Bali Gecko’s: Aussie rules team

Bali is home to many Australian expats, who like to keep in touch with the homeland. Those from Victoria, in particular, enjoy Aussie Rules football, and Bali has its own team, the Gecko’s.

Having lived in Seminyak for getting on 4 years, I am familiar with the Gecko’s, and where they hang out. Across the street from Cafe Moka, on Jl. Seminyak, is a school. Next to the school is a large field, home to a pack of the meanest mutts, you’ll ever meet, and training ground for the Gecko’s.

•Here’s what the Gecko’s website says:
On any given Thursday, a dedicated group of Aussie Rules fanatics can be found honing their skills on the newly laid turf of the Canggu Club. Although training attendance is linked directly to swell conditions, the dedication shown by these select few on the track is second only to their commitment at the bar.

Formed in 1997 as a result of a challenge thrown down by a visiting opposition team, the Mighty Geckos have forged a strong reputation as the hardest team in Asia, on and off the oval. Several forays across the region have seen the Geckos trophy cabinet at The Bottle Shop slowly fill with the spoils of victory.

In addition to tours, the Bali Geckos also host two events each year, the Bali 9s Masters in March and the Bali 9s in early October, marking the anniversary of the 2002 Bali bombing. With these events, and other fund raising initiatives, the Geckos support several charities on the island assisting under privileged children and victims of the bombings.

Members of the Mighty Geckos are a who’s who of Bali’s elite, counting among them some of the entrepreneurs, company executives and most eligible bachelors that call Bali home. Regular attendees at games and training sessions include Prime Ministers, AFL stars and Australian film and television celebrities.

Guests are always welcome, but be warned: training sessions can often run into the wee small hours of Friday morning.

•History of the Bali Gecko’s:
If the surf is no good, on any Thursday afternoon at in Seminyak, you’ll find a bunch of expats honing their skills of their beloved Australian Rules Football. While the beers are being chilled at the Bottle Shop, one of the Geckos’ preferred watering holes, astonished locals watch, wonder and laugh as the sweating expats kick, handball and swear at each other.

The Geckos, as they affectionately known, were formed in 1997 when a challenge was thrown out by a traveling Jakarta Bintang Footballer to an expatriate Australian living in Bali. Since then, the Geckos have taken on teams from over the region and have enjoyed a huge amount of success both on and off the field. With many AFL teams using Bali as the destination for end of season trips, the Geckos have often had AFL stars at training and entertained them socially. In October 2003, The Geckos received much media attention after the very successful Bali 9s, where ex-AFL star Jason McCartney pulled on the Gecko jumper. Australian Prime Minister John Howard also tried out the Gecko colours, but, to his disappointment, did not get a run on the field during the final.

The Geckos have a core of about 20 players, with the majority being Australian expatriates residing in Bali. Added to this are the many tourists who join the Geckos periodically whilst holidaying in Bali. This includes former and current AFL or state level past and present players. Apart from players, the Geckos have many supporters, both in Bali and Australia.

•Gecko’s Song:
Here are couple of songs the guys sing.

Geckos forever more
Geckos are we
Taking marks and drinking beers
Chicks love being with real winners
Geckos forever more
Geckos are we
For we are the mighty Geckos
Geckos are the greatest team of all !!!

Alternative Geckos Anthem sung to the tune of Waltzing Matilda

Once a group of Aussies
Left for a Bali beach
Looking for the shade of a coconut tree
And they drank and they laughed
As they sat around at Billy’s bar
Come & live in Bali and it’s all tax free

Chorus
Geckos forever, Geckos forever
I’m proud to be a Gecko for the world to see
Geckos here, Geckos there
Bali geckos drinking everywhere
We’re proud to be the Geckos from Kuta, Bali

Down came the Geckos
To drink at their waterhole
Every thursday night with barman Robbie
Either too hot for training
Or it’s always bloody raining
They’ll be at the sports bar for a drink or three

Geckos forever, Geckos forever
I’m proud to be a Gecko for the world to see
Geckos here, Geckos there
Bali geckos drinking everywhere
We’re proud to be the Geckos from Kuta, Bali

Down came the pres
Looking for his Gecko boys
”how many beers you had?”
one, two, three !!!!
There were cans and there were stubbies
Of bintangs lying everywhere
Come and have a beer with the Gecko team

Geckos forever, Geckos forever
I’m proud to be a gecko for the world to see
Geckos here Geckos there
Bali geckos drinking everywhere
We’re proud to be the Geckos from Kuta, Bali

Written by Brian Carr, Geelong, Australia

Brian Carr, don’t give up your day job yet mate.

•Gecko’s charity:
Its not all beer drinking, scaring the locals and trying to kill each other. The Gecko’s have a heart and a part all proceeds raised through matches, competitions, raffles, and merchandising will be distributed amongst charities throughout Bali.

The Bali Geckos currently are involved in raising funds for Yayasan Sri Kandhi, a non profit organization founded by victims of the Bali bombings which aims to support the victims’ families.

•Game day locations:
Game Day venues include :
The Yakka
The Canggu Club
The Ground across the road from Bali Bungy (Lapangan Tri Sakti) .

The recent opening of the Canggu Club, the first private members club in Bali, has given the Gecko’s a new fancy, shmancy home. I reckon teams visiting from ther parts of SE Asia will be well impressed.

•Upcoming events: The Bali 9’s
The Bali 9’s creates an opportunity for teams to challenge each other in a unique, modified version of the great Australian game. Teams consist of only nine players on the field, with six substitutes available. Played on a soccer field, which is much smaller than the field usually used for Aussie Rules, and with halves of only twelve minutes, the games of 9’s is faster, more action packed and higher scoring than the normal-ruled game.

This year will see the event being held for the fourth time. Over the past year’s we have seen teams from Hong Kong, Malaysia, Perth, Batemans Bay, Sydney, Melbourne and two teams from Indonesia; hosts, the world famous Bali Geckos and the Jakarta Bintangs.

The event will be held on Saturday October 8th at Lapangan Samudra, Jalan Blambangan, Kuta. The tournament will begin at 8.30am, with games being played basically non-stop until the top two-positioned teams play in the final, scheduled to be played at 16.30. Entrance is free, and food and refreshments will be available.

•For enquires or further information regarding the Bali 9’s Australian Rules Football Championship, please contact Tournament director, Peter Muir on +62 818 563 474 or at coach@baligeckos.com

If you are in Seminyak and like Aussie Rules, why not stop into the Bottle Shop on Jl. Kunti and see who’s around. (Songwriters welcome).