Map of the world indicating the nations where Australian rules football was most played in 2005. The stronger regions are indicated in shades of red, areas in which it were most played, areas where the game was unknown or least played are indicated in grey.

Australian rules football is a sport played in countries around the world. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The Big Men Fly - high marking is a key skill and spectator attribute of Aussie Rules Precise field and goal kicking using the oval shaped ball is the most important skill in Aussie Rules Footy Australian rules football, also known as Australian football, Aussie rules, or simply football or footy...

Despite its early growth, Australian football is emerging as an international sport much later than other forms of football such as soccer or rugby, but has grown substantially as an amateur sport in some countries since the 1980s and more recently begun fledgling competitions in many others. The spread of the code has largely corresponded with the Australian diaspora. Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ...

It is a major spectator sport only in Australia (except for occasional exhibition games staged in other countries) and carnival type events overseas. A spectator sport is one that is characterized by the presence of spectators, or watchers, at its matches. ... Australian rules football has been introduced to a wide range of places around Australia and the world since the codes inception in 1848. ...

History of Australian rules outside Australia

Early beginnings

Almost as soon as the game was becoming established in Australia, it had spread to New Zealand in 1876. South Africa followed in the 1880s, with the help of Australian goldminers; they were augmented by soldiers during the Second Boer War. Combatants United Kingdom Australia New Zealand Canada Cape Colony Orange Free State South African Republic Commanders Redvers Buller Frederick Roberts Herbert Kitchener Paul Kruger Martinus Steyn Louis Botha Christiaan de Wet Casualties 22,000 6,500 Civilians killed [mainly Boers]: 24,000+ The Second Boer War, commonly referred to as...

As the game spread, it became known as Australasian Football.

In 1908, New Zealand (where proximity to Australia saw a formidable league of 115 clubs grow) defeated both New South Wales and Queensland at the Jubilee Australasian Football Carnival, an event held to celebrate 50 years of Australian Football. The game was also introduced to England, Scotland and Japan. Australian rules football is a sport played in England as well as Australia. ... Motto: (Latin) No one provokes me with impunity(English) Wha daur meddle wi me? (Scots)[1] Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official languages English, Gaelic, Scots[2] Government  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP Unification    - by Kenneth I...

Hiatus

The profound effects of World War I caused the gradual demise in the game in countries outside Australia, including New Zealand. The sport returned to the title of Australian Football. Combatants Allied Powers: Russian Empire France British Empire Italy United States Central Powers: Austria-Hungary German Empire Ottoman Empire Bulgaria Commanders Nicholas II Aleksei Brusilov Georges Clemenceau Joseph Joffre Ferdinand Foch Robert Nivelle Herbert Henry Asquith Sir Douglas Haig Sir John Jellicoe Victor Emmanuel III Luigi Cadorna Armando Diaz Woodrow...

Longest running international fixture

Despite the demise of the game internationally, in Oxford the first annual Oxford University versus Cambridge University Varsity match was played in 1921. This is the longest running fixture outside Australia, and continues to be fiercly contested today. In recent years the Oxford team has had the edge, taking the 2005 match 99-22 at home. The University of Oxford, located in the city of Oxford in England, is the oldest university in the English-speaking world. ... The University of Cambridge is the second-oldest university in the English-speaking world, with one of the most selective sets of entry requirements in the United Kingdom. ...

Return of Oceania football

Action from an Aussie Rules game in Nauru at the Linkbelt Oval

The first nation outside of Australia to take the sport up seriously was the former Australian territory of Nauru, which began playing in the 1930s. The game is now the national sport of the country. Image File history File links Linkbelt1999-Finalspiel. ... Image File history File links Linkbelt1999-Finalspiel. ... Linkbelt Oval is a stadium on the island Nauru in Aiwo. ...

Another former territory, Papua New Guinea began playing in the 1950s. For a time at least, it was the most popular sport in the country, and still remains popular.

New Zealand resumed a local competition in 1974. 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ...

