AUSTRALIA's victorious Commonwealth Games team have flown home to Melbourne on a special Qantas flight out of Manchester Airport.

But Ian Thorpe and his top medal-winning team-mates showed they still have a bit to learn from the Brits as far as football's concerned during their impromptu knockabout in the Terminal 3 check-in area.

Thorpedo and his mates struggled to keep the ball under control and eventually lost it altogether when a stray header knocked it flying inside the roof.

The good-humoured knockabout came as 220 Australian athletes and officials arrived at the airport for their midnight flight to Melbourne. They left Manchester on a specially-chartered Qantas flight, using a Boeing 747-400 painted in the Aboriginal 'Wunalla Dreaming' scheme.

Team Australia were set for a massive welcome home party at Melbourne Airport and the unofficial launch of the countdown to the next Games - Melbourne 2006.

Tim McDermott, Manchester Airport Head of Commercial Aviation and Development, who helped arrange the special flight, said: "We have thoroughly enjoyed playing such an important role in the Commonwealth Games, both as an official sponsor and as the main entry point for athletes and officials from overseas.

"We were delighted to be able to help Team Australia with their travel arrangements home."