Nick Armistead – @NickArmistead

After two and a half weeks travelling the Emerald Isle and finishing with a quickfire weekend on the vast and diverse streets of England’s capital, the 2017 VAFA Ireland and London Tour has come to a successful conclusion.

More than 35 players, family members and support staff experienced the VAFA’s exclusive international rules series on the other side of the world.

Small wins encompassed all the tour had to offer, from on field performances both individually and collectively, to the way each member of the touring party conducted themselves off field through various activities and interactions. Everyone agreed a series of small wins would depict the success of the tour far greater than just W’s and L’s.

The overarching message regularly expelled from tour coach, Dave Murray, was for all players to respect themselves, each other, their clubs, the Association, their state and their country at all times. Those six groups were who each player represented each time they pulled on the Big V jumper.

If you need an example of the message ‘Muzz’ was attempting to instil in his players, watch his pre-match speech before Game 2 against Tuam Stars. 9K views and I’m likely half of those, with goose bumps still appearing as I re-watch it for the 4501^st time now.

Arguably the largest victory in the series of small wins was the galvanisation of the playing group. Nobody could have foreseen how rapidly a group of players ranging from William Buck Premier to Division 4 could come together as one tight-knit unit.

Led by the inspiring and mature captaincy of George Burbury with assistance from the leadership group of Sam Hibbins, Denis Symeopoulos, Lochy Dornauf and Al Armstrong, and in the words of Muzz, one became 21 on the very first day of the tour.

Burbury led not just on field as the Player of the Tour, but showcased his ability to guide a group of players aged between 19 and 27 into one entity via his elite communicative skillset. His respect for the Big V and competitive nature is second to none and, when the time comes, Burbury should be one of the first modern day players inducted as a Champion of the Big V.

The bond of the group was epitomised by the selfless actions of Westbourne Grammarians midfield star, Michael Culliver. During the first few days in Cork, Culliver’s roommate and Old Ivanhoe young gun, Nick Reeves-Smyth, fell ill and was unable to attend social activities with the rest of the team. Culliver forewent the night’s festivities to stay by Reeves-Smyth’s side, ensuring he had the company of one of his teammates and new-found brothers while recovering. This was just one example of the lengths each player was willing to go to for each other and insight into the type of leader Culliver will be for the Warriors.

Before we get into the on-field results, I need to spend time on the coaching duo of Murray and his assistant, Luke Mahoney. Having spent time together as captain and coach of St Kevin’s OB, the selection of the two VAFA stalwarts was inspired, with Muzz’s ability to motivate complemented by Mahons’ tactical nous. Both were made for game day and established the utmost respect from both the playing group and touring party. The success of any tour relies heavily on the quality of those at the helm and both Muzz and Mahons were of the highest order.

From an officiating perspective, VAFA Umpire of the Year, Haydn O’Connor, showcased the very best the VAFAUA has to offer. While often faced with Irish counterparts whose knowledge of International Rules was limited, HOC took control and officiated with poise and class. Furthermore, he made serious inroads into the relationship between umpires and players via his affable and approachable personality.

On field, there was only one thing on the minds of all the players; returning to Australia with a winning record. They were hellbent on writing their own history and, as a group with an average age of 22, the feat would have been monumental. While the tour was about a lot more than on field success, those representing the Big V had their own vision and goals upon which they deemed an important part of the trip’s success.

It commenced in ideal fashion, with the team defeating Bishopstown by 47 points under lights at their home stadium. The sound of the Victorian theme song reverberated across Ireland that night as the group opened their account with one of the most comprehensive victories in our international rules history.

Unfortunately, the ensuing two games against Tuam Stars and the ever-impressive Donaghmore Ashbourne brought upon two hard-fought losses for the Big V, ending their dreams of unbridled on field success. However, it was not simply about W’s and L’s. The way in which the players conducted themselves in both losses was a credit to themselves, the leaders and the coaching staff. They were in positions to win throughout both games but the talent and round-ball skillset of their opponents was at times irrepressible.

Concluding the football aspect of the tour was an Australian Rules match against AFL Europe in London. The squad returned to the oval ball of which they were accustomed and were unrelenting against London’s representative outfit, re-writing history with a 147-point victory in Reading; the largest of any Big V touring party. While small wins were the theme of the tour, there was a sense of both pride and relief with the sheer dominance imparted by those in the Victorian strip.

Off field, the opportunities to experience situations we’d otherwise never get were aplenty. From bypassing a two-year wait list for an incredible tour of Coolmore Stud and receiving the chance to physically touch champion stallion, Galileo, to watching the playing group teach both a young group of aspiring Irish Australian Rules footballers at University Cork College and the world’s best women’s Gaelic players in Dublin. From visiting the Cliffs of Moher and Trinity College to attending the Australian Embassy, touring the iconic Croke Park and watching Tottenham defeat Bournemouth at Wembley Stadium.

In what other situations can one obtain these life experiences? All while playing or watching the Big V in an International Rules series?

The support staff were an integral part of the tour throughout the two and a half weeks and received the same opportunities as the playing group.

Perhaps the most feel-good story was Liam Whelan’s grandmother. She visited her home nation for the first time in her life while watching her grandson don the same Big V jumper as his father. Her face was rarely void of a smile as she exuded as much, if not more, enthusiasm than those representing the Big V themselves. Does it get any better than that?

Nick Nagel’s parents, Marg and Brett, witnessed their son kick one of the goals of the tour from 40m out against Tuam Stars, while Ross Di Lizio watched on as his son dominated across half back in Game 4 and was awarded the Spirit of the Big V Award.

Speaking with Kerry Overman while in Dublin, her overriding feeling of the trip was the enjoyment she took from the company of the fellow support staff and families. To her own admission, Overman’s preconceived notion of the tour was that of “just another footy trip” but she was surprised at how much enjoyment she garnered from the available activities and shared company.

“I’d tell anybody who received the opportunity to do it,” Overman said.

“It’s a once in a lifetime thing and I’ve personally made friends for life.”

While just some of the small wins attained during this year’s VAFA Ireland and London Tour have been noted, the culmination of each equates to an experience these players, supporters and staff will carry for the rest of their lives.

One tour was a series of small wins and I congratulate all involved at the VAFA for the success of this year’s trip.