The first ever international match involving Australia was played in 1977 at under 17 level between Australia and Papua New Guinea in Adelaide, with Australia taking the honours ^[1]. Since then, Australia have been peerless in the sport and seldom compete at international level. Adelaide is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of South Australia, and is the fifth largest city in Australia, with a population of over 1. ...

Modern era - The game begins abroad

In the late 1980s, as distance became less of an obstacle, amateur teams were established in Japan (1987), England, Denmark and Canada (1989). Australian rules football is a sport played in England as well as Australia. ...

In the 1990s, amateur competition has grown in countries such as Sweden (1993), Germany (1995), USA (1996), Argentina, Spain and Samoa (1997), South Africa (1998), as well as a number of solely expatriate teams, mainly based in South East Asia. Location of Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is a subregion of Asia. ...

Since 2000, fledgeling competitions have been established in countries such as Ireland (2000), Tonga (2002), Scotland, France and China (2005). Scottish Australian Rules Football League logo The SARFL is an Australian rules football competition and governing body based in Scotland. ...

In 2006, Pakistan, Indonesia, Catalonia, Croatia, Norway, Bermuda and East Timor joined the list of playing nations with local players participating. Australian rules football is played by four teams in Catalonia (Barcelona, Valls, Lleida and Tarragona) joining the Catalan Australian Football League (LFAC). ...

Many of these were initially established by Australian expatriates but collecting growing numbers of native players. In other countries, it grew out of AFL exhibition matches, cult television following or Internet communication. North American fans formed an organization, AFANA, specifically to work for improved media coverage of Australian football. Since the 1990s, the AFL and other development bodies have contributed to the development the game overseas. World map showing North America A satellite composite image of North America. ... AFANA is the organization that formed out of the campaign to save TV coverage of Australian Rules Football on USA and Canadian TV in 1996. ...

Leaders of the pack

Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, South Africa, the United States, Canada, Japan and Denmark in particular have shown strong growth and potential amongst local players.

International competition

See also: List of International Australian rules football Tournaments

The first truly international competitor in Australian rules was New Zealand. In 1908 the Jubilee Australasian Football Carnival was held to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Australian rules football. New Zealand (then representing a total of 115 clubs) defeated both New South Wales and Queensland in the carnival but lost to Victoria and Tasmania. Australian Rules Football is a sport played in many countries around the world. ...

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). The Arafura Games is a Multi-sport event usually held every two years in the Australian city of Darwin, in the Northern Territory. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Capital Darwin Government Const. ... A demonstration sport is a sport which is played in order to promote itself, most commonly during the Olympic Games, but also at other sporting events. ... Gold Medal is an album by American band The Donnas, released in 2004. ... The International Australian Football Council (IAFC) was a body established in 1995 to govern the sport of Australian rules football internationally. ...

Japan's national team, the Samurai vs Melbourne Vietnam from 2006 tour of Australia.

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. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2165x965, 1715 KB) Action from Japan Samurai vs Melbourne Vietnam match at Windy Hill is there anymore pictures of the game ? wow thats sweet, are they any good? Is there footy in the Philippines? yes, but mainly expat aussies [1] I... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2165x965, 1715 KB) Action from Japan Samurai vs Melbourne Vietnam match at Windy Hill is there anymore pictures of the game ? wow thats sweet, are they any good? Is there footy in the Philippines? yes, but mainly expat aussies [1] I... Samurai guernsey from the 2005 International Cup The Japanese national Australian rules football team represent Japan in Australian rules football. ... The Australian Football International Cup is an international Australian rules football competition hosted by the Australian Football League. ... 2002 Australian Football International Cup logo The 2002 Australian Football International Cup was an the inaugural international Australian rules football tournament held in Melbourne, Australia in 2002. ...

In the interim years, Japan and New Zealand played an annual game as a curtain raiser to an AFL game: the New Zealand national team were victorious by 100 points in 2003, and so in 2004, a club side from Auckland played the game, which Japan lost by two points. The amateur Australian Convicts also toured and played several matches against sides from developing nations. 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Schematic map of Auckland. ... The Australian Convicts are a touring Australian amateur side, that was formed to help promote Australian rules football internationally. ...

