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Australian rules football in England
Englands two oldest clubs Cambridge and Oxford Universities contest centre bounce in 2008
CountryEngland
Governing bodyAFL England
National team(s)England
First played1888, London
Registered players3,600 (total)
600 (adult)
3,000 (junior)
Clubs49
Club competitions
Audience records
Single match18,884 (2005). West Coast v. Fremantle (The Oval, London)

In England, Australian rules football is a team and spectator sport with a long history. It is home to the longest running Australian rules fixture outside Australia, the match between Oxford and Cambridge Universities which has been contested annually since 1923. All other current competitions originated in 1989 with the founding of what is now AFL London, the longest running Australian rules football league in Europe. The current governing body, AFL England, was formed in 2012 and expanded the game in 2018 to include the additional regional divisions: AFL Central & Northern England and AFL Southern England.

The sport's origins are said to be in England, specifically public school football games. Several of the sport's founders were born and educated there including J. B. Thompson, William Hammersley and James Bryant while Tom Wills held by many as the sport's founder, was educated at and played rugby with the Rugby School. However it struggled for decades to establish roots given the dominance of traditional football codes in rugby football and the growing popularity of soccer. Nevertheless, it was one of the first countries outside of Australia where the game was played in the 1880s and to host regular competition.

Australian Football League (AFL) exhibition matches were held at The Oval in London semi-annually between 1986 and 2006 (the last standalone event was held in 2012) and were well attended with attendances ranging from 4,500 to a record of 18,884 in 2005.

England rarely competes in a standalone team, and is typically represented along with Scotland and Wales as the Great Britain team at the Australian Football International Cup (best result 6th) and AFL Europe Championship (2 titles). However, an English side has competed in several standalone tests and has been successful at the Euro Cup with 5 titles. Nevertheless, London has hosted several internationals, including the 2001 Atlantic Alliance Cup, 2005 and 2015 EU Cups and the 2016 and 2019 AFL Europe Championships.

English born players have been successful at the sport's highest level. In the AFL Bill Eason has the most games with 220 and most goals with 187. In the AFL Women's, Sabrina Frederick has the most games and goals.

History of Australian rules football in England

[edit]

English involvement in the game's establishment in Australia

[edit]
Daguerreotype of Tom Wills, founder of Australian Football, from his years at the Rugby School
Tom Wills, founder of Australian Football, was singled out in the national press for his prowess on the football field at the Rugby School in the 1850s.

According to the AFL, the sport's origins were in England with public school football games being adopted by Australians in the 1850s leading to the creation of what is now known as Australian Football in Melbourne in the British Colony of Victoria in 1859.[1] Several of the sport's founders were English including J. B. Thompson, William Hammersley and James Bryant, with Tom Wills having been educated at and played rugby football with the Rugby School.

William Hammersley (standing, third from left), J. B. Thompson (seated, second from left), Jerry Bryant (standing, second from right) and Tom Wills (seated, far left), each having strong connections to England, met in 1859 to establish what is now known as Australian football.

Writing to Wills in 1871, Thompson recalled that "the Rugby, Eton, Harrow, and Winchester rules at that time (I think in 1859) came under our consideration, ... we all but unanimously agreed that regulations which suited schoolboys ... would not be patiently tolerated by grown men."[2] The hardness of the playing fields around Melbourne also influenced their thinking. Even Wills, who favoured many rules of Rugby School football, saw the need for compromise.[3] He wrote to his brother Horace: "Rugby was not a game for us, we wanted a winter pastime but men could be harmed if thrown on the ground so we thought differently."[3]

While the game found its way to Ireland in the 1870s and there was also some awareness in England of the popularity of the game in Australia, it was not established locally until much later. This is primarily due to the growing popularity of locally developing football codes including rugby football and later British Association (soccer) which, like Australian Football, were also developing from public school football games.

The English were also heavily involved in the development of the code in the 1860s and 1870s. George Metcalfe was instrumental in introducing at Newington College in Colony of New South Wales in 1867, the first school in the colony to known play football in any form.[4] the 2nd Battalion of Fourteen Foot (Buckinghamshire) played in the first known match in the Colony of Western Australia in 1868.[5] James Henry Gardiner founded the North Melbourne Football Club in 1869 which was later instrumental to unifying football rules in the Colony of Tasmania. John Acraman and Richard Twopeny were the key players in establishing it in the Colony of South Australia.

