Welcome

CODE SPREADS ITS WINGS
Record turnout underlines game's popularity

Welcome to the third Australian Football International Cup, one of the key events in the game's 150-year celebrations.

It is fantastic that so many visitors are coming to Australia to take part in this event and to support those involved. This year's International Cup features a record number of countries, and I would like to thank so many people around the world for their hard work and dedication. Without their passion, this event would not be possible.

In the year that we celebrate 150 years of our game, it is extraordinary to think that more than 30 countries currently have some form of organised Australian Football competition or development programs.

The key feature of the International Cup is that it is not a competition for ex-pat Aussies, who are ineligible to play. Instead, all players are citizens of the country they are representing and have not grown up with our game.

As such, the event is a true reflection of the growing interest and enthusiasm for Australian Football overseas.

Games will be played for Royal Park North in Melbourne as well as in the regional Victorian city of Warrnambool, which will host two rounds of matches.

We would like to acknowledge the wonderful support provided by the City of Melbourne and the Warrnambool City Council.

Ireland (2002) and New Zealand (2005) are previous winners, but will have plenty of competition if they want to hold the trophy aloft again.

I would like to thank all those in the AFL Development department for their work in organising the third Australian Football International Cup.

More importantly, I want to acknowledge players, coaches, officials and supporters of all teams for their commitment in promoting our game of Australian Football to an ever-widening audience. Their fundraising efforts to make this event a reality are to be congratulated. We wish them all the best of luck.

Kevin Sheedy, the Australian Football 150-year ambassador and one of the game's most creative thinkers, has claimed that we should never fence the game in. This event is one of the greatest examples of why it will not be.

Andrew Demetriou
AFL Chief Executive Officer

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