Mining for US gold

By Gavin Staindl
FOUR Berwick Miners took part in Victoria’s fourth successive grand final appearance at the national gridiron championships held at the State Hockey and Netball Centre last week.
Australian representative and US National Football League hopeful Steve Baker teamed up with fellow Miners Shahid Malimar, Scott Sunderland and Andrew Nichols to lead the Victorian Eagles to their fourth straight grand final appearance but, like the previous three times, the Eagles fell to New South Wales.
According to ex-Eagles defensive co-ordinator and Miners head coach Mel Martin, the Eagles were emphatically beaten by the Wolfpack.
After beating Queensland 33-6 and ACT 40-0 in the pool games, the Eagles lost to New South Wales 28-7.
“All four Miners enjoyed the experience but were disappointed by the result,” Martin said.
Former Seahawks quarterback Andrew Nixon, 21, was used as a second string quarter back and made the most of his minimal playing opportunities. “He played a good quarter and a half against Queensland and threw quite a few completions,” Martin said.
“In the grand final he was given the ball late in the game and gained 60 yards but was substituted back out for the starting QB when he had the chance to score,” Martin said.
The starting tight end and back-up running back Scott Sunderland played well by his own admission while big man Shahid Malimar was promoted into the middle of the defensive line as recognition for his good form.
Steve Baker, who is trying to make his mark in the NFL as a punter was used as one of Victoria’s main defensive backs (safety) rather than a punter.
Baker had just returned from North America where he had been in training to be selected as professional punter.
“I did pretty well but when it came to the qualifiers the nerves got the better of me,” Baker said on reflection of his efforts in the US.
The 31-year-old watched as fellow Victorian David King was picked up and signed by the New England Patriots.
“He has been giving me advice telling me how cut-throat it is.
“They wanted to change his (King’s) style, which he didn’t want to do, but he said to me, ‘you just have to adjust or they will kick you out’,” Baker said.
Baker is adamant that he will be picked up next year after being knocked back by the New York Jets last year because of consistency issues.
“I have got the goods. I am getting better consistency, heaps more spirals and getting over five seconds of hang time.
“I am almost certain that I’ll be picked up,” Baker said.
Already there are five Australian punters in the NFL with Ben Graham (Cardinals), Sav Rocca (Eagles), Ty Bond (Giants), Mat McBriar (Cowboys) and the newly signed King (Patriots) all starters for their respective teams.