Early efforts to introduce the sport

[edit]

Between 1870 and World War I many overseas students studied medicine in Scotland, and some went down to England to play the Australian Rules teams in that country.[citation needed]

A Lancashire paper from 1881 mentions a local initiative to introduce "Victorian Rules Football" to England as an alternative to rugby and Association football.[6]

In 1883, during a visit to Australia, English journalist and rugby player Richard Twopeny wrote of the game:

A good football match in Melbourne is one of the sights of the world... The quality of the play... is much superior to anything the best English clubs can produce... there is much more 'style' about the play.[7]

In 1884 H C A Harrison then known as the "father of Australian Football" visited London where he proposed unifying Australian rules with Rugby under a set of hybrid rules and suggested that rugby clubs adopt some of the Victorian Rules. English football officials expressed their insult at the suggestion that they "abandon their rules to oblige an Antipodean game".[8]

Nevertheless when first proposing a football tour of Australia and New Zealand in March 1887, James Lillywhite, Alfred Shaw and Arthur Shrewsbury posited that the best way to ensure the success of the venture would be to play under the Australian rules where the sport was most popular.[9]

Australians studying at Edinburgh University and London University formed teams and competed in London in 1888.[10] Spurred on by the upcoming English football team's tour of Australia, a scratch match between Edinburgh Australians and London Australians was planned to be held at Balham on 14 April 1888.[11] However the match was postponed citing lack of player numbers and suitability of the venue.[11] It was finally played on 26 May 1888 at Balham, London won 4 goals to 2.[12] There was little interest in the match outside of the Australian expat community.[13] However the game was poorly organised and the selected ground was so out of the way that most spectators failed to find it, proving to be lost opportunity to promote the game.[12] A return match was played on the same ground on the 30th May resulting in a draw.[12] The match drew considerable praise in UK newspapers such as the Times and the Scotsman.[citation needed]

British tours to Australia (1888–1914)

[edit]
Main article: 1888 British Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia
The touring British Lions in 1888 before a match against the South Melbourne Football Club

Australian rules football was played by a British representative rugby team which toured Australia in 1888. The team arrived in Hobart, Tasmania on 18 April.[14] They attended a social function with the Southern Tasmanian Football Association, before going to New Zealand for a series of rugby matches.

After they returned to Australia they again trained in Australian rules in Sydney, before leaving for Victoria in mid-June. The tour included 19 matches. They played against several of the stronger football clubs from Melbourne including the Carlton Football Club, South Melbourne Football Club, Essendon Football Club, Fitzroy Football Club and Port Melbourne Football Club. Additionally, they played against some strong regional Victorian clubs including two teams from the city of Ballarat: Ballarat Football Club and Ballarat Imperial Football Club, as well as two teams from the city of Bendigo: Bendigo Football Club and Sandhurst Football Club as well as playing against clubs from other regional towns including the Castlemaine Football Club, Maryborough Football Club, Horsham Football Club and Kyneton Football Club.

The team also played against several of the stronger South Australian teams including South Adelaide Football Club, Port Adelaide Football Club, Adelaide Football Club (no connection to the later Adelaide club), Norwood Football Club. The only club from outside of Victoria or South Australia which played against them was the Maitland Football Club (from the Hunter Valley in New South Wales). The British team won six matches, including a win over Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on 10 July 1888, and drew one.

The reigning Victorian premiers, Carlton defeated Great Britain at the MCG 14.17 to 3.8. At this stage goals and points were recorded but only goals counted in the score; for example, when Great Britain played Castlemaine under very heavy conditions they kicked 1 goal 2 points and the locals kicked 1 goal 4 points, but the match was declared a draw. Great Britain also played 35 games of rugby, making a total of 54 games in 21 weeks. A star of the team's Australian rules games was Andrew Stoddart, who captained the team for part of its tour and also captained England in cricket.

The 1888 tour had been organised by the English cricketer Arthur Shrewsbury but his involvement with Australian Rules football did not end there. He planned to have an Australian team sent to the United Kingdom to play a series of demonstration matches and to that end he looked to Scotland where he had identified possible opponents. Shrewsbury's plans are outlined in his correspondence with Alfred Shaw and Turner, the Nottingham Cricket Club Secretary.[15]

First Competitions

[edit]

Shrewsbury suggested that the 'Edinburgh Australians' team at Edinburgh University should travel down to England to meet the Australian team in a series of demonstration matches in Lancashire and Yorkshire. Unfortunately his bold plan did not eventuate as the authorities in Australia[who?] aborted the venture[citation needed] and a possible expansion of Australian Rules in the UK was lost.

In 1894, a dramatic costume football match was played at the East Melbourne Cricket Ground involving prominent English celebrities Jennie Lee, Wallace Brownlow and Harry Musgrove.[16]

There were reports from Australia that the game was being played in England between two clubs in 1903[17] and in 1904.[18] By 1906 there were three clubs holding regular competition two of which were in London.[19] The Oxford University Australian Rules Football Club was founded in 1906.[20]

As early as 1911 the game was being played regularly at Oxford. The Cambridge University Australian Rules Football Club is believed to have been founded around 1911. In 1911 Oxford University captained by Alfred Clemens defeated Cambridge University captained by Ron Larking 13.9 (87) to 5.12 (42).[21][22][23] In 1914, H C A Harrison reported that the game was being played regularly at both Oxford and Cambridge universities[24] though few records exist of contests between 1911 and 1921.

