Canadian football team faces St Pat's

MOST had never played football on an oval until yesterday.Canada’s national under-19 team, the Wolf Pack, was on the prowl at St Patrick’s College to absorb as much on-field knowledge as they could in the Australian code.Canadian coach Mike McFarlane, cousin to Brownlow medallist Bob Skilton, said there was no better way for his players to step up their games than venturing into the heartland of AFL, Victoria.This includes a move off their usual playing rectangular fields at soccer and gridiron venues.“We arrived here Sunday morning and are straight into it – we knew it would be tough but you don’t improve unless you come up against quality opposition,” McFarlane said.“These boys are national Canadians, who grew up playing (ice) hockey.’’The Wolf Pack, with players aged 15-18, faced St Pat’s intermediate squad of year nine and 10 students.St Pat’s head coach Howard Clark said it was a good development match for his players to learn the structures and expectations of senior football.Old Collegian Marty Walters, who coaches Aussie Rules in Canada, helped set up the fixture.The Wolf Pack will undertake a skills session today with North Ballarat Rebels regional manager Phil Partington before moving to Healesville for its next assignment on Friday.The touring group will trek to the Gold Coast next week for two more matches and itinerary also includes a couple of AFL matches.Touring mum Lorna Moore, who plays at full forward in a growing women’s league, said this was “the trip of a lifetime”.