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. 2005 International Cup logo The 2005 Australian Football International Cup was an international Australian rules football tournament held in both Melbourne and Wangaratta, Australia in 2005. ...

The third Australian Football International Cup will be held in Melbourne in 2008. The Australian Football International Cup is an international Australian rules football competition planned for 2008 (as part of the 150th year celebrations of Australian Football), with up to 20 nations competing in Melbourne, Australia. ...

In 2006 Denmark, Sweden and Germany competed in a tri-nations series, which will be repeted annually.

In April 2007 the Bermuda Australian rules football Championships will begin with teams from the North Atlantic, including the USA, Canada and Europe competing^[2]. The Atlantic Ocean is Earths second-largest ocean, covering approximately one_fifth of its surface. ...

Other international competitions that include Australian ex-patriates are also held, including the EU Cup, which was first held in 2005 in London, featuring 10 teams.

World rankings

Based on 'A' International Australian rules football Tests (such as the Australian Football International Cup i.e: rules state that all players must be born in and have played in the country they are representing) based on the total number of wins and ratio percentage.

Rankings as at 2006^[3][4]

Ranking	Country	#Played	#Won	%Won	#Lost	%Lost	#Drawn	%Drawn
1	Ireland	22	19	86%	3	14%	0	0%
2	Papua New Guinea	22	19	86%	3	14%	0	0%
3	New Zealand	24	18	75%	6	25%	0	0%
4	United States of America	24	17	71%	7	29%	0	0%
5	Denmark	18	11	62%	6	33%	1	5%
6	Samoa	18	10	56%	8	44%	0	0%
7	Great Britain	26	13	50%	13	50%	0	0%
8	Nauru	8	2	25%	6	75%	0	0%
9	Canada	24	4	17%	20	83%	0	0%
10	Sweden	2	0	0%	1	50%	1	50%

Image File history File links Flag_of_Ireland_(bordered). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Papua_New_Guinea. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_New_Zealand. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_States. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Denmark. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Samoa. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Nauru. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Canada_(bordered). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Sweden. ...

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 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 less violent contact game. The series have remained evenly matched with the Irish using speed and athleticism, and the Australians strength and thuggery - both inherent skills in their respective codes. This contrast of skills has created exciting contests that are a hit with spectators. International rules is a rhetoric sentence used by the governments of United States and Great Britain when pointing at countries that they regard as rogue states because of their political inclinations or because they do not voluntarily align to Washington or Londons international policies. ... This article is about the national league in Australian rules football. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A stylised Celtic cross serves as the traditional logo of the GAA. The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) (Irish: Cumann Lúthchleas Gael) is an organisation which is mostly focussed on promoting Gaelic Games - traditional Irish sports, such as hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball, and rounders. ... Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. ...

International promotion, funding & governance

The International Australian football Council (IAFC) was formed in 1995 to promote and develop Australian football internationally. 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 organisation for developing (not governing) international Australian football. As well as 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. The International Australian Football Council (IAFC) was a body established in 1995 to govern the sport of Australian rules football internationally. ... Aussie Rules International Logo // Mission The role of Aussie Rules International is to promote and develop the sport of Australian Rules Football internationally. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... The Multicultural Cup is an amateur Australian Rules Football competition coordinated by Aussie Rules International (formerly International Australian Football Council allowing players born overseas to represent their country of origin. ...

Australian football is not yet considered 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: The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA, French for International Federation of Association Football) is the international governing body of association football. ... This article is about the national league in Australian rules football. ... ISO 4217 Code AUD User(s) Australia, Kiribati, Nauru, Tuvalu, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and Norfolk Island Inflation 3. ...

• New Zealand $150,000
• South Africa $100,000
• United States of America $90,000
• Papua New Guinea $45,000
• Other $115,000 ^[5]

Much of the additional international promotion of the game fuelled by exhibition matches, expatriate Australians, local leagues and various AusAID projects. The Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) is the Australian organisation responsible for delivering most non-military foreign aid. ...

