Why are Aus players so popular?!

[kerf_19]

I'm just throwin this out there, but why is it that Aus players are so popular in college? I see Courtney Hobbs, Sonia Judd and Jen Adams are all getting thumbs up form a lot of people, so whats so special about them? Compared to some other great US college players...I'm just curious as to whats so different between the Aus and US players?!

[GCHSLax04]

An A.



A us
_Us

hehe.

[thunder_15]

cause australia is the best!

[Deutschlaxer]

Because they have amazing talent, and that Australian accent just makes me want to get on my raft and sail for the land down under.

[LongPole4Nutley]

Lol I thought the title was going to say "why are aus players so hot..." since this IS the girls forum so yeah I just...thought...alright yeah. GDAY!

[TheKOB]

Because they have amazing talent, and that Australian accent just makes me want to get on my raft and sail for the land down under.

can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder?

Seriously though, I don't really know much about women's lacrosse (something that I'd like to change) but I just figured, at least with Jen Adams, it's because she's sick.

If they were more lenient in Aus., then wouldn't they get in trouble if they came to the US to play college (ie a lot of penalties, etc).

[kerf_19]

longpole4nutley:u think aus players are hot?? lol i guess its the novelty down under thing huh! it's nothing to do with talent haha

i don't know...u guys tell me, is there really anything that different between the way the aussies play than the amercians?

[kerf_19]

so is the general concensus that the aussies are crazed maniacs choppin at everything they see? Or a bunch of softies? lol im sure the majority is between those 2 extremes...

i know in australia players think the refs r a bit crap and need to allow more body contact, but maybe get away with too many big swings????

I've heard australians find it hard to adapt to the college programs in their freshman year????

[RYU]

can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder?You'd better run, you'd better take cover. I heard Aussie wlaxers are so good, b/c they roar, and the men thunder. Also, they're might be something to those vegemite sandwiches.

How popular is wlax in Oz compared to other women's team sports like rugby, football (both soccer & Aussie rules), softball, field hockey, etc? My perception is that Aus produces a disproportionately high # of high caliber players (e.g. Top 20 Div 1 caliber) in relation to their participation rates. You don't see so many Aussies on mlax rosters, but that may mean the boys just don't want to do to university in the US.

My theory echos lilaxgurl's. From what I've gathered, Aussie young girls laxers are taught to play more like boys compared to their counterparts stateside. They play 10/side (vs 12), use hard boundaries, are taught to play more physically and aggressively (That does not imply crazed, slashing maniacs. You can be physical & aggressive within the rules)... Can any of the Aussie girls on TLF support this theory?

Also, I don't think Aus has a large camp of wlax traditionalists who aim to keep the game like it was played 30 years ago.

[laxchic]

IMO, i think it's the OLDER aussie players that are so popular cuz they're REALLY good. aus. used to be better than the U.S. @ lax...but now the U.S. is taking over (partially cuz there are more ppl. in the U.S. than Aus.) Hence, aussie players probably won't be as popular in like 10-20 years.

[sumSum]

I think it all started with J.Adams for the most part. Because she garnered so many accolades and played on such a popular team it sort of set the bar for any future Aussies to follow. Since most have gone to play at UMD, it further enhanced their prestige because the program is so nationally recognised. Also, no school is gonna bust their butt to work out having an international player come over in order to get a good player. They're gonna do it all to get GREAT players. Thus, all the Aussies are amazing players with the personalities to match. Jen is just down to earth and personable. She's got a ton of carisma. Courtney is funny, and Sonia is just plain cool. There is also something exotic about them, which appeals to everyone.

[kerf_19]

[QUOTE=laxchic]IMO, i think it's the OLDER aussie players that are so popular cuz they're REALLY good. aus. used to be better than the U.S. @ lax...but now the U.S. is taking over

When you say 'older' are you talking Sascha Newmarch and Sarah Forbes (94-97) or Jen Adams (98-01??)?? I know Forbes was the orginial australian to join the terps in '94 and Sascha came the year after followed by Trish and then Jen Adams. And I think Aus have only been better than the US twice....once in the 1986 world cup and then in the inaugural u19 world cup in 1995...

In response to aus girls being taught more aggressive lax, i think i have to disagree. It seems to be a constant struggle in aus to have the older "traditionalists" to adapt to new ways of playing and i know when i coach u15s and even u17s it is difficult just to get the girls to be in breathing distance when defending, never mind make contact!

I think maybe the aus girls who do play college might just be the cream of the crop from here??? Although i would say 90% of the aus girls in the US are from South Australia where they do play free movement and timed penalties and mamny are coached by men...out of all the states they are definitely the most aggressive.

The only girls I'm aware of that aren't from SA are Sarah Forbes from Western Australia and then Stacey Morlang, Talia Shacklock and Kate McHarg from Victoria who are all at Loyola.

Maybe its more that South Australian's are more aggressive rather than Australian's in general...????

[Afterburner]

I think it's really funni how US players seem to think that the aussie girls /players play harder and more aggressive. I know from the U19's 03 that, i think pretty much all of us thought the US girls played alot more physical. Comming back from that world cup i realised that in our club games we are barely allowed to touch a player when defending. Although i must admit some of our checks go unnoticed when they really shoudln't.

I also think that the US has pretty much always dominated when it comes to world cups, well womens anyways. I reckon in the next couple of world cups Australia will prove to be a challange to beat. Although this year i hear the US team could be stacked with some sweet players. Wish i could afford to watch the best female players battle it out. #####.

[kutsnake]

Whe are the Aussie players so popular in college lacrosse???
Have you ever been over to the US and watched the Aussie girls play college lacrosse?? I've seen Sonia Judd play with a broken nose, shin splints and concussion; I've seen Jen Adams superb unselfishness and committment in regards her team-mates; I've seen Courtney Hobbs play her heart out to turn a game around, so I know first-hand that these Aussie girls are amazingly tough, have total loyalty to their team-mates, and don't ever give up. Of course I also have seen wonderful lacrosse from the US players - that goes without saying. But I believe -from having personally spent a lot of time watching college lacrosse and World Cup games - that the Aussies are popular because of their talent, attitude, fortitude, committment and never say die attitude.
As for results on the World stage - our Aussies have done amazingly well in World Cup competitions when you consider our lacrosse population in comparision with the US...
Whatever your opinions, bottom line is - enjoy the incredible talent from wherever it comes from!!

[cannon]

In regard to the mens game there have been more aussie males play college than girls BUT the girls have all gone to big d1 programs thanks to a string of recruits to UMD and Loyola, they have thus got more notice (although i agree that they have been generally outstanding). I mean Adams, Judd and Morlang command a heap of respect dont they?

It may, in my opinion have something to do with those girls being fitter/versatile due to the lack of depth at club level here in Aus.

[funnyboy]

because they are more sexy.........i love u