Fresh Off The Field

Radio Australia

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Fresh Off the Field is an ABC sports show, bringing you Pacific-focused content from in country professionals. Every Thursday we’ll catch you up on the latest sporting news happening in your own backyard.

12/12/2024

Destanee Aiava rarely sees people who look like her in tennis

Samoan Australian tennis player Destanee Aiava gets messages from Pacific Island parents thanking her for being a role model for their kids and it's these special encounters that add extra motivation. We hear about Aiava's connection to culture, the mental health battles she's faced and why marrying your tennis hitting partner and best friend takes patience. Cynthia Seda from the Solomons and Tongan Kalo Manu-Moli also hop on to discuss sports news from across the region and you'll hear from the PNG and Australian Prime Ministers regarding the massive news in the NRL for Papua New Guinea.

54 min
05/12/2024

PNG Pepes' Shannaz Apelis started with an old tyre netball ring

From an old tyre attached to a tree to representing PNG, Shannaz Apelis has had quite the inspiring netball journey. For someone who was dragged away from soccer by her Mum to try netball, Apelis has taken big leaps in recent years training and playing in Australia alongside experiences at the Pacific Games in Honiara too. Hear her story as well as sports news from Melissa Fare and Lailanie Burnes who join Sam Wykes this week to run through all the sport happening across the Pacific Islands.

54 min
28/11/2024

Jemina Otoa is inspiring the next gen of Solomon Islands para-athletes

Jemina Otoa is on a mission to inspire others who wear the same shoes as her and it goes way beyond winning Pacific Games medals. After taking home silver in Honiara in 2023 she's dedicated to improving funding, coaching standards and the lives of people living with a disability in the Solomon Islands. Sam Wykes chats to Otoa about her story and she has also got an interview with fellow para-athlete Moffet Tolomae. Sam is joined by Patricia Keamo from PNG and Solomon Islands journalist Priestley Habru to discuss all the sport happening across the Pacific region. NB: Parts of this show were produced in collaboration with ABC’s International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) initiative, and is supported by the Women in News and Sport (WINS) program and implemented by ABC International Development.

54 min
21/11/2024

Fiji Men's Netball team play their first test in 20 years

For the first time since 2004, the Fiji men's netball team will play an international game when they head to Singapore for the 'Nations Cup' in December. Coach Jioweli Vakamoce and captain Kitione Waqavonovono talk to us about the acceptance of the sport in Fiji for men, the recognition they're getting and the legacy they hope to leave. Sam Wykes is joined by Fijian Finau Vulivuli and Samoan Fia Laikong to cover the heap of sport happening across the Pacific including basketball, athletics, AFL, rugby 7s and more.

54 min
14/11/2024

Valerie Mai went from family disapproval to the PNG Flames AFL team

Despite Valerie Mai's family not wanting her to play AFL at first, Mai turned them around and has now represented the PNG Flames on an international level. Mai is also actively developing the game in her homeland, helped write a children's book on her cousin Hewago Oea and is about to play in the Pacific Cup in Australia for the Flames. Sam Wykes is also joined by Fijian Lailanie Burns and Papua New Guinean Jamie Haro to chat about basketball, football, boxing and plenty more.

54 min
07/11/2024

Fijian Varun Lal used his muscles and his cooking to connect

Varun Lal left his family in Fiji to pursue a career in engineering in Australia but it's powerlifting that's connected him to his new homeland. Lal is about to represent Australia in a sport that he's only been doing for one year, but has changed his life and made him feel like he has a community away from Fiji. His mean curry making skills have also helped him get to the USA for the powerlifting World Championships starting next week. Plus, Sam Wykes is joined by Melissa Fare and Marian Kupu to chat all things sport in Vanuatu, Tonga and across the rest of the Pacific.

54 min
31/10/2024

Keli Leaupepe brought his birth certificate to basketball games as a kid

Samoan Australian basketballer Keli Leaupepe spent five years playing college basketball in the USA and is now in the NBL with the Sydney Kings. We chat about his basketball journey, learning more about his Samoan side, the first impressions he gives with his size and his big dreams for the future. Sam Wykes steps up for his first episode and is joined by Indra Singh from Fiji and Teitirake Teanoa from Kiribati for lots of sports news across boxing, soccer, rugby league and more.

54 min
24/10/2024

Bye bye Bobby for her final Fresh Off The Field

Bobby Macumber wraps up her time on Fresh Off The Field after an amazing 60 episodes talking sport in the Pacific. Bobby hands over the baton and welcomes in the new host Sam Wykes. Patricia Keamo from PNG covers sports mismanagement and OFC beach soccer and Tongan Kalo Manu-Moli speaks about the Pacific Championships Rugby League and body building. Plus, there's a third pregnancy announcement on the show - what a way to go out!

54 min

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Fresh Off the Field is an ABC sports show, bringing you Pacific-focused content from in country professionals. Every Thursday we’ll catch you up on the latest sporting news happening in your own backyard.