High profile advocates

Although international football has a low profile within Australia, the issue is getting increased media exposure as several high profile Australians have become advocates for international football. Former players and coaches that are involved in, have expressed interest in or are passionate about international footy at some stage include Ron Barassi, Kevin Sheedy, Jim Stynes, Paul Roos, Michael Long, Gary Lyon and Wayne Schwass. Current players who have expressed views or interest on the topic include Mal Michael, David Rodan, Jason Akermanis, Jason McCartney and Glen Archer. Former AFL players Mark Zanotti and John Ironmonger have been directly involved in living and establishing clubs overseas. Robert DiPierdomenico and Peter Schwab have been involved in promotions in the USA. Other non-players such as John So, Eddie McGuire and Tiffany Cherry have also expressed interest in the media about game being played or watched by people overseas. Ronald Dale Barassi (born 27 February 1936) is an Australian rules football player and coach. ... For the association footballer who played for Everton and Ireland, see Kevin Sheedy (footballer). ... Jim Stynes (born April 23, 1966) is an Irish Australian rules football player. ... This article is about the Australian rules football player. ... Michael Long was an Australian Rules footballer and outspoken critic of racism in sport. ... Garry Lyon Garry Lyon (born September 13, 1967) is a former captain of the Melbourne Demons Football Club in the Australian Football League. ... Wayne Schwass (born November 27, 1968) was an Australian rules football player in the VFL/AFL. In 2006, Schwass announced that he had suffered from depression during his successful AFL career. ... Malcolm Roberto Mal Michael (born June 24, 1977 in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea) is an Australian rules footballer. ... David Rodan (born October 8, 1983 in Fiji) is an Australian rules footballer. ... Jason Aka Akermanis (born February 24, 1977) is an Australian rules footballer. ... Jason McCartney (born March 14, 1974) is a former Australian rules footballer and 2002 Bali bombing survivor. ... Glenn Archer (born March 24, 1973) is an Australian rules footballer with the North Melbourne Football Club. ... Robert Dipper DiPierdomenico (born May 5, 1958) is a former Australian rules footballer in the VFL/AFL of Italian descent. ... Peter Schwab (born September 22, 1960) is a former Australian rules footballer and coach in the VFL/AFL. // Playing career Recruited from Bennettswood, he played with the Hawthorn Hawks from 1980-1991, going on to play 171 games and boot 38 goals. ... John Chun Sai So (蘇震西, pinyin: Sū Zhènxī) (born 20 October 1946 in Shunde, China) is the Lord Mayor of Melbourne City Council, capital of Victoria, Australia. ... Edward Joseph Eddie McGuire AM (born 29 October 1964 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia) is an Australian television presenter and businessman, known for his long association with Australian rules football. ... Tiffany Cherry (born 4th August 1971) has always loved sport. ...

Women development and competition

Several countries now have Women's Australian rules football Australian rules programs in place. These countries include Australia (of course) Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, USA, Canada and Japan. Melbourne University Mugars player jostles for best position in a overhead Marking contest while tackled Darebin Falcons player lies down. ...

Junior development and competition

Several countries now have youth Australian rules programs in place. These countries include Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga, Nauru, Denmark, South Africa, England, Indonesia, USA and Canada. Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London (de facto) Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2006 est. ...

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. The Barassi Youth Tournament is an international Australian Rules Football tournament for junior players. ...

The first junior fully representative international outside of Australia was played between England and Denmark in Farum, Denmark in October 2005.^[6]

