Although New Zealand had participated in the Jubilee Carnival in Melbourne in 1908, it would be another 87 years before the staging of the first Australian football tournament involving more than one international team.

It was the Arafura Games in Darwin in 1995 that brought international teams together in a tournament for the first time.

This was largely due to the work of Darwin football identity Darryl Window, who scoffed at suggestions that footy wasn't played overseas. Thanks to his efforts international teams came together to compete in the International Australian Football Championship, with Papua New Guinea defeating New Zealand in the final.

1995 Results

Teams: Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Nauru, Japan/Singapore, Hong Kong

Round 1
Papua New Guinea 14.5 (99) d. Hong Kong 2.6 (18)
New Zealand 8.6 (54) d. Nauru 3.1 (19)

Round 2
New Zealand 14.8 (94) d. Hong Kong 6.6 (42)
Japan/Singapore 6.5 (41) d. Nauru 4.11 (35)
Papua New Guinea 16.4 (100) d. New Zealand 3.0 (18)

Round 3
Papua New Guinea 7.10 (52) d. Nauru 4.6 (30)
Japan/Singapore 6.11 (47) d. Hong Kong 1.10 (16)

Round 4
Papua New Guinea 10.11 (71) d. Japan/Singapore 5.7 (37)
Nauru 9.11 (65) d. Hong Kong 4.6 (30)
New Zealand 7.7 (49) d. Japan/Singapore 4.11 (35)

International Bronze
Nauru 13.6 (84) d. Japan/Singapore 9.5 (59)

International Gold
Papua New Guinea 16.10 (106) d. New Zealand 8.7 (55)

1997

The International Australian Football Championship was expanded in 1997 to include an Australian division and an International division. Teams:

Australian Division
Australian Defence Force, Northern Territory Football League, Central Desert Eagles.

International Division
Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore.

During the tournament the International Australian Football Council (IAFC) was formed by the competing countries. The IAFC was formed to promote and develop the sport internationally. The purposes and principles of the Council included:

• promoting and fostering the game of Australian Football amongst its members and to other countries;
• managing and coordinating international matches and tournaments;
• establishing and promoting an official World Cup of Australian Football, and
• gaining recognition as the International Federation of Australian Football.

1997 Results

Round 1
Hong Kong 8.12 (60) d. Singapore 5.4 (34)
Australian Defence Force 13.6 (84) d. Papua New Guinea 4.1 (25)
Central Desert Eagles 9.16 (70) d. Japan 6.4 (40)
NTFL 19.9 (123) d. New Zealand 2.3 (15)

Round 2
Hong Kong 11.2 (68) d. Central Desert Eagles 7.7 (49)
NTFL 15.10 (100) d. Australian Defence Force 2.1 (13)
Singapore 9.7 (61) d. Japan 3.2 (20)
Papua New Guinea 8.6 (54) d. New Zealand 5.7 (37)

Round 3
Australian Defence Force 18.13 (121) d. New Zealand 0.1 (1)
Central Desert Eagles 12.8 (80) d. Singapore 4.5 (29)
NTFL 21.4 (130) d. Papua New Guinea 3.4 (22)
Hong Kong 11.7 (73) d. Japan 1.4 (10)

5th v 6th
Singapore 16.9 (105) d. Japan 3.2 (20)

Semi-Finals
Papua New Guinea 18.7 (115) d. Central Desert Eagles 2.3 (15)
New Zealand 12.3 (75) d. Hong Kong 4.5 (29)

International Bronze
Hong Kong 15.5 (95) d. Central Desert Eagles 11.16 (82)

International Gold
Papua New Guinea 14.9 (93) d. New Zealand 9.6 (60)

World Team
W. Lipou, G. Isaiah, G. Koare, D. Lucas (PNG), M. Lynch, D. Warke, J. McGinley, S. Grimmer (ADF), B. Stanislaus, A. Perry, W. Worden, J. McLeod, D. Parfitt, A. Hoban (NTFL), D. McNair, S. Stasiakowski, N. Hyland (Hong Kong), B. Wongawol, D. Butler, A. Farmer (CDE), I. Francis, C. Jones, A. Hunter, J. Brann (NZ), T. Boatman, W. Barker (Singapore), K. Takagi, S. Sibraa (Japan)

1999

The 1999 Arafura Games were a great success and some sensational footy was witnessed by those lucky enough to attend. The tone was set by the first match between New Zealand and Samoa, who were playing in their first ever match. Mid-way through the Kiwi's haka the Samoans responded with their own siva tau or "war dance", which is something you don't see everyday at the footy. It was electrifying stuff and there was much anticipation as the umpire bounced the ball to start play. All in all it was a great tournament.