World War I

[edit]
See also: The "Pioneer Exhibition Game" in London (1916)
Action from the Pioneer Exhibition Game in London.
(From Excelsior, 20 November 1916.)

In 1915 a Victoria vs South Australia match was played at Portland Canteen ground at Weymouth, Dorset.[25]

In 1916, one of the highest profile matches in the history of the game outside of Australia occurred when a match was held at the Queen's Club in London between Australian Army teams, representing the Combined Training Units and the 3rd Division, in which many senior Australian rules footballers from all over Australia took part. The match drew a large crowd and significant press coverage.[26]

In 1917 HMAS Australia's Australian Football team played against a team of soldiers in London which drew significant attendance and interest.[27] In November 1917, the Australian army and navy played a rugby match against each other in London, however the seconds played a match under Australian rules.[28]

As a celebration of Australia Day January 1918, a match was held at Cambridge between London Headquarters and Australian Cadets, with London winning 80 to 63.[29]

However, the end of World War I saw the game outside of the universities go into hiatus.

Varsity matches between Oxford and Cambridge

[edit]
Main article: Oxford Cambridge Intervarsity Australian Rules Football Match

After the war, in 1921, the Oxford University–Cambridge University Varsity match between expatriate Australian students became an annual contest.[30] This game is still played,[31] and is the longest running Australian rules fixture outside Australia.[32][33] The match is an official Varsity competition.[citation needed] Over the years, some distinguished Australians to have played in the match include Mike Fitzpatrick, Chris Maxwell, Joe Santamaria, Sir Rod Eddington and Andrew Michelmore.[34]

Second World War matches

[edit]

The AIF played a match in 1940 between the "Impossibles" and the "Improbables".[35]

When the RMS Moreton Bay returned to England after 1941 it played in advertised matches at Portsmouth.[36]

RAAF (Sunderland) vs RAF Mount Batten was played in 1943 in Plymouth.[37] In November of the same year, a game was played in Sussex between No.11 Personnel despatch and Reception centre team based in Brighton vs RAAF Headquarters from London.[38]

Teams representing RAAF, Headquarters vs Sunderland, met in Hyde Park in 1944 in front of a sizeable crowd. Headquarters defeated Sunderland 12.7 (79) to 5.4 (34).[39]

In 1945 HMAS Australia defeated RAAF at Dulwich 11.12 to 10.5.[40]

In 1948 Australia's champion axemen team announced its plans to introduce Australian rules football into England.[41]

Australia's High Commissioner in London with the captains of the Oxford and Cambridge teams in 1949
Action from an Australian rules match facilitated by Rosslyn Park Rugby club featuring HMAS Vengeance and the "Wombats" (in the stripes) at Old Deer Park in 1952

In 1952 a match was played at Rosslyn Park F.C. in South West London between HMAS Vengeance and English-Australians ("the Wombats").[42][43] The Wombats also organised a match at Cambridge.[44]

The first local league

[edit]

In 1967, Australian expatriates including Michael Cyril Hall and Ted Ford[45] attempted to organise Australian Football in London. Ted engaged high-profile expatriate Australians including Rolf Harris, Alan Freeman, Barry Humphries, Neil Hawke, Keith Miller and former Australian prime minister Sir Robert Menzies to support the venture and raise publicity for it. Ford organised a charity match was played in Regent's Park in London, between local club Kensington Demons and established out of town club Oxford University. Athol Guy (who had played VFL reserves with St Kilda) also made a special appearance as a player. The match also featured England's first all-women's match between Aussie Girls and Wild Colonial Girls as a curtain raiser.[46] The match attracted a crowd of 1,000 spectators.[47] A follow-up match between Earl's Court Magpies and Australian Dentists attracted 700 spectators.[47] By May 7 established local teams were ready to form a local league these teams included: Australian Dentists, Australian Navy, Oxford University, Cambridge University, Kensington Demons, Earls Court Magpies and London House.[48] In July, Royal Australian Navy (RAN) personnel played against a combined side drawn from the Earls Court Magpies; Kensington Demons and Australian Dentists in front of a crowd of 1,200 at Regent's Park.[49] RAN personnel would go on to play against local school sides and local rugby clubs.

After some time finding its roots, the Australian National Football League (UK) was formed which by 1970 had six teams, Victorians; Rest of Australia; Portsmouth Naval Base; Plymouth Naval Base; London Gaelic Football Club and Hampstead Rugby Club with matches played in the summer.[50] The later inclusion of two English rugby sides was helping them keep fit in the off-season.[51] Later clubs to play in the league included the Kensington Demons, Earls Court Magpies, Oxford University Blues, Australian Dentists and Australian Navy (based in Portsmouth).[52]

In 1972, the first exhibition match of the VFL was played at The Oval in London as part of the Carlton Football Club 1972 preseason World Tour. The match attracted 9,000 in a carnival like atmosphere. However the arrival of the spectacle of elite level VFL also saw the end of the game at the grassroots in England with no further organised competition.