Specific development projects

South African AusAID project

An AusAID funded project is South African junior development, which is assisted by aid agency Australian Volunteers International in partnership with programs such as AFL Auskick and sponsored by Tattersalls. In 2006, the AFL announced it would send an All-aboriginal juniors side (from the Clontarf Foundation's Clontarf Football Academy ^[7]) headed by former Essendon star Michael Long and Sydney Swans star Adam Goodes to play 3 matches, including an International Rules match against local sides in South Africa ^[8]. Although the Australian team won easily ^[9] the AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou wants South Africa to join an International Rules tri-series and believes that a junior from South Africa will eventually play at the AFL level ^[10]. The Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) is the Australian organisation responsible for delivering most non-military foreign aid. ... Australian Volunteers International or AVI is a is a not-for-profit international volunteering recruitment agency in Australia. ... NAB AFL Auskick logo. ... Tattersalls Limited is a Victorian lottery/gaming company. ... The Clontarf Foundation is a non-profit foundation developed in the sport of Australian rules football to assist Indigenous Australians and encourage them to pursue careers in sport and prevent them from a life of crime. ... The Clontarf Foundation is a non-profit foundation with the aims to improve the health, employment, education and life skills of Australia’s teenaged male indigenous population. ... Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club that is part of the Australian Football League. ... Michael Long was an Australian Rules footballer and outspoken critic of racism in sport. ... The Sydney Swans is an Australian Football League (AFL) club based in Sydney, New South Wales. ... Adam Goodes (born January 8, 1980) is an Australian rules football player. ... International rules is a rhetoric sentence used by the governments of United States and Great Britain when pointing at countries that they regard as rogue states because of their political inclinations or because they do not voluntarily align to Washington or Londons international policies. ... Andrew Demetriou (born April 14, 1961) is the CEO of the Australian Football League and a former Australian rules footballer of Greek-Cypriot heritage. ...

Aussie Rules Schools (England)

Another junior project funded project is Aussie Rules Schools UK, which is funded by Sports England and co-ordinated by Aussie Rules UK and Aussie Rules International. This project has seen up to 10 English schools adopt Aussie Rules as part of the school curriculum to combat obesity. Aussie Rules International Logo // Mission The role of Aussie Rules International is to promote and develop the sport of Australian Rules Football internationally. ...

China AusAID project

In February 2006, a joint project between the AFL, Melbourne Football Club, Melbourne City Council and AusAID to post an Australian Youth Ambassador in Tianjin, a city of 10 million, about 120km southeast of Beijing in an effort to kickstart Australian Football in China was announced. ^[11] The Melbourne Football Club (MFC), nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League, based in Melbourne, Victoria. ... The arms of the City of Melbourne The flag of the City of Melbourne The City of Melbourne is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia. ...   (Chinese: ; pinyin: TiānjÄ«n; Postal map spelling: Tientsin) is one of the four municipalities of the Peoples Republic of China. ...   (Chinese:  ; Pinyin: BÄ›ijÄ«ng; IPA: ), a metropolis in northern China, is the capital of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). ...

International drafts & converts

International Players

Although no non-Irish player to learn the game overseas has played in the AFL, Michito Sakaki from Japan became the first to play at AFL level when selected to play for the Essendon Football Club against the Sydney Swans at an exhibition match at North Sydney Oval in February 2006. Michito Sakaki (born May 19th, 1983), is a Australian rules football player from Japan. ... Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club that is part of the Australian Football League. ... The Sydney Swans is an Australian Football League (AFL) club based in Sydney, New South Wales. ... North Sydney Oval is a multi-use sporting facility primarily used for Rugby League (as home ground of the North Sydney Bears) and Rugby Union but is also utilised for Cricket, Australian Rules Football and Soccer. ...

Converts

See also: List of Football Code Converts

In the past, many football players have converted between codes or come across from other sports. ...

