Australian rules football in Oceania
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Australian rules football has been played in Oceania since the early 20th century, with the establishment of leagues in New Zealand. There are currently organised leagues in a few nations around the Pacific, in addition to organisations in other nations who have tried to start leagues or are aiming to do so in future.
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[edit] Australia
Australian rules is the national sport of Australia and has over 600,000 players.
[edit] Fiji
While there is not currently an organised league in Fiji, the country is notable in Australian Football as several players of Fijian descent play professionally in the Australian Football League, including Port Adelaide's David Rodan and Alipate Carlile and Carlton's Setanta Ó hAilpín.
Fijian Wes Fellows also played a handful of senior games for the Collingwood Football Club in the 1980s.
Australian rules football has been played sporadically in Fiji, with efforts starting using Australian police officers based in the capital Suva in 2004.[1] A planned league never came to fruition, however a governing body was formed, the Fijian Australian Football Association with a partial promotional role and a failed bid was made for inclusion of the sport into the 2007 South Pacific Games.[2]
The Australia Network began televising games in Fiji in 2002.
David Rodan has acted as an international ambassador for the sport and has a passion to see the sport succeed in Fiji.[3]
Nicholas Naitanui, AIS graduate[4] and best on ground in the Western Australian Under 18s squad which won the Under 18s Australian Football championship is an almost certain pick for the 2008 AFL Draft having played solidly for Swan Districts Football Club in the West Australian Football League during 2008.[5]
The Western Bulldogs AFL club revealed in April, 2008, that they have been actively scouting for recruits in Fiji.[6]
[edit] Nauru
Main article: Australian rules football in Nauru
Australian rules football in Nauru dates back to the 1930s and quickly established itself as the national sport of the country.
[edit] New Zealand
Main article: Australian rules football in New Zealand
Australian rules football was introduced to New Zealand by Australian emigrants in the early 20th century and a New Zealand national team took part in one of the first State of Origin carnivals (1908). The game then died out in the country around the time of the First World War, later resurrected in the 1970s. The game is currently governed by the New Zealand Australian Football League, with regional leagues in Auckland, Waikato, Wellington and Christchurch. The New Zealand national team, dubbed the Falcons, are one of the strongest outside Australia, finishing third in the first Australian Football International Cup in 2002 and winning the competition in 2005.
[edit] Papua New Guinea
Main article: Australian rules football in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea has the largest number of registered Australian rules footballers outside Australia, with senior and junior competitions in most major population centres. Australian rules football was the dominant sport in PNG during the 1950s and 1960s, although its position as national sport has largely been taken by Rugby League. The sport in PNG is controlled by the PNG Rules Football Council.
[edit] Samoa
Main article: Australian rules football in Samoa
Australian rules football in Samoa has been played since 1997. The national team, known as the Bulldogs first competed at the Arafura Games in 1998. The game is typically played under derived rules known as Samoa Rules and is played on rugby fields. There is a full time development officer funded by AusAid, a junior development program and a schoolboy's tournament.
[edit] Solomon Islands
Australian rules football was first played in the Solomon Islands in 2003 with some junior clinics held by Garry McKenzie and members of the Australian Defence Force, stationed in the country to help restore order after years of civil unrest. The first AGM of the Solomon Islands Australian Football Association was held in August 2004 at the National Sports Centre, with around 100 people attending, almost all being locals. The committee was elected and subsequently met to discuss plans for developing the code, especially for 12 to 18 year olds. By the end of 2004 there were two senior teams playing friendly matches and around 150 juniors had participated in games. Since then the program has been on hiatus, although there are still interested parties in the Solomons hoping to formally build a league. In 2007, mixed games between army personnel and locals were played.[7]
[edit] Tonga
Main article: Australian rules football in Tonga
Australian rules football in Tonga has been played since 2003, when the Tonga Australian Football Association was founded. A schools competition has been played yearly since then, including a tour to Samoa and the national team has competed against the Fitzroy Reds amateur team from Australia.
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ Fiji footy gets the ball rolling
- ^ Football's South Pacific Paradise by Brett Northey for World Footy News. September 04 2004
- ^ [http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,21991520%255E19770,00.html Rodan plans to put Fiji on footy map ]
- ^ [1] AIS Athlete profile: Nicholas Naitanui
- ^ [2] WA midfield pick of crop
- ^ Bulldogs look for island treasures
- ^ Solomon Islands Thriller
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