just bowling, the venue has a large bar made from bowling lane wood, serving craft beers, cocktails and our famous hard shakes. Our brand new diner serves classic American fare, including Ray’s 26″ pizzas.

For those looking for a more private affair, the Kingpin Suite with five bowling lanes is the perfect size for exclusive events.

Centrally located just off Russell Square and Holborn, Bloomsbury Bowling is easy to access from all London areas.

So whether you’re meeting up with friends for drinks, or want to hold a private bowling event for a large group, Bloomsbury Bowling has it all.

For more information on all upcoming gigs, club nights and events visit: www.bloomsburylive.com

We’re less than one week out now, and a full crew of 25 Lions are booked and packing for Stockholm, Sweden.  The lads will be flying in at various times on Friday, before a team briefing in a nightclub at around 1am.   The following day we’ll line up for a game versus the reigning premiers over there, the Solna Axemen, before heading out for another night on the town.  The group will limp back to London on Sunday, again at various times and depending on whom manages to miss their flights (early favourites are Gilly and Maple)

We can still fit you in if anyone is particularly keen.  Jump online and book your flights ASAP, and let us know that you’d like a bed waiting for you in Stockholm.

The touring side is made up of some of the best young AFL players in Australia, some drafted to AFL teams already and others certain to be drafted this Season.  To say that it’s a pretty big ask for a group of European players still learning the game to face off against this group is an understatement, however also a brilliant opportunity.

Lion Levi was selected as part of the European team, and as per usual played a cracking game.  So much so that he was named best of ground for the European team, playing mainly across the back line.   We’re 1 month out from the season and this marks two best of ground awards for Levi already in 2012 ( this one plus Kanga Footy player of the tournament)

Well done Levi.

We’ll still aim to meet in Regents Park, at the Hub.  However training will begin at 6pm sharp, so do try to get there as early as you can following work.  Training will be relatively short for the first week or two, but as the days lengthen a bit (and the Season gets closer) we’ll start to spend more time on the track.

Every session counts, from the beginning of April you have only 12 more sessions to get yourself ready for Round 1!

For those that are new to Lions (or to training for that matter), you’ll find us at The Hub which is a large round cafe on a small hill in the northern part of the park, in amongst the sporting fields.   There are maps at all park entrances, and the shortest walk is from Baker Street, Regents Park and Great Portland Street stations.

For new players, beware our arch rivals the Swans whom also occasionally train in Regents Park but (across towards the Camden edge of the park).   You don’t want to get mixed up with that lot! 

See you on the track

It’s a two day fitness camp on a par with what new recruits to the Foreign Legion are put through each year, although with the added danger of a night out in Southampton along the way just to see how the lads cope with hostile locals.  We’ll also once again be hitting the assault course en-route back to London come Sunday.

Buses will be leaving london at 7pm sharp on Friday evening.  There are one or two seats left if anyone is free and up for it.  Get in touch if that sounds like you.

For those not heading south, you get the weekend off training!  As clocks go forward an hour this coming Sunday, we’ll be shifting over to Tuesday / Thursday training the following week and in the lead up to Easter.

It’s been a cracking week to be a Lion, winning on and off the field in real Charley Sheen style.  We’re just around the corner from a couple of big events also, so if you haven’t been around much so far, now is the time to get involved.

1.  Kanga Footy

2.  Final Sunday training sesswah

3.  Boot Camp

4.  Stockholm

5.  Memberships

6.  Dates to remember

Kanga Footy 

Earlier in the year the London clubs agreed to participate in a touch Aussie rules footy competition.  The game is played on a small ground, and with mixed teams.  It also includes strange rules like no tackling, only touching.  Which kind of makes sense for a mixed game, but on the other hand sends suspect messages about interacting with members of the opposite sex.  Certain Lions took these new touching rules to heart more than others, but more on that below.

We pulled a dozen Lions jumpers out of hibernation last week, and found a dozen Lions to give them their first run about of the year.   The squad comprised of several Lion virgins, and donning the famous jumper for the first time included Jake the snake, Fabulous, Beau, Fireman Deano, Maple Leaf and Will.  As a mixed competetion, we also had Laurelle and Lauren on board for the first time (both names shortened to Loz for simplicity).  Returning for their first kick and giggle of 2012 were Lion regulars Irish, Tommy P, McLovedup (the artist formerly knows as McFearless), El Presidente, Levi, and Little Brad.

