’Pegger named to national Aussie Rules squad

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This article was published 05/02/2019 (2646 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When it comes to playing Australian rules football in Manitoba, Steve Setka is blazing a bit of a trail.

While growing up in St. Vital, the 27-year-old hadn’t even heard of the sport that he’s now so passionate about.

Now Setka is among the names in the initial 61-man squad selected from across Canada to make the cut for the Canadian men’s national Aussie rules team — the Northwind — that will contest its seventh consecutive AFL International Cup in Melbourne, Australia in 2020.

From the initial squad, the team will be reduced to 44 after a training camp in Edmonton, and the final squad of 30 will be selected following a subsequent selection camp in Toronto, Setka said.

According to the squad list, Setka — who plays for the Winnipeg Bears — is the only Manitoban selected.

“I’m the first Manitoban that we know of to be selected for the training camp and hopefully move through the process and make the final team,” Setka said.

The 6-1, 190-pound athlete picked up the sport a few years ago while living in Geelong, 70 kilometres west of Melbourne, and he’s been hooked ever since.

“The nature of the sport was very intriguing and it developed a deep passion in me,” said Setka, who currently lives in St. James.

“It’s just different and unique.”

Calling it a bit of everything, the St. Paul’s High School alumnus said Australian rules football combines elements of various sports he played growing up — including hockey, football, rugby, and basketball — as well as being a good cardiovascular and muscular workout. He also thrives on the technical components of the game.

“The scoring is structured differently and it’s played on an oval pitch, which is different. To move the ball, you handball, which is like an underarm volleyball serve; you can punt, but you need to give it backspin; and then you have to run and bounce it like a basketball, which can be difficult because the ball is oval-shaped,” Setka said.  

While Australian rules football is a physical sport, it’s not a collision sport in the same way as American football or rugby, he said.

“The contact is unique. American football is more is more of an aggressive hitting game, whereas Australian rules football is more about strategic tackling. There are no pads or helmets, so the onus is on players for safety and efficient ball movement is more prominent,” he said, noting than when there were insufficient numbers for a Manitoban side at the AFL Canada National Championships, he donned a Nova Scotia jersey.

While opportunities to play the sport in the province can be limited, Setka said, he tries to get his hands on a football every day in preparation for a tournament, and he’s also heavily involved with the Winnipeg Bears Australian Football Club.

He’s hoping the club can continue to gain popularity in among both Canadians and Australians living in Winnipeg, so “intra-club” matches are possible.

Anyone interested in trying out the sport is invited to visit the team’s Facebook page.