The VFL/AFL annual exhibition

[edit]

Between 1987 and 2006, VFL/AFL exhibition matches had become an almost annual event, but the only game since then being in 2012. With a large number of ex-patriate Australians, interest in the game grew and small crowds of up to 10,000 were in attendance for the event in some years. Interest and crowds grew further with the change of the VFL to the Australian Football League. Highlights during this time included large crowds for the Australian Football League's West Coast Eagles v. Collingwood in 1997 with an attendance of 14,000 and the match between Richmond and Essendon in 2002 which drew 13,000.

The British Australian Rules Football League: 1989-Present

[edit]
British Bulldogs player kicks despite a tackle from Nauruan opponent during the 2008 International Cup

In 1989 the British Australian rules football League (BARFL) was formed. Serious competition began. A schools program was launched in 1991.[53] One of the key people in the establishment of the competition was former professional Australian player Darren Ogier who helped introduce a rule that at least half of the club's players onfield must be non-Australian.[53] As the competition became more popular, results were reported in Australia.[54] From 1992, the AFL began contributing AUD $6,000 a year to the league, however withdrew its financial contributions in 1994, expressing a preference for grants to be spent on junior programs and school projects instead of the senior competition.[55][56] Despite the lack of AFL support, local BARFL Grand Finals become a large event attracting attendances in the thousands, including a record crowd of 1,500 in 1999.[citation needed]

In 2002 a national team represented Great Britain at the Australian Football International Cup for the first time, finishing the tournament in 6th place. 2005 saw the British Bulldogs again compete in the International Cup, again finishing 6th overall.

Following the 2005 International Cup, promising 22-year-old British Bulldog Luke Matias began playing with the Port Melbourne Football Club in the Victorian Football League.

Also in 2005, the first Western Derby to be played outside of Australia, the West Coast Eagles v. Fremantle game was played as a pre-season test at The Oval in London, drawing a record crowd of 18,884.

Junior Development programs

[edit]
West London Wildcats 2008 British competition premiers

In 2005 the first junior development program, Aussie Rules Schools, commenced. The program, co-ordinated by the new development body Aussie Rules UK, part of Aussie Rules International was kicked off. This project has seen up to 10 English schools adopt Aussie Rules as part of the school curriculum to combat obesity. Juniors teams have competed at the London Youth Games.

2006 was a big year for Aussie Rules in England, with the admission of new clubs in Manchester, Middlesbrough and Thanet.

On 17 September 2006 history was made in Denmark when the England Dragonslayers took on the Denmark Vikings in Europe's first fully-fledged international junior Aussie Rules match. England claimed the King Canute Cup, with England 6.10(46) defeating Denmark 0.6(6).[57]

In July 2007, the AFL announced that the annual London exhibition match was likely to be abandoned for the year, after only the Western Bulldogs had expressed interest.

In a first in 2007, the GB Bulldogs including several past and future England players, soundly defeated Ireland in Dublin 11.15(81) to 2.9(21).

Cambridge and Oxford Universities contest centre bounce in 2008

AFL Britain

[edit]

In 2008, a resolution to the divide between the two competing leagues saw a single national body, AFL Britain form, which formally affiliated to the AFL. The BARFL was dissolved and became AFL London, while regional leagues including the Scottish Australian Rules Football League and the Welsh Australian Rules Football League affiliated with the new national body.

AFL England

[edit]

In 2012, AFL England was formed as the national governing body for Australian rules football in England, separate to AFL Scotland and AFL Wales.

International Rules hybrid match being played at the University of Birmingham 2014

Participation

[edit]

In 2004, there were a total of around 435 senior players across 18 clubs in England. The local league has a higher number of ex-patriate Australians compared to other countries that participate in the sport, however the league recently put in place caps on the number of expatriate players in certain divisions to improve the mix and encourage more local players.

By the end of 2007, the game had experienced substantial growth due to the placement of permanent development officers. AFL International Census figures indicate over 3,600 participants[58]

Audience

[edit]

Television

[edit]

Australian rules football is regularly shown on TNT Sports.

