Footy in China

Introduction

Australian football has been played in China since 1998.

There is now a development organisation called Aussie Rules China based in Tianjin, focused on bringing Chinese nationals into the sport. The Tianjin program is sponsored by the Melbourne Football Club and the Melbourne City Council (through links formed with John So during the Australian Football Multicultural Cup). These organisations have since held exchange programs.

There are also three expatriate Australian-based clubs in Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong. A junior league named the Gobi Desert AFL existed briefly in the province of Xinjiang.

A representative team mainly consisting of expat Australians in China has competed under the names China Blues and China Reds in International fixtures and Asian AFL Championships.

Beijing
Australian rules was first played in Beijing is 2004, with the foundation of the Beijing Bombers. The Bombers play an annual China Cup series against the Shanghai Tigers, as well as starting a 3-team 9-a-side league known as the Beijing AFL in 2009. The 3 teams are Santa Fe Saints DongCheng Demons and AZ ChaoYang Cats.

Hong Kong
The Hong Kong Dragons were formed in 1990, and have been one of Asia's most successful Aussie Rules clubs since this time. The Dragons play against other Asian teams regularly and have competed at all Asian Australian Football Championships to date. The Dragons also coordinate an Auskick juniors program.

Macau
Aussie Rules began in Macau in 2009, with the introduction of Auskick and matches at the International School of Macau.

Shanghai
A club was established in Shanghai under the name of the Shanghai Tigers in 2002. The Tigers have a playing list comprised mainly of expatriate Australians, with some British, American and South African players as well.

Suzhou
The city of Suzhou does not currently have any senior clubs, although in 2007 18 schools had introduced the sport into their curriculum.

Tianjin
The sister city relationship between Tianjin and Melbourne saw the beginnings of football development in 2005. By 2007, a development organisation called Aussie Rules China had been formed, with Tianjin Normal University having two Australian football teams at its main campuses.

The Tianjin program is sponsored by the Melbourne Football Club and the Melbourne City Council, through links formed by former Melbourne Lord Mayor John So.

Xinjiang
A junior program called the Gobi Desert AFL existed at a primary school in Hami, Xinjiang in the 1990s, but this has now disappeared.

International Competition
A representative team mainly consisting of expat Australians in China has competed under the names China Blues and China Reds in International fixtures and Asian AFL Championships. The first national representative team composed entirely of Chinese nationals appeared as the China Red Demons at the 2008 Australian Football International Cup.

Chinese community in Australia
Chinese people in Australia have been playing Australian rules football since the 1890s. The 'Chinese Football Premiership' was played in Ballarat between 1892 and 1896.

Chinese migrant Wally Koochew debuted in the VFL in 1908, becoming the first Chinese player to do so.

In modern times, there have been a number of Australian Chinese players in suburban and amateur Australian rules, notably with the Southern Dragons, but none have yet played professionally in the AFL.

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