O'Dea has day on gridiron field

SUNSHINE Coast one day, Austria the next.

Christian O’Dea will represent Australia playing gridiron. . Picture: Jason Dougherty

SUNSHINE Coast one day, Austria the next.

That is the path Christian O'Dea is taking as his gridiron dreams come true.

Coolum's O'Dea will head to Europe in July to represent Australia at the International Federation of American Football World Cup.

The four-yearly event draws teams from the US, Mexico, Japan, Canada and various European countries to compete for the coveted world title.

It is the first time O'Dea has been selected to represent his country and he believes it will be a tough task for Australia, which has been grouped with heavyweights the US and Mexico.

“I got a bit of a surprise when I got the call,” he said.

“It's going to be unreal, though. It's the highest level of amateur football until you sign a deal with the NFL.

“Our first game is against an accumulation of US college teams and that'll be a tough one.

“Gridiron to them is what rugby league or AFL is to Australians.”

O'Dea, 24, plays defensive end for the Sunshine Coast Spartans in the Brisbane gridiron competition.

He played at last year's state championships before trialling for the Queensland team.

He went on to make the squad of 65 for the national team and after a torrid training camp his name was among the 45 announced to travel to Austria.

“I can guarantee it wasn't easy to make the team,” he said.

“It was a tough few days. We had sessions in the mornings and then we'd train all day in the heat.”

Originally published as O'Dea has day on gridiron field