Attendance records

[edit]

Local competitions

[edit]

1,500 (1999). BARFL Grand Final. West London Wildcats vs Wandsworth Demons. London[59]

Exhibition match

[edit]

18,884 (2005). West Coast v. Fremantle (The Oval, London)

National teams

[edit]

AFL England currently manages four national teams. The Great Britain Bulldogs and Great Britain Swans compete every three years at the International Cup in Melbourne. The squad is made up of players mainly from the London clubs, however they are often joined by players competing in Australia. In 2017 the Bulldogs finished sixth, their joint-highest finish, while in their maiden year the Swans finished third, defeating the United States 5.2 (32) to 4.1 (25)

The English teams are known as the England Dragonslayers and the England Vixens. Both teams won the AFL Europe Euro Cup in 2017.[60] In 2018, the Vixens finished runners-up

Clubs

[edit]

Open

[edit]

London

[edit]
Club Years in competition Conference Team Social Team Previous names
Earls Court Kangaroos 1990–97 Esher Kangaroos (1992), Firkin Roos (1996–97)
North London Lions 1990- Regent's Park Lions Bounds Green
Putney Magpies 1999- Hammersmith Magpies Fulham Magpies London Gryphons (1999–2003), merged with London Collingwood Supporters' Group
Lea Valley Saints 1990–96
London Swans 1991- City Swans Sussex Swans (1991–2007), name still used for their ARUK Southern team
Thames Valley Magpies 1990–91
South East London Giants 2008- Dulwich Dragons (2008–2011)
Wandsworth Demons 1990- Clapham Demons South London Demons
West London Wildcats 1990- Shepherds Bush Raiders Ealing Emus
Wimbledon Hawks 1990- Fulham Hawks London Hawks (1990–94)

Regional England

[edit]
Club Leagues competed in Other names
Birmingham Bears ARUK Central Division (2009)
Birmingham Crows BARFL (1993–94)
Bournemouth Demons ARUK Southern Division (2007–11)
Brighton Black Swans ARUK Southern Division (2007–08)
Bristol Dockers BARFL (1991–2002), BARFL Regional (2003–06), AFL London Social League (2007-) Bristol Bears (1991–96)
Chippenham Redbacks ARUK Southern Division (2008–09)
Doncaster Saints BARFL Regional (2003–04)
Durham Saints ARUK Northern Division (2007–09) Durham Swans (2007–08)
East Midland Eagles BARFL (1990–96)
Gateshead Miners ARUK Northern Division (2009)
Guildford Crows ARUK Southern Division (2011)
Hartlepool Dockers ARUK Northern Division (2007–09)
Huddersfield Rams ARUK Central Division (2009)
Leeds Bombers ARUK Central Division (2009)
Liverpool Blues BARFL (1993–94)
Liverpool Eagles ARUK Central Division (2009)
Manchester Mosquitoes BARFL Regional (2006), AFL London Social League (2007–09)
Middlesbrough Hawks SARFL (2006), ARUK Northern Division (2007–09)
Newcastle Centurions ARUK Northern Division (2007–09)
Nottingham Scorpions BARFL Regional (2004–06), AFL London Social League (2007–09)
Plymouth Lions Plymouth Seagulls (2011)
Portsmouth Pirates ARUK Southern Division (2009)
Reading Kangaroos BARFL Regional (2003–06), AFL London Social League (2007–09)
Sheffield Thunder ARUK Central Division (2009)
Southampton Titans ARUK Southern Division (2007–09)
St Helens Miners BARFL (2002–04) Northwestern Miners (2004)
Sussex Swans BARFL (1991-), ARUK Southern Division (2007–09)
Swindon Devils BARFL Regional (2004–06), WARFL (2007)
Thanet Bombers BARFL Regional (2006), ARUK Southern Division (2007) Thanet Bombardiers (2006)
University of Birmingham Lions National University League (2009-)

Juniors

[edit]
  • Clapham Cubs

Players

[edit]

