Australian rules football in Canada

Sport overview
country = Canada
sport = Australian rules football


imagesize = 260px
caption =
union = AFL Canada
nickname = Northwind
first = May 1989, Toronto
registered = 825 (total)
525 (adult)
300 (junior)
clubs = 21
match = 32,789 (1987). Melbourne v. Sydney (B.C. Place, Vancouver)
league =
national1 =
club1 = Ontario Australian Football League
club2 = British Columbia Australian Football League
club3 = Alberta Australian Football League
club4 = North West Pacific Football League
country

Australian rules football in Canada is a fast growing team and spectator sport which has been relatively recently introduced through a series of exhibition matches which began in 1987 and by 1989 had grown into amateur competition.

Australian Football is currently played in four Canadian provinces - Ontario, Alberta, Quebec and British Columbia. The Ontario league, centred around Toronto is considered the largest outside of Australia, and there are clubs in Ottawa, London, Calgary and Vancouver, Victoria and Burnaby. Some of Canada's largest urban centres, including Quebec City and Winnipeg are not currently represented by a club. A club was briefly based in Edmonton but folded in 2003.

History of Australian Football in Canada

Between 1987 and 1989, the Australian Football League staged several exhibition matches in Canada since 1987, attracting large crowds and much interest. The 1987 game holds the record for a VFL/AFL match held outside of Australia.

North Delta Junior Australian Football League

Quebec

Major Tournaments

Domestic

*West Coast Challenge
*BC Cup

International

*49th Parallel Cup
*Australian Football International Cup

Audience

Television

Since 2006, due to growing demand and lobbying by the AFANA, Aussie Rules began playing live matches on television in Canada.
*AFL - Setanta Sports (STS), MHz Networks

Attendance Records

Exhibition Matches

Canada holds the world record for attendance at a match outside of Australia.
*32,789 (1987). Melbourne v. Sydney (B.C. Place, Vancouver)

International Tests

*2,500 (2007). 49th Parallel Cup. Canada vs United States. Thunderbird Stadium, Vancouver

References

#AFL Canada
#AFANA

External links

* [http://www.aflcanada.com/ AFL Canada]