Box Hill North and Whitehorse Pioneers play host to Tonga, Japan and South Africa during AFL International Cup

MORE than 20 international teams are currently in Melbourne doing battle in the 2014 AFL International Cup and local clubs are playing a big part in the success of the tournament.

YVMDFL (Div 1) footy: olinda Ferny Ck v mt evelynAFL international cup: Tonga versus Japan at Elgar Park, Box Hill North. Pictures:Angie Basdekis

More than 20 international teams are currently in Melbourne doing battle in the 2014 AFL International Cup and local clubs are playing a big part in the success of the tournament.

On Saturday, Box Hill North played host to the Japan v Tonga clash at Elgar Park and the visit of the Japanese team built on a 10-year relationship it has with Box Hill North.

This year, 29 players from Japan travelled to Melbourne to contest the Cup competition and Box Hill North was chosen to host the Samurais’ Community Round game as a result of the decade-long partnership between the club and AFL Japan.

The relationship began when a previous club president, Simon Evans, moved to Japan and played for a local team, the Tokyo Goannas.

Since then, Box Hill North has travelled to Japan every second year to compete in the Japan Cup.

While there, they have trained with local teams and conducted school clinics.

The club also hosts a Japanese scholarship player every year, who stays with club members and trains and plays with the Demons.

This year, four former scholarship players are competing in the International Cup.

For the record Tonga scored a comfortable win in the Pool B clash 21.10 (136) to 2.3 (15)

Japan takes the field. Pictures:Angie Basdekis

MEANWHILE, Whitehorse Pioneers looked to a club connection to play host to members of the South African team last week.

A former junior player at the club is now a school teacher at Sacred Heart College in Johannesburg and has a lot to do with developing Australian Rules football in the country.

As such, the Pioneers were the obvious choice to host the South Africans at training on Thursday night.

The players joined training, sat in on the Pioneers’ team selection and enjoyed a meal with the club.

It was an experience that delighted both parties.

“Our coach got up at the end of the night and said he was amazed at their skill level and their knowledge, they really knew where to run to,” Whitehorse Pioneers president Joe Manno said. “I wouldn’t mind having a few of them playing for us.”

And, it seems the Pioneers and their hospitality left a mark on the visiting South Africans.

“They just couldn’t believe what we had set up for a footy team and the facilities we have,” Manno said. “I said, ‘we’re one of the small clubs’.”