Men's

[edit]
Currently on an AFL senior list
Player Club/s AFL Years* AFL Matches* AFL Goals* Connections to England, References
Cameron Mackenzie Hawthorn 2023- 34 12 Born in London[61]
Callum M. Brown Greater Western Sydney 2021- 42 42 Born in Luton, Bedfordshire and raised to the age of 5[62]
Connor Idun Greater Western Sydney 2019- 93 0 Born London, raised in Essex to age of 4[63]
Pearce Hanley Brisbane Lions, Gold Coast 2019-2020 169 60 Born, Welsh father, Irish mother[64]
Guy Walker Melbourne 2018-2018 - - Born Nottingham, Nottinghamshire[65]
Sam Draper Essendon 2017- 73 36 Raised in Brede, East Sussex[66][67]
Brandon Jack Sydney 2013-2017 28 16 Born Manchester[68]
David Swallow Gold Coast 2011- 241 109 Father[69]
Brad Moran Adelaide, North Melbourne 2006–2011 21 8 Born Solihull and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon by English parents[70]
Will Thursfield Richmond 2005–2011 77 0 Born Oxford[71]
Fergus Watts Adelaide, St Kilda 2004-2006 6 3 Born Whipps Cross, London[72]
Clive Waterhouse Fremantle 1996–2004 106 178 Born[73]
Colin Alexander Collingwood 1989–1991 29 30 Born[74]
Ian Dargie St Kilda, West Coast 1989–1991 11 1 Born [75][76]
Lawrence Bingham Hawthorn, St Kilda 1989–1990 25 0 Born[74]
Mark Bayliss Collingwood 1989 4 6 Born[citation needed]
Paul Harding Hawthorn, St Kilda, West Coast 1987–1994 116 14 Born Camborne, Cornwall[citation needed]
Andy Goodwin Richmond, Melbourne 1987–1991 73 9 Born[citation needed]
Richard Nixon Richmond 1987–1990 37 3 Born[citation needed]
Wayne Blackwell Carlton 1984–1990 110 80 Born Leicester[77]
Paul Meldrum Carlton 1982–1992 158 140 Born London[78]
Chris Burton Footscray, Richmond 1980–1984 107 35 Born[79]
Andrew Ireland Collingwood 1975-1989 110 29 Born and raised in London to the age of 4[80]
Mick Plant South Melbourne 1972 4 1 Born[citation needed]
Brian Mynott St Kilda 1964–1975 210 75 Born Southampton[81]
Fred Fairweather North Melbourne 1944–1946 54 14 Born London[79]
Polly Perkins Richmond 1940–1949 148 0 Born Leicester[82]
Bernie Bignell Carlton 1940, 1945 6 0 Born Birmingham, Warwickshire[83]
Johnny Leonard South Melbourne 1932 12 17 Born Newcastle[84]
Bert Ashby Hawthorn 1928-1935 25 6 Born Leicester
Ted Brewis Carlton 1925-1928 60 12 Born Bedlington[83]: 91 [85]
Johnny Davies Carlton 1922-1929 33 37 Born Wales[85][86]
George Renwick Carlton 1909 4 0 Tooting, London[83]: 696 [85]
Bill Eason Geelong 1902-1915 220 187 Born Liverpool[87]
Barney Lazarus Carlton 1902 7 0 Born London[83]: 477 [85]
Ralph Robertson St Kilda 1899-1900 14 1 Born Aylestone[88]
Jack Frost Carlton 1897 4 - Born London
Ted Staniland Fitzroy 1897 5 3 Born in Yorkshire

Women's

[edit]
Currently on an AFLW senior list
Player Club/s AFLW Years* AFLW Matches* AFLW Goals* Connections to England, References
Imogen Barnett Collingwood 23 4 Attended primary school[89]
Poppy Boltz Brisbane 2023– 25 0 Born Northern England[90]
Jade Ellenger Brisbane 2019– 64 9 Born London[91][92]
Cat Phillips Melbourne, St Kilda, Essendon 2019– 54 10 Born[91]
Katrina Stone Western Bulldogs, Carlton Football Club (VFLW) - - Recruited from the North London Lions (AFL London)
Katie Brennan Western Bulldogs, Richmond 2017– 65 52 Lived there for a period[93]
Sabrina Frederick Brisbane, Richmond, Collingwood 2017– 80 31 Born, mother, raised to the age of 7.[94]

See also

[edit]
[edit]

