The end-of-season tour (21 - 24 September 2006) to Canberra provided a opportunity for the Monash U13s to experience playing inter-state and utilise the sports and science facilities of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS). A squad of 17 players attended playing 3 competitive games in 3 days. The results were not important as the purpose of the trip was for recreation and education. The games were played across 35 minute halves with all players equally rotated over the course of the game.

Monash first played Monaro Panthers on the Friday evening in the adjacent town of Queanbeyan which finished 1 - 1. Monash dominated but missed a string of excellent shooting opportunities. Both teams played a 16 shot penalty shoot-out at the end of the match with finished 14 all.

On the Saturday the team faced the ACT Representative Squad on the synthetic football field at the AIS and went on to lose the game 2 - 0. The game was very high paced with wonderful football and technique on show. The Monash team dominated much of the game but as with the previous match the players were guilty of not finishing their chances, and against such a strong team they eventually got punished on counter-attacks. After the game the players were taken for a professional recovery session by an AIS instructor.

The final game on Sunday was against Canberra's largest junior club Majura FC. The club has over 1,000 players and is located in the suburb of Deakin. The Monash boys were getting tired but put on a gutsy display against a strong wind to lead the game 1 - 0 at half time. In the second half Majura's resistance folded and Monash finished the tour with a comfortable 6 - 1 victory.

Many thanks to the Monaro and Majura clubs for hosting our games and putting on BBQs for the players and travelling family members. Photos of the trip will be posted in the "Gallery" section of the website over the next few days.