Finals football is here: ANU 5ths..will they make it.

Across Australia that uniquely Australian exercise of "finals football" is on.

At Club level across Canberra it's no different. Men and Women's Grand Finals take place next week, in it must be said, the shortest football season in the World out side maybe Siberia.

Focus usually is on the Premier League's but I bumped into a couple of 5th Graders this week from the ANU FC (Australian National University). They were still playing this early in September. It could only mean one thing. Finals football.

Peter Papathanasiou, he's the keeper, and a noisy one at that. He's also also author of the 20 page weekly ANU football club publication called "The SCUM."

Nice name lads!

Anyway Pete and Lee Gordon, guess Lee's a full-back, if not he should be. They popped in after training this week. Straight from the hallowed home ANU North Oval.

"Why are you training in September?"

"Finals football." Straight face from Pete as well.

"ANU in the finals?" I raised my brow.

"Top of the league, we finished." replied Pete. You can feel the pride a little more in the older guys. Have you noticed that?

"So how did you go last weekend," I knew it was the second week of the finals you see.

"Well we lost! 1-0." added Lee.

"Against?"

"Olympic, we'd beaten them twice this season, and it was Poops fault and the ball came in and he didn't clear it....."

Gotta love how the 5th Grade any grade means so much...even to these old soldiers. And they are old.

Other names in the side are like a who's who of elite local football 15 years ago. Canberrans may have been skinned by the likes of now 5th Grade Coach Pete Baker, or Dutch striker Chris De Reuyter or felt the verbal lashing and goal strike of Michael Wiseman.

Apparently Wisey, former Belco blast from the past is still knocking em in.

So undefeated all year. Final football comes and the old guys have run out of puff.

But the second chance. Thank god for the Aussie second chance. I still have no idea if they are playing a semi-final, minor semi, preliminary or even lesser Grand Final, but they assured me this week they could do it.

Although they waivered at the thought of backing up against younger faster guys..again.

Still ANU 5ths run out this week determined to make the Grand Final.

Good luck to your team if you are still in the mix. If you're not isn't your football season too short? And how does any amateur player keep fit and their skills up between now and April when the competition starts again.

And for the record, Robbie Bennett, yes he's in the team too, that's right former Soccer Canberra CEO, he was supposed to write the match report for this weeks SCUM.

But he didn't.

Bet he writes it if they win this week:)