Tables turn for FIDA Suns outcome

THE Bendigo FIDA Suns Red and White teams scored a chilly, though beautiful, sunny Sunday morning as the sides returned to Queen Elizabeth Oval last weekend.

While Red won at last year’s grand final, round two last Sunday saw White victorious, with a final score of 55 to 41.

The FIDA Suns teams play in the AFL Victoria FIDA Football League, an all-abilities competition.

Although you want your team to win, coaches of both teams said victory isn’t the main goal.

Red team coach Jedd Manton said he has been involved with FIDA Suns since it started.

“Our goals are just to have fun and get the players to enjoy it,” he said.

“FIDA’s about fun and integration, so just getting people involved in the club and the program is our goal for the season.”

Manton said the number of women on the teams is increasing, with mixed-gender competition something unique to the FIDA AFL League.

“Our female participation has grown over the last three years, which is good,” he said. “This year we’ve got four or five girls. Hopefully, next season it will grow.”

Brodie Biggs coaches FIDA Suns White and said he was happy with the quality of play.

“We’ve made an awesome start, we won our first game,” he said. “We only play seven games for the year, so each win is pretty important.

“It’s awesome to come out on the QEO today, which is like one of the best grounds in country Victoria, so yeah the guys are pretty excited.”

Biggs said the team has a positive mindset this year.

“Everything’s positive, we’re not focusing on the negatives,” he said. “We sort of have a focus each quarter, so we have one person kick a goal each quarter, and that’s been really good so far.

“We train on a Wednesday and then play every few Sundays. It’s the best part of my week.”