Books

[edit]
  • Williamson, John (2003). Bucknell, Mar (ed.). Football's Forgotten Tour: The Story of the British Australian Rules Venture of 1888. Applegate. ISBN 9780958101806.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Hibbins, Gillian; Ruddell, Trevor (2009). ""A Code of Our Own": Celebrating 150 Years of the Rules of Australian Football" (PDF). The Yorker (39).
  2. ^ The Australian Cricketers' Guide 1870–1871, p. 114
  3. ^ a b de Moore, Greg. Tom Wills: His Spectacular Rise and Tragic Fall. Allen & Unwin, 2008. ISBN 174176548X, p. 94
  4. ^ The history of Newington’s Houses Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  5. ^ G Christian, J Lee & B Messenger, The Footballers: The History of Football in Western Australia, St George's Books Perth 1985, pp 1-6.
  6. ^ Athletic News. 24 August 1881 Pg. 1
  7. ^ R. Twopenny, Townlife in Australia, Melbourne 1977 (1883), pp. 207–8
  8. ^ AUCKLAND STAR, VOLUME XXVI, ISSUE 4533, 9 DECEMBER 1884, PAGE 2
  9. ^ "A CHAT WITH LILLYWHITE". Sportsman. No. 319. Victoria, Australia. 30 March 1887. p. 6. Retrieved 3 February 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ Williamson 2003, pp. 138–140.
  11. ^ a b "Our Anglo-Colonial Letter". The Express and Telegraph. Vol. XXV, no. 7, 327. South Australia. 17 May 1888. p. 2. Retrieved 24 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ a b c "BRITISH & FOREIGN. ANGLO-COLONIAL GOSSIP". Adelaide Observer. Vol. XLV, no. 2435. South Australia. 2 June 1888. p. 20. Retrieved 3 February 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ "Our Anglo-Colonial Letter". The Express and Telegraph. Vol. XXV, no. 7, 327. South Australia. 17 May 1888. p. 2. Retrieved 3 February 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ^ "THE MERCURY". The Mercury. Hobart, Tasmania. 19 April 1888. p. 2. Retrieved 14 July 2011 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. ^ Letter from Shrewbury to Alfred Shaw. 'Football's Forgotten Tour' (p50)
  16. ^ "THEATRICAL FOOTBALL MATCH". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 14, 994. Victoria, Australia. 19 July 1894. p. 5. Retrieved 31 January 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. ^ "THE "AUSTRALIAN" GAME OF FOOTBALL". The Daily Telegraph. No. 7769. New South Wales, Australia. 29 April 1904. p. 3. Retrieved 27 October 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  18. ^ "AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL". The Australian Star. No. 5417. New South Wales, Australia. 24 June 1905. p. 8 (FIRST EDITION). Retrieved 30 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. ^ "AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL". The Australian Star. No. 5726. New South Wales, Australia. 21 June 1906. p. 4 (FIRST EDITION). Retrieved 27 October 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  20. ^ "Oxford University Australian Rules Football Club History". OUARFC Website. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  21. ^ "AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL". Kalgoorlie Miner. Vol. 17, no. 4850. Western Australia. 20 April 1911. p. 8. Retrieved 25 January 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  22. ^ "FOOTBALL". The Mercury. Vol. XCV, no. 12, 820. Tasmania, Australia. 27 April 1911. p. 7. Retrieved 25 January 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  23. ^ "HON. VICTOR HOOD MR. W. HONEYBONE (TOWN CLERK) SIR THOMAS GIBSON CAPMICHAEL, THE MAYOR OF BENDIGO (CR. WILKIE)". Melbourne Punch. Vol. CXIV, no. 2909. Victoria, Australia. 27 April 1911. p. 17. Retrieved 23 January 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  24. ^ "Football". Winner. No. 3. Victoria, Australia. 12 August 1914. p. 8. Retrieved 23 January 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  25. ^ "Famous Sprint Tracks For Stawell Tennis". The Herald. No. 19, 214. Victoria, Australia. 16 December 1938. p. 21. Retrieved 3 February 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  26. ^ "AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL IN LONDON". Winner. No. 129. Victoria, Australia. 10 January 1917. p. 4. Retrieved 3 February 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  27. ^ "WITH H.M.A.S. AUSTRALIA IN THE NORTH SEA". Sydney Mail. Vol. X, no. 259. New South Wales, Australia. 14 March 1917. p. 17. Retrieved 29 March 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  28. ^ "Soldiers at Play". Australian Town and Country Journal. Vol. XCII, no. 2492. New South Wales, Australia. 7 November 1917. p. 21. Retrieved 29 March 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  29. ^ "AUSTRALIA DAY CELEBRATED". The Herald. No. 12, 998. Victoria, Australia. 28 January 1918. p. 8. Retrieved 3 February 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  30. ^ "Aussie Rules' history in UK - in just 250 words Archived 22 August 2006 at archive.today"
  31. ^ "Oxford vs Cambridge, Aussie Rules, 23/2/2002 Archived 15 December 2005 at the Wayback Machine"
  32. ^ AFL.com.au: Four quarters decides 1000-year rivalry, 12/1/2010 Archived 17 June 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  33. ^ Triumphant Oxford are rucking great Archived 20 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine from oxfordstudent.com
  34. ^ "No boats, but Oxford downs Cambridge - AFL.com.au". Archived from the original on 26 September 2012. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  35. ^ "A.I.F. PLAY FOOTBALL IN BRITAIN". The Northern Miner. Queensland, Australia. 14 October 1940. p. 4. Retrieved 10 July 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  36. ^ "WA Footballer Player In Hong Kong's First Game". The Daily News. Vol. LXIV, no. 22, 202. Western Australia. 6 June 1946. p. 13 (HOME EDITION). Retrieved 3 February 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  37. ^ "Australian pictures in Trove". Trove.
  38. ^ Australian War Memorial UK0742
  39. ^ Australian War Memorial UK0900