Having spent half an hour of the day studying the rules and watching other games, we were still none the wiser as the first bounce of the first game of 2012 approached.   Luckily Coach Irish pulled us aside for an inspirational and expletive filled pep talk, and it all started to feel like footy as normal.

Our first game was against a kanga footy All stars team, which may have been a disadvantage given they understood the rulse and were generally more experienced at touching people.   However it soon turned out our only real disadvantages were our skills, our co-ordination, and our fitness.  After a shaky start that included a few fumbles, some sloppy kicks, and more than one falcon, we started to find our groove.  A solid win left us feeling confident, and ready to face the old enemy Wandsworth in Round 2.   As anyone who has been near a Lions jumper before will tell you, we like drinking at Wandsworths pub after games, but that really is all we have in common.   This may have been evident in the number and forcefulness of the ‘touches’ during the game, however in a pleasing sign we rolled right over the top of them for a big win.  Next up were the Sussex Swans, a team based in Brighton and with a strong Irish influence.  Not holding that against them, they turned out to be a good side, with a strong and fast paced touching style all of their own that.  The Fireman had been very impressive on debut for the Lions to date, but wrecked it all by missing 3 of the easiest goals possible in the first few minutes of the game.   Luckily the rest of the team pulled together to bring home a 3 point win.  We were looking good for a spot in the finals, and our final pool game was against the only other undefeated team of the day.   West London.   In an epic, fast paced and highly skilled game, the Lions (despite some weary legs) snuck home with a huge 1 point win to finish the pool games as the only undefeated side!

The final standings were announced, and it turned out that the Grand Final was to feature a rematch of our previous game, with the Lions facing off against the West London Pussycats.   On the line were the bragging rights as the touchy feely footy champions of London, and having gone into the day thinking it was all a bit of a laugh, both sides obviously wanted the win.

From the first bounce the ball moved quickly, pin point passes, long handballs.  The ‘touching’ by this point had become blatant tackling, and the refs were under the pump to keep things in check.  Levi particularly, despite being only 17 and half the size of most Wests’ players, abandoned any attempt to play touch footy and pulled off some cracking hits.  Wests took an early lead with the breeze at their backs, but the Lions forwards (Little, Loz and Beau) were doing enough to keep us in touch.   With the breeze at our backs for the second half the Lions were looking good, and the ball spent most of the time around our goal line, until a rushed behind bought scores level.   A few moments later we were on the attack again when the final siren went.   A draw.  Who’d have thunk it it?!?

What next?  No one knew really, and as this had never happened before in the long and dignified history of touchy footy, the refs called a quick conference and decided the only fair solution was to play a sudden death first score wins period of extra time.  Any score would win, no second chances.

The crowd was on edge as the ref threw up the ball in the centre of the ground.  Jake the snake leapt highest, palming the ball down to The Fireman who was sniffing around his ankles.  Facing the wrong way, everyone yelling at him, and his dirty ‘tache getting in his eyes and obscuring his vision, the Fireman rocked back and kicked it directly back over his head… thirty metres up… fifteen metres towards our end…holding breath…silence around the ground…

From deep in the forward line he started his run.   McHugsandsnuggles (aka McLovedup, aka McFearless, aka Gary Ablett), jaw forward, steely eyes squinting, ample rump holding the opposition at bay.  There was no getting in his way, no getting around him, and he duly snaffled a chest mark.  Thirty metres out (he later claimed it was 60), directly in front (he later claimed on a tight angle), and any score needed.   He sent the kick on its way, and it sailed through for a score (he later claimed a goal, but everyone else says a behind).  No matter, any score was enough, and the Lions had claimed their first trophy of 2012.

Highlights for the day:

- Levi winning best male player of the tournament, for a thousand possessions through the middle of the ground, and some big tackles.

- Loz (Laurelle), holding onto a huge mark late in the grand final game, despite being pole axed by a Wildcats defender.

- Little Brad, the dominant forward for the day and the only man who can take one handed marks, under pressure on a fast lead, and with his eyes closed.

