From Denmark to GWS with a Bang
By Matt Rossleigh
After starring at the Euro Cup for Denmark last year in Scotland and ultimately receiving the Player of the Tournament accolade, Aksel Bang received a phone call from GWS GIANTS coach Kevin Sheedy.
The 21-year-old Dane says when the premiership winning coach asked if he wanted to come to Australia he didn’t have to think twice about it.
“I got a phone call in January and he asked me if I wanted to come down and it was an easy decision I think!”
The Dane who plays in midfield is only in Sydney for three weeks whilst on leave from national service in Afghanistan and will head down to Melbourne this weekend to watch the team take on an undefeated Essendon side.
“Coming down here has been so good so far and I still have one week so I can’t wait to get out on the training field with these guys,” said Bang.
Next week the Dane will get his chance to play footy down under when he lines up for the UWS GIANTS in NEAFL against Sydney Swans reserves at Blacktown.
Bang has only played footy for two and a half years with the Aalborg Kangaroos and Danish Vikings after turning his back on his childhood goal of being a professional soccer player.
“I actually played for [Danish soccer team] Aalborg BK as a youngster in the elite squad so this sort of environment with a lot of training isn’t new to me,” said Bang.
“At that time I wanted to become a professional soccer player but it didn’t work that way so I went to Australia and found AFL footy.”
Bang was presented with a GIANTS guernsey by injured co-captain Phil Davis, who at the same time announced Irish born draftee Aidan Corr will be making his debut this weekend against the Bombers.
The defender, who played in the NAB Cup in pre-season, moved to Perth as a 3-year-old and will slot into the backline in the absence of Davis who is sidelined with a back injury.