1999 Results

Division A: Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong, Japan, Northern Territory
Division B: New Zealand, Singapore, Samoa, Central Desert Eagles

Round 1
Northern Territory 19.11 (125) d. Japan 1.0 (6)
New Zealand 6.8 (44) d. Samoa 2.3 (15)
Central Desert Eagles 10.6 (66) d. Singapore 4.9 (33)
Papua New Guinea 12.13 (85) d. Hong Kong 4.4 (28)

Round 2
Samoa 15.8 (98) d. Central Desert Eagles 5.4 (34)
Hong Kong 9.8 (62) d. Japan 8.8 (56)
Papua New Guinea 7.6 (48) d. Northern Territory 6.8 (44)
Singapore 4.5 (29) d. New Zealand 1.12 (18)

Round 3
Papua New Guinea 20.5 (125) d. Japan 1.0 (6)
Samoa 10.8 (68) d. Singapore 1.5 (11)
New Zealand 14.8 (92) d. Central Desert Eagles 7.1 (43)
Northern Territory 13.16 (94) d. Hong Kong 0.1 (1)

Bronze Medal Final
Samoa 12.17 (89) d. Hong Kong 3.6 (24)

Gold Medal Final
Papua New Guinea 13.15 (93) d. New Zealand 9.2 (56)

World Team
Abraham Henao, Willie Lipou, Nava Maha, Thomas Gori, Gibson Overa, David Lucas (Papua New Guinea), Dan Carman, Colin Jones, Al Hunter, Miles Stratford, John Jackson (New Zealand), Pualele Lemana, Murray Silva, Toni Va'a, Peter Penaia Teo (Samoa), Patrick Carnegie Jnr, Casey Ward (Central Desert Eagles), Tony Boatman (Singapore), Takeshi Shirai (Japan), Rob Martin, Gerry Henderson, Steve Stasiakolski (Hong Kong).
Coach: Mathew Pula (Papua New Guinea)
Team Manager: Misa Sofara (Samoa)

Darryl Window Medal
Best and Fairest (International): Gibson Overa (Papua New Guinea)
Best and Fairest (Australian): PK Carnegie Jnr (Central Desert Eagles)

2001

After the great success of the Arafura Games in 1999 organisers held high hopes for an even greater attendance in 2001. It was hoped that Arafura would be able to attract teams from outside the Asia-Pacific region for the first time, including the USA, Canada, England and Denmark. But it quickly became apparent that if these teams were to travel such a long way to Australia it was Melbourne, and not Darwin, that was their preferred destination.

Fair enough too as Melbourne is seen as the 'mecca' of international footy. So the IAFC resolved to stage a World Cup in Melbourne in 2002 (later renamed the International Cup).

This had the unfortunate effect of reducing numbers for the 2001 Arafura Games, which were only attended by four teams - Nauru, Japan, Central Desert Eagles and the Northern Territory Superules team.

2001 Results

Round 1
Nauru 21.16 (142) d. Japan 1.3 (9)
Central Desert Eagles 13.5 (83) d. NT Superules 10.8 (68)

Round 2
Nauru 11.8 (74) d. NT Superules 5.7 (37)
Central Desert Eagles 15.13 (103) d. Japan 7.4 (46)

Bronze Medal Final
NT Superules 9.8 (62) d. Japan 5.8 (38)

Gold Medal Final
Nauru 13.13 (91) d. Central Desert Eagles 5.5 (35)

World Team
Alfred Spanner, Paul Hartman, Spencer Tannang, George Gioura, Enoch Canon, Xavier Namaduk, Raynor Dediya, Robert Timothy (Nauru), Aaron Butler, Dixon Butler, Paul Carnegie, Alistair Read, Joey Bates, Alfred Mitchel (Central Desert Eagles), Roy Baehnisch, Paul Allen, Paul Kirby, Craig Porter (NT Superules), Yusite Hoshi, Taishi Tsukakoshi, Yomei Yamanaka, Daisute Kano (Japan).
Coach: Gonzaga 'Speedy' Namaduk (Nauru)
Team Manager: Troy Beard (Japan)

Darryl Window Medal (Best & Fairest)
Tied - Roy Baehnisch (NT Superules) & Alfred Spanner (Nauru)

There can be no doubt that the catalyst for the inaugural Australian Football International Cup has been the resounding success of Australian football at the Arafura Games. As such the city of Darwin will always hold a special place in the history of international footy.