Father MacDonald Cup

 

2006

HMAS Albatross held the NSW Fire Brigade scoreless to win the Father Macdonald Australian Rules Football Carnival at Randwick Barracks last month.

Albatross claimed the title with a 22-0 victory in the final.

The Father Macdonald Cup is always billed as a big day on the Aussie Rules calendar and there was plenty of tough as guts football from all the teams entered.

Randwick Barracks was converted into a footy player’s paradise for the full day of action, which was played in near perfect weather.

The six teams entered included the combined sides of HMAS Watson, HMAS Waterhen and HMAS Penguin (The Wat Wats), HMAS Manoora, HMAS Kanimbla, and HMAS Tobruk (The Amphibions), as well as HMAS Albatross, HMAS Melbourne, HMAS Kuttabul and the NSW Fire Brigade.
Albatross and the NSW Fire Brigade cut a swathe through the rest of the teams and deserved their places in the final.

A large crowd was on hand to witness the final, which was a showcase for some sharp skills from old and young players alike.

Albatross didn’t allow the NSW Fire Brigade to score a goal, which was a major achievement considering the earlier results.

The best and fairest award was won by POATA Bradley Graham of HMAS Albatross, who is a maintenance manager at 817 Squadron.

Action from the 2006 Father Mac Grand Final between Albatross and NSW Fire Brigade.

2006 Results:

Wat Wats def Melbourne 53-13
NSW Fire Brigade def Kuttabul 44-41
Albatross def Wat Wats 41-20
NSW Fire Brigade def Amphibions 71-20
Albatross def Melbourne 52-6
Kuttabul def Amphibions 41-2
Albatross def NSW Fire Brigade 22-0

2010

7 teams contested the 2010 running of the Father MacDonald Cup with Albatross again proving they are the most dominant Navy football side. Led by a dominant captain in LSAT "Poly" Polman along with the experience of CPOAT "Wombat" Norton, Albatross proved too strong for defending champions Waterhen in the final, winning by 11 points.

In the Lyons Plate, the combined side of Ballarat and Success proved too strong for their opponents of Kuttabul/Kanimbla, running out comfortable winners with many players performing well in front of 2010 RANAFA coach POCIS John Tootell.

The player of the carnival and winner of the Father Dempsey Trophy was SMNCD Chris Reichman. Full details can be found in the Mar 4 edition of Navy News.

2010 Father Mac winners - Albatross

LSATV Polman (Albatross) and LSBM Smits (Ballarat/Success) receive their teams' awards from CO HMAS KUTTABUL CMDR Christine Clarke