  40. ^ "Harry Kneebones World of Sport". The Advertiser (Adelaide). South Australia. 30 November 1945. p. 6. Retrieved 12 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  41. ^ "AXEMEN MAY TOUR ENGLAND". The Sun. No. 2356. New South Wales, Australia. 6 June 1948. p. 3. Retrieved 3 February 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  42. ^ "Aust. Rules' English Debut". The Newcastle Sun. No. 10, 852. New South Wales, Australia. 29 December 1952. p. 10. Retrieved 12 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  43. ^ "Christmas Comes — and Goes". The Mercury. Vol. CLXXII, no. 25, 592. Tasmania, Australia. 30 December 1952. p. 8. Retrieved 12 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  44. ^ "Sport & Sportsmen". The Newcastle Sun. No. 10, 840. New South Wales, Australia. 10 December 1952. p. 19. Retrieved 12 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  45. ^ 'The Footy World Magazine', Wednesday 5 July 1967, pp 12-13
  46. ^ "Now it's Rules Britannia". The Canberra Times. Vol. 41, no. 11, 728. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 30 June 1967. p. 14. Retrieved 7 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  47. ^ a b London footy, '60s style! by John Delvaney for Australian Football.com
  48. ^ "Londoners to watch Rules". The Canberra Times. Vol. 41, no. 11, 678. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 2 May 1967. p. 16. Retrieved 7 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  49. ^ "Rules was popular". The Canberra Times. Vol. 41, no. 11, 731. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 4 July 1967. p. 14. Retrieved 7 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  50. ^ "Black swans by the Thames". The Canberra Times. Vol. 45, no. 12, 712. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 2 October 1970. p. 18. Retrieved 7 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  51. ^ Obituary throws up questions about British footy history from worldfootynews.com
  52. ^ London Footy Sixties Style[usurped] from fullpointsfooty.com
  53. ^ a b "Code makes new inroads in Britain". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 28 June 1991. p. 33. Retrieved 23 September 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  54. ^ "INTERNATIONAL Britain". The Canberra Times. Vol. 66, no. 20, 933. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 5 August 1992. p. 34 (OLYMPICS SPECIAL LATE EDITION). Retrieved 23 September 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  55. ^ "RULES in UK SCHOOLS?". The Canberra Times. Vol. 70, no. 21, 731. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 16 October 1994. p. 13. Retrieved 23 September 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  56. ^ "INTERNATIONAL Britain". The Canberra Times. Vol. 70, no. 21, 698. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 12 September 1994. p. 23. Retrieved 23 September 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  57. ^ Aussie Rules - England defeat Denmark Archived 25 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  58. ^ AFL International Census 2007 Archived 24 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  59. ^ "Instant Loans - Iafc". www.iafc.com.au.
  60. ^ "England Dragonslayers – AFL England". www.aflengland.org.
  61. ^ After a nervous wait, Hawks fan Mackenzie is ready to answer the call By Josh Gabelich for afl.com.au 29 November 2022
  62. ^ 'My mindset is just to mess my man up - do whatever it takes to show I'm better than him' from the Irish News 26 March 2020]
  63. ^ Rugari, Vince (2 August 2019), "Cameron's calf injury opens derby door for Giants debutant", The Age
  64. ^ https://www.aflq.com.au/queensland-clubs-celebrate-diversity/ AFL Queensland clubs celebrate diversity
  65. ^ Walker ready for run in AFL ranks from Herald Sun 15 August 2018
  66. ^ Trantino, Julian (30 July 2020). "Draper to make debut". EssendonFC Media. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  67. ^ Colangelo, Anthony (30 July 2020). "Trade-target ruck Draper to debut for Essendon". The Age. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  68. ^ All guts, no glory: Brandon Jack exposes the ugly side of football By Martin McKenzie-Murray For The Saturday Paper 2 October 2021
  69. ^ "Lesson 8: Many Players, One Team" (PDF). You Can Kick Goals Too. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  70. ^ Brad Moran
  71. ^ AFL a diverse world[dead link‍]
  72. ^ Quayle, Emma (2 October 2003). "Watts not to like about draftee from Dragons". The Age. Melbourne.
  73. ^ The Dennis Cometti Q&A: Fremantle cult hero Clive Waterhouse by Dennis Cometti for The West Australian 4 August 2018
  74. ^ a b Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia Of AFL Footballers. BAS Publishing. ISBN 978-1-920910-78-5.
  75. ^ "Our brightest stars: Subiaco District".
  76. ^ Brian Clarke (2003). "Overseas Born VFL/AFL players". International Australian Football Council. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
  77. ^ Blueseum Wayne Blackwell
  78. ^ Blueseum Paul Meldrum
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  80. ^ Sensational Seventies: Andrew Ireland By Glenn McFarlane for the Herald Sun 22 May 2019
  81. ^ Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2014). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: every AFL/VFL player since 1897 (10th ed.). Melbourne, Victoria: Bas Publishing. p. 646. ISBN 978-1-921496-32-5.
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  85. ^ a b c d "Carlton's International XVIII". 26 June 2012.
  86. ^ Most other sources say Brunswick, Victoria, Australia
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  88. ^ Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2014). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: every AFL/VFL player since 1897 (10th ed.). Melbourne, Victoria: Bas Publishing. p. 759. ISBN 978-1-921496-32-5.
  89. ^ AFLW 2023 Player Profiles
  90. ^ AFL Cairns: Rise of Poppy Boltz from Cairns Post 1 December 2023
  91. ^ a b "2021 AFL Players Association Multicultural Map". AFLPA. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  92. ^ Between the Lions Episode 14 w/ Jade Ellenger & Special Guest Ally Anderson By Lions Media on Nov 23, 2022
  93. ^ Lane, Samantha (2018). Roar. Penguin Random House Australia. p. 166. ISBN 9780143788744.
  94. ^ "Sabrina doing what she loves", The West Australian, 16 March 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
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