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Geography of Australian rules football

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While Australian rules football is a major spectator sport only in Australia (except for occasional exhibition games staged in other countries), since the late 1980s amateur competition has grown in countries such as New Zealand, Ireland, United Kingdom, Denmark, the USA, Canada, Germany, Japan, Papua New Guinea, Nauru, Samoa, China and South Africa, initially established by Australian expatriates but collecting growing numbers of native players. The largest such competition is the Ontario Australian Football League, with 12 teams scheduled to compete in 2006. Separate from their local competitions, North American fans have formed an organization, AFANA, specifically to work for improved media coverage of Australian football and its U.S. branch, US Footy.

International promotion, funding & governance

The International Australian football Council (IAFC) was formed in 1995 to promote and develop Australian football internationally. The original IAFC was later disbanded in 2002, but member Brian Clarke created a rebel organisation also calling itself the IAFC. Debate about this organisation's role and legitimacy, coupled with internal divisions spelled the end of the IAFC, and in 2005 a new organization was set up - called Aussie Rules International - by former IAFC member Brian Clarke in London. This successor to the IAFC promotes itself as an international organization for developing (not governing) international Australian football. As well playing a role in promoting aussie rules overseas, Aussie Rules International coordinates the Multicultural Cup aimed at instilling national pride in those born overseas and encouraging migrants to take up the game.

Australian football is not yet large enough internationally for a FIFA styled governing body, so the Australian Football League is primarily responsible for funding and governance and provides $29 million for development of the game in Australia and around A$500,000 annually for international development, with the following breakdown in 2005:

  • New Zealand $150,000
  • South Africa $100,000
  • United States of America $90,000
  • Papua New Guinea $45,000
  • Other $115,000

Much of the additional international promotion of the game fuelled by exhibition matches, expatriate Australians, local leagues and various AusAID projects. One such AusAID project is South African aussie rules development, particularly in junior development, which is assisted by aid agency Australian Volunteers International in partnership with programs such as AFL Auskick.

Junior development

Several countries now have youth Australian rules programs. These countries include Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga, Nauru, Denmark, South Africa, England, Indonesia, USA and Canada.

Since 1998, the Barassi International Australian Football Youth Tournament, endorsed by the Australian Football League as part of its International Policy, has hosted several of these nation's representative youth teams.

International competition

The Arafura Games, held in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia (a competition for northern Australia, South East Asia and Pacific Islands) were the first International games to have Australian football as a competition sport, rather than a demonstration sport in 1995. Papua New Guinea won the Gold medal and retained it in subsequent games. Other teams that have competed at Australian Rules in the games include Japan, Nauru and a Northern Territory indigenous team. The International Australian football Council (IAFC) was formed after the 1995 Games (source IAFC).

Inspired by successful Arafura Games competitions, the inaugural Australian Football International Cup was held in Melbourne in 2002, an initiative of the newly formed IAFC. The 2002 cup was contested by 11 teams from around the world made up exclusively of non-Australians. Ireland won the 2002 cup, defeating Papua New Guinea in the final. The second Australian football International Cup was held in Melbourne in 2005, under the direction of the guidance and funding of the AFL with New Zealand defeating Papua New Guinea in the final, with third place going to the United States of America.

The Australian Football International Cup is planned for either Melbourne or Perth in 2008.

International rules Australia vs Ireland

A series of hybrid International rules matches between the Australian Football League's best professional players and a representative Gaelic football team from Ireland's Gaelic Athletic Association mostly amateur players. The series is staged annually. The rules are a compromise between the two codes, using a round ball and a rectangular field. The fierce tackling of the Australian code is allowed, however more recently this has caused controversy with the Irish players who play a mostly non-contact game. The series have remained evenly matched with the Irish using speed and athleticism, and the Australians strength and power - both inherent skills in their respective codes. This contrast of skills has created exciting contests that are a hit with spectators.

International drafts & converts

Gaelic converts to Australian football

Australia has recruited several Irish Gaelic footballers to play Aussie Rules. As Gaelic football is primarily amateur competition and the AFL competition is professional, there is a strong financial lure. Converts include:

1990s

2000-2005

Recent drafts

Australian football converts to American Football (Gridiron)

Australia has exported players to the NFL. Since the 1980s, many AFL players have tried out as American Football punters. The kicking position requires similar skills to those found in Australian football players. Salaries are much higher and the position lends itself to longevity. Australian football players generally retire at around 30, whereas American Football punters can play into their 50s. Well known converts include:

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