Australian rules football in the Australian Capital Territory
Australian Rules football is a popular team and spectator sport played in the Australian state of the Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
The sport has a long history in the state but currently its popularity lags behind two other codes of football in rugby union and rugby league. Whereas Canberra has a team in a national competition for both of these sports, it does not have a locally based team in the AFL.
History
1911 saw the first recorded match of Australian Rules in Canberra between the Royal Military College and employees of the Home Affairs Department.
Three teams (Canberra, Duntroon and Federals) contested matches at the Acton Racecourse (now covered by Lake Burley Griffin) and at Blanfordia (now Manuka Oval).
In 1924, the first regular league was formed in the ACT, named the Federal Territory Australian Rules Football League.
New clubs gradually entered the league, when in 1927 it became known as the Canberra Australian National Football League (CANFL).
In 1931, the Canberra Australian National Junior League was formed.
Gate takings increased by 40 % in 1975, and the C.A.N.F.L changed to ACTAFL.
Due to its proximity to Sydney, Canberra is a state with support for multiple football codes, including rugby union, rugby league, soccer and Australian rules. Australian Rules Football was a very popular sport in the state until the expansion of the National Rugby League to incorporate a local team, the Canberra Raiders in 1982. The team was highly successful and effectively made rugby league the most popular sport in the state.
In 1990, the AFL scheduled an International Rules match for Canberra Stadium, which saw an attendance of 7,000.
By 1996, the introduction of a successful locally based rugby union side, the ACT Brumbies (and a slide in Raiders on field performance) saw rugby union overtake rugby league as the most popular sport. Some believe that a successful local team in the national competition would re-establish Australian Rules as a popular sport, however the small population is not seen as generating sustainable high crowds and sponsorship required for an Australian Football League team.
In 1998 the AFL (NSW/ACT) Commission took over operations of the ACTAFL.
Since 1998, Canberra has hosted the Barassi International Australian Football Youth Tournament.
In 2001, the Australian Football League club, the Kangaroos signed a deal with the ACT government to play home matches at Manuka Oval. The team has drawn reasonable crowds, including a record of 14,891 in 2004 for the Kangaroos v Sydney Swans at Manuka Oval. The Kangaroos are currently re-negotiating this agreement, and entertaining the prospect of playing home games at Carrara Stadium on the Gold Coast, Queensland instead due to the prospect of a more lucrative offer.
Great ACT Footballers
Over the years, the ACT has produce many top players for elite professional leagues such as the Australian Football League, including Adrian Barich, Shaun Smith, Brett Allison and the current greats James Hird and Aaron Hamill.
Governing Body
The governing body is AFL NSW/ACT
Leagues
Open
Principle Venues
References
- AFL ACT/NSW