- Irish, playing in a cap all day to keep his long hair out of his eyes.

- McLoveyourbeautifuleyes for winning best on ground in the grand final and kicking the winning point / goal.  Even more impressive was the speed that he managed to get off the ground, on his phone and leave messages telling Woody and other Lions that he’d single handedly won the day for the Lions.

- Loz (Lauren) and Irish, doing their part for team relations at some point early on Sunday morning, taking ‘touch footy’ to a whole new level.

- Jake for turning up to play footy with no shorts, because ‘the Canadian guy on the team told me last night when I was drunk that I didn’t need to bring them’.   Go figure.  Luckily Chissy turned up to watch in a really tight pair of board shorts, which he leant to Jake to play in.

- The Firemen for getting about a thousand kicks during the day, and reinforcing his position as favourite to take over Keysey’s spot in the midfield.  He’s already claimed pole position in the race to claim Keysey’s title as biggest liability off the field.

Top job to all involved.  Next trophy on the line is the Anzac Cup in a months time.

Final Sunday Training Sesshwah

This coming Sunday training session is our FINAL SUNDAY SESSION for 2012.

The following week is Boot Camp (see below), and following that we’ll switch over to Tues / Thurs evening sessions.  So in the spirit of celebrating anything and everything, you are all invited along to training obviously, and then on to the Windsor Castle afterwards where we’ve booked a big space and will be getting on it.  Everyone is invited, including friends, girlfriends, wives, friends of girlfriends and wives, people you met at the pub the night before, people you see on the street on the way to the pub or training, taxi drivers, kebab shop employees etc.  You get the picture, the more the merrier, and so do make an effort to get along.

It’s all happening at 1pm, at the Windsor Castle on Park Road (near Baker Street).  Training is as per normal at 11am sharp in Regents Park at the Hub.

Boot Camp 

Boot Camp is here, and we have a great crew of Lions on board and ready to face the best that the New Forest and Southampton can throw at us.

We’ll be leaving London next Friday 23rd (after work), and returning on Sunday 25th (in the afternoon).   Between those times you’ll be camping, running, boxing, swimming, eating, assault-coursing, drinking, sweating, shivering, arguing, pushing and shoving, ogling, dancing, singing, and improving your footy skills no end.   There are one or two spots left for any last minute joiners, so do let us know if you are tempted.   Cost is £50 a head including travel, accommodation and food.

Stockholm

Each year the Lions trek off to an exotic European location for a game of footy.   This time around Stockholm in Sweden is the destination, and we’ll be playing a game of footy against the Solna Axemen on Saturday 14th April.

We’ve got 2o+ Lions confirmed already, and there is space for more.   Book your own flights in advance (fly our on Friday 13th April, returning to London on Sunday 15th) and we’ll sort accommodation for you.   Dress code is as per normal for Lions pre season trips: You must land in Stockholm and walk off the airplane in a white dress shirt, black tie and black jacket.  No exemptions and no excuses.

We’d suggest you book tickets sooner rather than later, as its only going to get more pricey.

Membership

If you get in an pay SOON, you can save 25% on your Lions Membership for 2012.   Anyone that pays prior to the Anzac Cup in mid April will only have to front up £30, versus £40 that will sting everyone else after that date.   That’s not really so far off now, so we’d suggest getting yourself sorted.  That’s almost 3 pints in some places, or almost 5 pints if you drink in a Weatherspoons and only buy their extra special chav deals.   Although if that’s what you are doing already then you probably should be playing for West London.

Just jump online and pay via the Lion Shop on our website (http://www.aussierules.co.uk/the-lion-store/)

Dates To Remember

- Sun March 18th:   Final Sunday training session

- Fri March 23rd / Sat 24th / Sat 25th:  Boot Camp 2012

- Tues March 27th:  First Tuesday training session, 6pm at The Hub in Regents Park

- Thurs March 29ths:   First Thurs training session, 6pm at The Hub in Regents Park

- Fri Apr 6th / Sat 7th / Sun 8th / Mon 9th:   Easter Long Weekend

- Fri Apr 13th / Sat 14th / Sun 15th:  Stockholm pre season trip

- Sat Apr 28th:  Anzac Cup

- Sat May 5th:  Round 1 (at home versus West London Wildcats)