"Welcome to Australia" by Gerard Nus

Without any doubts, this blog should be dedicated to Australia and Melbourne Heart FC, where I’m fortunate to work as assistant coach for John Aloisi.

I’m taking my first steps in Australia and it’s easy to see that apart from being a spectacular country, it’s growing steadily and correctly. A continent far away from everything, but aware of their identity and their beliefs.

The variety of sports is wide in spite of having a population of a slightly more than 20

million. The main sport is AFL (Aussie Rules), which is, the Australian football. This sport is only played in this country and it needs to be seen to be believed! Magnificent stadiums, oval pitches, tall and strong players who pass the ball to each other and can score in three goals (the tallest one is like the rugby goal and the others two smaller goals on the sides).

Also in daily life it’s popular the Australian Rugby, it has two one is called Rugby League and the other is called Rugby Union. Rugby League is more popular than Rugby Union in Australia, but Rugby Union is more popular around the world compared to Rugby League. And cricket, which is a classic in the Commonwealth. Punctually, but no less important, is the Formula 1 and tennis, especially for the Australian Open and the famous names who were born here.

Start of the season

The reception was fantastic and the competition has already started so I am adjusting accordingly. A few days ago the season started on the 12^th of October. The A-League (Australian Football League) is composed of 10 teams played in 3 rounds, there are 27 matches. Once the regular season has finished the play-off are played to decide the league champion and to determine the teams who are going to play the next Asiatic Champions League.

For us, the league began with a derby between Melbourne Victory and Melbourne Heart in front of 45.000 spectators. Our team played defensively very strong and we had chances to score. The match ended with a goalless draw, but we had good feelings against one of the candidates for the title.

Melbourne Heart

Melbourne Heart is a club that is demonstrating ambition and growing up and competing well. We have got well known players like Harry Kewell ex Liverpool FC and captain of the team; Orlando Engelaar ex Twente FC, Schalke 04 and 14 times international for Netherlands; Rob Wielaert ex Ajax and Twente FC and Patrick Kisnorbo ex Leeds United FC and Leicester City, inter alia. Leading and managing the team we have a John Aloisi, well known in Spanish League as a strike from Osasuna FC and Alaves FC. For me it's an honour to work with him.