Team Asia

Team Asia is born out of the wonderful work that AFL multicultural development officer Michael Nguyen has done as coach of the Elgar Park Dragons, a predominantly Asian-based team in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. Due to the level of commitment and success, Nguyen and other volunteers are harnessing in this significantly Asian populated region, many new participants are taking up Australian Football.

Team Asia will be competing in the Multicultural Challenge section of the 2008 International Cup, and is eagerly anticipating its two clashes with Team Africa.

Since 2002, numerous social games of Australian Football have been played across Melbourne featuring young members of the Asian community both as players and supporters. This is evidence people with Asian heritage have developed a love of Australian Football, and many have now adopted the game as their sport of choice.

In 2006, a meeting between Tri Thoi, Peter Nguyen and Searn Ear identified the need to establish a football team to cater for the many young Asian players interested in playing the game but who lacked confidence abd experience to approach a local club. The following year the Elgar Park Dragons were established to compete in the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) Club 18 competition.

The team of 32 was made up of predominantly Vietnamese, Chinese, Cambodian and Korean players, many of who had been playing the game for less than 12 months.

The Dragons made substantial gains in their inaugural year by making finals, procuring a number of major sponsors and featuring prominently in the media. Another major highlight of the 2007 season was the achievement of Khoa Nguyen, who won the league goalkicking award with 59 goals.

In 2008, the Elgar Park Dragons expanded to seniors and reserves, made up of a squad of 58 players.

Michael Nguyen is the coach of the Dragons and will coach Team Asia, assisted by Tri Thoi and Searn Ear.

Nguyen will draw upon his experience as a former player for Sandringham (VFL) and Southport (AFLQ) to implement an exciting brand of football for all of the Asian fans who will flock to Windy Hill and Royal Park to show their support.

Special thanks go to the Victorian Government through the Victorian Multicultural Commission on its generous support of Team Asia.

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