Q1. What is your name?

A. Stuart McLean of the Osaka Dingoes Australian Football Club and Japan Australian Football League.

Q2. Where are you originally from?

A. The UK

Q3. How long have you been in Japan?

A. 3 plus years

Q4. Tell me about Osaka Dingoes Austrian Football Club.

A. So we first started in 1990. From 2000 when teams from Tokyo started playing us down here and we started going up there for games football got bigger. In 2005 we joined the Japan Australian Football association backed by the Australian Football League in Australia. From that time football has grown in Osaka. We have a league with the Kobe Blues, regular games with Tokyo teams and we go to the Narita International Cup. This year we took the first steps in starting an university league. In Tokyo at present there are 4 university teams.
This year 2 players from Tokyo went to Australia and trained with a professional team club, they are now semi professional. This year Genki Tanaka from the Osaka Dingoes is on a scholarship in Melbourne with Box Hill North Football Club. The club and sport in general are both growing.

Training: Every Saturday. 2:30 to 5:30. Osaka Castle Park.
Games: usually on Sundays between 3 and 5 at Maishima Sports Island on GRASS!
Members: Around 50 plus members. We have 2 males teams, a female team and a kids team. The members are Japanese, Australian, British, Canadian, Malaysian and Jamaican. Everyone is welcome.
Details: www.osakadingoes.com

Q5. Why did you join it?

A. My old boss was the president. I have played other sports in Japan, but the where not social or supportive. Our club is importantly not only competitive, but also social and supportive.

Q6. What is the difference between Australian football, American football and English football?

A. Austrian football is an unique sport. Many people think they can not do it, but anyone can. There are positions for people of all abilities and sizes. I recommend you take a look at www.jafl.org to understand this.

Q7. Any funny stories?

A. Many, they are mostly based on nights out after training or other club events such as paintball, hanami, dragon boat racing etc. The best ones come from when we go to Tokyo. But I can not tell you them sorry.

Q8. Good part or bad part about doing Australian football in Japan?

A. Watching and sport grow. Helping it grow. Booking grass pitches takes a lot of effort.

Q9. What are your goals for Osaka Dingoes Australian football for 2006?

A. Club Goals
*To Ensure the grow of the sport and the Osaka dingoes by ensuring
that our club is social, competitive and supportive.
*To develop the strength and depth of the Osaka Dingoes and Osaka Bilbies.
*To have members of the Osaka Dingoes join their respective
national teams. (so far we have 5 members who have played for the Japanese national team)
*To have members the Osaka Dingoes to Join the International Cup
and Arahura Games.
*To have players join international club competitions in the
future.
*To start an Australian Football university league in Kansai.
*To start a women’s Australian Football league in Kansai.
*To continue developing children’s Australian Football within
Japan, including the coaching of the Russells junior team and have members
of the Russells join the Japanese national team within 10 years.
*To develop links with clubs and people involved in Australian
Football in other countries.

Q10. Message to WhyNot!? users!

A. Anyone can play this sport; it is one of the great things about it. There are positions for people of all abilities and sizes. Everyone is more that welcome, new players and experienced players.
If you have questions please contact me at
www.osakadingoes.com
osakadingoes@hotmail.com
090-9870-9443
(日本語ok!)

Please come alone!