My Story – by Justin Johnson
My family moved to Vanuatu in 2006 and in so doing, brought my less than stunning AFL career to a premature end. I was only 29 years old and arguably had another 3 or 4 years of playing for the Robina Roos ahead of me – but that wasn’t to be!
Missing footy while adjusting to life in a tropical paradise, I heard about a few guys getting together for a social game one weekend. The day was a bit of a fizzer as none of the indigenous Ni-Vanuatu turned up – only the Aussies and most of them were rugby players. The day was useful for one important reason – it got me thinking about how things could be organised a bit better for the betterment of AFL in Vanuatu.
I contacted a friend who worked for AFL in Brisbane – Fiona McLarty to enquire about getting some Rec Footy gear donated. She obliged and sent a pack over, enough for us to set up a corporate Rec Footy Challenge. The Rec Footy program was popular however we struggled with issues such as access to grounds and lack of lights.
Over the years the Rec Footy program became less formal and more social. By about 2009 we were regularly running social games and more and more Ni-Vanuatu players were getting involved.
Building on this interest, AFL Vanuatu was incorporated. The act of forming a structured body was the catalyst for a rush of activity. It has also given credibility to the sport in Vanuatu which in part has fed the enthusiasm of a new crop of volunteers such as the Thiel family.
The new guys enthusiasm has been hard to keep up with at times however the pure energy that they bring to the program translates into success and more opportunities for expansion at every turn.
I am deeply proud of my part in creating what is now a vibrant alternative to the traditional football codes played in Vanuatu, soccer & rugby union – arguably one that is far more suited to the natural abilities of the Ni-Vanuatu people.
The commitment of the AFL Vanuatu executive committee and the volunteers rolling out the various programs is inspiring and together, I am sure, AFL will continue to grow in popularity & participation in the coming years.