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. In the 1990s, the Melbourne Football Club recruited Jim Stynes who would turn out to be the most successful Irish player in the history of the VFL/AFL, taking out the Brownlow medallist Jim Stynes. At around the same time, the club recruited the Scot Sean Wight. In more recent years, the Sydney Swans recruited young Irish Tadhg Kennelly who played in a premiership with the club and has also represented Ireland against Australia. Carlton Football Club experimented with brothers Setanta Ó hAilpín and Aisake Ó hAilpín. The Collingwood Football Club has recruited young Martin Clarke and Brisbane Lions recruited Colm Begley who made an instant impact at AFL level and Brendan Quigley to their international rookie list. Due to increasing concern from the Gaelic Athletic Association, in 2006 the AFL made a deal with the GAA to limit the number of junior Gaelic drafts. The Melbourne Football Club (MFC), nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League, based in Melbourne, Victoria. ... Jim Stynes (born April 23, 1966) is an Irish Australian rules football player. ... The Charles Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal and colloquially as Charlie, is the medal awarded to the best and fairest player in the Australian Football League during the regular season (ie not including finals matches) as decided upon by umpires. ... Jim Stynes (born April 23, 1966) is an Irish Australian rules football player. ... John Phillips Sean Wight (born March 15, 1964 in Scotland) is a former Australian rules footballer in the VFL/AFL. He played for the Melbourne Football Club between 1985 and 1995, playing 150 games and booting 63 goals. ... The Sydney Swans is an Australian Football League (AFL) club based in Sydney, New South Wales. ... Tadhg Kennelly (born 1 July 1981) is a former Gaelic football player from Listowel, County Kerry, Ireland, who is now a backline Australian Rules football player for the Sydney Swans, in the AFL. He is the son of Tim Kennelly, a former champion footballer with Kerry. ... The Carlton Football Club is the sixth oldest Australian rules football club and the third oldest club in the Australian Football League. ... Setanta Ó hAilpín (born March 18, 1983) is an Irish sportsman. ... Aisake Faga Ó hAilpín (24 August 1985 -) is a hurler, Gaelic and Australian Rules Footballer who played with his two brothers, Seán Óg and Setanta, for the Na Piarsaigh club in Cork City when they won the Cork Senior Hurling Championship in 2004. ... The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies after the black and white striped guernseys worn by the players, is an Australian rules football club, playing in the elite Australian Football League. ... The Brisbane Lions Australian Football Club (the trading name for the Brisbane Bears-Fitzroy Football Club) are an Australian Football League club based in Brisbane, Queensland. ... Colm Begley is a former Irish Gaelic Footballer who now plays Australian rules football for the Brisbane Lions Australian Football League team. ... Brendan Quigley is a gaelic football player from Laois in Ireland. ... A stylised Celtic cross serves as the traditional logo of the GAA. The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) (Irish: Cumann Lúthchleas Gael) is an organisation which is mostly focussed on promoting Gaelic Games - traditional Irish sports, such as hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball, and rounders. ...

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 up to 5 times higher and the position lends itself to longevity. Australian football players generally retire at around 30, whereas American football punters can play well into their forties. NFL logo For other uses of the abbreviation NFL, see NFL (disambiguation). ... Todd Sauerbrun punts the ball for the Carolina Panthers. ...

The first convert was Colin Ridgeway, but the most successful of these players was Darren Bennett - former Melbourne Football Club AFL player recruited by the San Diego Chargers, now playing for the Minnesota Vikings. Colin Ridgeway (born February 19, 1939) was distinguished as being the first Australian to play in the NFL. his wife had him murdered Ridgway was a high jumper who competed at the 1956 Olympic Games and 1958 Commonwealth Games for Australia. ... Darren Bennett (born January 9, 1965 in Perth) is an Australian who had a modestly successful career in Australian Rules football, followed by a far more substantial career in American football as a punter. ... The Melbourne Football Club (MFC), nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League, based in Melbourne, Victoria. ... City San Diego, California Other nicknames Bolts, Super Chargers Team colors Navy Blue, White, and Gold Head Coach Marty Schottenheimer Owner Alex Spanos George Pernicano (Minority owner (3%)) General manager A.J. Smith Fight song San Diego Super Chargers League/Conference affiliations American Football League (1960-1969) Western Division (1960... City Minneapolis, Minnesota Other nicknames The Vikes, The Purple People Eaters Team colors Purple, Gold, and White Head Coach Brad Childress Owner Zygi Wilf General manager Rob Brzezinski Fight song Skol, Vikings Mascot Ragnar League/Conference affiliations National Football League (1961–present) Western Conference (1961-1969) Central Division (1967-1969...

Shortly after Darren Bennett became successful in the NFL in the early 90s, many other VFL players followed suit, including journeyman Richard Osborne and Footscray fullback Tony Campbell. Kangaroos and Crows champion Wayne Carey^[12] was also rumoured to have tried out with the Cowboys. Many of these were unsuccessful. Richard Osborne (born 16 June, 1964) is a former Australian rules footballer who enjoyed a lengthy career in the VFL/AFL. He played 283 games in total. ... Anthony (Tony) Campbell (born May 7, 1962 in Teaneck, New Jersey) is a former professional basketball player in the NBA. A 67 small forward out of Ohio State University, Campbell was selected 20th overall by the Detroit Pistons in the 1984 NBA Draft. ... Wayne Carey (born May 27, 1971), is regarded as one of the greatest Australian rules football players of all time. ...

