By JARROD POTTER
FROM Endeavour Hills to Ireland is a rapid transition, but footballer Glen Costas is prepared for the challenge.
The 22-year-old forward who plays in the Victorian Amateur Football Association’s (VAFA) Division 2 for the St John’s Old Collegians Football Club, has been selected in a 22-man squad to play four matches in Ireland against local Gaelic football teams.
After a couple of years training for the VAFA to make a representative squad – under-19, seniors or under-23 – Costas found out he’d been put into the VAFA’s squad to go to Ireland.
“I rang them the next day to find out the info, gave them a call and found out the dates and how much and once I found out that I was pretty much locked in straight away,” Costas said.
“It’s pretty exciting – obviously being disappointed three times then getting the chance to represent the VAFA and St John’s of course, is a huge opportunity and I’m stoked to be given the chance to represent the VAFA over there.”
The team will play four matches in a two-week period, three of which are against local Irish clubs. The fourth match is the standout fixture of the tour against the All Ireland team – that will face the touring AFL Indigenous team the following week.The forward pocket will be well-suited to the fast-paced, high intensity International Rules format – but is getting used to the nuances of playing round ball sport.
Costas and the VAFA team depart for Ireland on Monday 30 September and play their first match on Friday 4 October in Cork, before heading to Galway, Caven and Dublin before departing on Monday 14 October.
Costas wanted to thank St John’s Old Collegians Football Club for all their ongoing support and fundraising efforts to help him get over to Ireland.
If anyone is interested in sponsoring Costas on his Irish football tour, for more information contact St John’s secretary Chris Swinburne on 0414 459 967.
