The Mighty Solna Axemen
SAFF Round 1
Solna Axemen vs. Södermalm Blues
After getting comprehensively schooled by the Dragons last weekend, the mighty Solna Axemen were out to restore some credibility.
It was the opening round of the 2008 SAFF (Stockholm region Australian Football Federation!) season, and we were up against the unpredictable Södermalm Blues.
Söder missed the ‘07 Grand Final (there are only three teams in the Stockholm AFL league… so if you miss out on the final you automatically collect the Wooden Spoon, ouch). But in an effort to make up for it in 2008, they’ve been putting in the hard yards all pre-season - constantly showing up to the early Sunday sessions with a full squad.
We were expecting a tough clash.
Fortunately we had some big returns for the season opener, in particular our captain courageous Patty Hyberg.
The absolutely brilliant springtime weather had well and truly kicked in around Stockholm, so we had a glorious, sunny day at the home of Swedish football: Årsta.
With the wind at our backs we got off to a flying start. In no time piling on the pressure via the scoreboard, as well as giving the Blues a lesson in tough, physical footy.
Bucks crunched Söder’s star midfielder Maxy Larsson, our President Mike Nabb got sent off for a stray elbow, and I managed to keep my hair clean on the half-back flank.
With a strong lead going into the second half, we were close to finishing them off. And when former SANFL player and male model “Coach Kingsley” tore past three hapless defenders to kick a clever goal from the pocket, it was all over.
A solid start to the season in front of a capacity crowd of 32 at Årsta Stadium back-field:
Solna Axemen 77 def. Södermalm Blues 38
Next week we’ve got the Grand Final replay (again, with only three teams we’re gonna have a “grand final replay” every third week…) against the Bromma Aussies Vikings - always a heated affair.
But of course it wouldn’t be a win without a celebration. So afterwards the team headed to a nice little pub in Sundbyberg for a few quiet drinks.
Somehow a few drinks turned into 10, and before I knew it a few of the Axemen, along with a couple of girls (that were quite possibly twice my age), were showing me the way to the famed Garbo’s nighclub.
I soon realised it’s famous for all the wrong reasons. But just like a car-crash I couldn’t look away. In the end I stumbled home at 5am with the sun well and truly up and my body very much hating me for not having gone to bed 10 hours earlier.
I’ll be sure to look after myself a bit better next weekend.