In 2004, Geelong Football Club star Ben Graham shocked fans by cutting his career short to play with the New York Jets^[13]. In the same year, retired Brisbane Bears and Hawthorn Football Club Nathan Chapman achieved a punting contract with the Green Bay Packers.^[14] While Ben Graham made the grade and achieved a million dollar contract, the career of Nathan Chapman did not take off. The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is an Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League with a rich history. ... Ben Graham (born November 2, 1973) is a former Australian rules football player and currently on the roster of the New York Jets NFL team. ... City East Rutherford, New Jersey Other nicknames Gang Green, the Green and White Team colors Green and White Head Coach Eric Mangini Owner Robert Wood Johnson IV General manager Mike Tannenbaum League/Conference affiliations American Football League (1960-1969) Eastern Division (1960-1969) National Football League (1970–present) American Football... City Green Bay, Wisconsin Team colors Dark Green, Gold, and White Head Coach Mike McCarthy Owner 111,967 stockholders Chairman Bob Harlan General manager Ted Thompson Fight song Go! You Packers! Go! League/Conference affiliations Independent (1919-1920) National Football League (1921–present) Western Division (1933-1949) National Conference (1950...

More recently, Collingwood Football Club's Anthony Rocca ^[15] and his brother Saverio Rocca have both indicated their intention to try out at the conclusion of their AFL careers.^[16] Following Saverio's retirement from the AFL he was given a 3 month contract with Rhein Fire, while Anthony continues to play for Collingwood. In 2006, NFL began more actively scouting Australian Rules players. The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies after the black and white striped guernseys worn by the players, is an Australian rules football club, playing in the elite Australian Football League. ... Anthony Rocca (born August 15, 1977) is an Australian rules footballer who has played with the Sydney Swans and Collingwood in the AFL. Of Italian descent, Rocca is the younger brother of fellow Australian rules footballer and former teammate Saverio Rocca. ... Saverio Sav Rocca (born November 20, 1973) is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League. ... Year Founded 1995 Home Field LTU Arena City Düsseldorf, Germany Team Colors Maroon, Black, Gold and White Head Coach Jim Tomsula Championships 2 (1998, 2000) The Rhein Fire is a franchise in NFL Europe, formerly the World League of American Football. Established in Germany in 1995, depending on your...

See also

• List of Australian Football Leagues outside Australia
• Australian Football International Cup
• List of International Australian rules football Tournaments
• Australian rules football exhibition matches

This is a list of Australian rules football leagues outside of Australia. ... The Australian Football International Cup is an international Australian rules football competition hosted by the Australian Football League. ... Australian Rules Football is a sport played in many countries around the world. ... Australian rules football has been introduced to a wide range of places around Australia and the world since the codes inception in 1848. ...

References

For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... July 22 is the 203rd day (204th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 162 days remaining. ...

External links

News and Results Sites

• Fourth Quarter - Independent reporting of international Australian rules football
• The Footy Record - Results from around the globe
• Aussie Rules Global Invasion - Independent reporting of international Australian rules football
• World Footy News - Independent reporting of international Australian rules football

Fan sites

• BigFooty - International Footy Forum of the Largest unofficial Aussie Rules fan community site and forum

Governing bodies

• AFL International Development

International tournaments

• Barassi International Australian Football Youth Tournament
• Australian Football International Cups 2002, 2005, 2008

Promotional organisations

• Aussie Rules International
• Aussie Rules Europe
• Aussie Rules UK
• Aussie Rules Pacific
• Australian Convicts - Amateur touring side that helps support international leagues
• Australian Football Association of North America (AFANA)

International leagues

• U.S. Australian rules football League
• Women's footy USA
• DAFL - The Danish Australian Football League
• AFLG - The Australian Football League Germany