Sport | Australian rules football |
---|---|
Founded | 1996 |
First season | 1997 [1] [2] |
No. of teams | 47 (men's) and 25 (women's) [1] |
Country | USA |
Most recent champion(s) | Men's: Austin Crows (7th premiership) Women's: San Francisco Iron Maidens (6th premiership) (2021) |
Most titles | Men: Denver Bulldogs (8 premierships) Women: Denver Bulldogs and San Francisco Iron Maidens (6 premierships) |
TV partner(s) | Go Live Sports Cast Youtube |
Official website | usafl |
The United States Australian Football League (USAFL) is the governing body for Australian rules football in the United States. It was conceived in 1996 and organized in 1997. It is based in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin.
As of 2011, there were over 1,000 registered USAFL players. [3] [4] There are 48 member clubs, of which 47 have men's teams (all except North Star Blue Ox) and 25 have women's teams. [1] Most of the football clubs in the United States have a traditional 18-a-side team for representative purposes and multiple 9-a-side teams running in a local league.
Each year the USAFL holds a National club championship, a tournament open to all clubs across the nation, the largest of its type in the world for the sport. In addition to the Nationals, the USAFL holds major regional tournaments including the Central, East and West regional tournaments. [5]
The USAFL selects the national men's (USA Revolution) and women's (USA Freedom) teams for competitions such as the Australian Football International Cup and the 49th Parallel Cup.
The first match between two local US clubs was played in 1996 between Cincinnati and Louisville. [6] In the first year the Mid American Australian Football League was formed. Many of the local players had found out about the game in the 1980s on television via the then-nascent ESPN cable network. Although the local game grew, ESPN no longer broadcast AFL matches, and in response the lobby group, Australian Football Association of North America was formed.
In 1997, the first club national championships were held in Cincinnati. Nashville hosted the first Australian Grand Final Festival in the same year. The United States Australian Football League (USAFL) was formed in 1997 to govern the code in the country.
The involvement of many well-known Australians has helped boost the relations between the USAFL and AFL. In the early days, Paul Roos was a key figure.
Robert DiPierdomenico, Leigh Matthews and Michael Voss are official USAFL ambassadors.
USAFL is responsible for the co-ordination of the National Teams, the USA Revolution men's team and the USA Freedom women's team. The team plays in international tournaments and exhibition matches against other countries. National team players are selected from the best US-born players from the club teams across the country.
With close proximity to Canada, the Revolution & Freedom participate in the annual 49th Parallel Cup against Canada each year except for years of the Australian Football International Cup.
The Revolution competed in the 2002 Australian Football International Cup, finishing 5th out of 11 countries and in the 2005 Australian Football International Cup finishing 3rd out of 10 countries. They competed in the 2008 Australian Football International Cup where the Revolution finished 7th out of 16 countries. At the 2011 Australian Football International Cup, the Revolution finished 4th in an increased field of 18 countries. The Revolution finished 8th at the 2014 Australian Football International Cup, again with 18 countries participating.
Colours | Club | Nickname | City | State | Region | Est. | Titles (M) | Titles (F) | Website |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arizona | Hawks | Phoenix | Arizona | West | 1999 | Link | |||
Atlanta | Kookaburras | Atlanta | Georgia | East | 1998 | 3 | Link | ||
Austin | Crows | Austin | Texas | Central | 2002 | 7 | Link | ||
Baltimore | Dockers | Baltimore | Maryland | East | 2017 | Link | |||
Baton Rouge | Tigers | Baton Rouge | Louisiana | Central | 2004 | Link | |||
Birmingham | Bushrangers | Birmingham | Alabama | East | 2020 | Link | |||
Boston | Demons | Boston | Massachusetts | East | 1997 | 2 | Link | ||
Chicago | Swans | Chicago | Illinois | Central | 1998 | Link | |||
Cincinnati | Dockers | Cincinnati | Ohio | Central | 1996 | 1 | Link | ||
Cleveland | Cannons | Cleveland | Ohio | Central | 2014 | Link | |||
Columbus | Cats | Columbus | Ohio | Central | 2008 | Link | |||
Dallas | Dingoes | Dallas | Texas | Central | 1998 | Link | |||
DC Eagles | Eagles | Washington | District of Columbia | East | 2017 | Link | |||
Denver | Bulldogs | Denver | Colorado | Central | 1998 | 8 | 6 | Link | |
Des Moines | Roosters | Des Moines | Iowa | Central | 2010 | Link | |||
Fort Lauderdale | Fighting Squids | Fort Lauderdale | Florida | East | 2005 | Link | |||
Golden Gate | Roos/Iron Maidens | San Francisco | California | West | 1998 | 1 | 6 | Link | |
Grovetown | Pirates | Grovetown | Georgia | East | 2021 | Link | |||
Hawai'i | Eagles | Honolulu | Hawaii | West | 2019 | Link | |||
Houston | Lonestars | Houston | Texas | Central | 2005 | Link | |||
Indianapolis | Giants | Indianapolis | Indiana | Central | 2013 | Link | |||
Jacksonville | Saints | Jacksonville | Florida | East | 2018 | Link | |||
Kansas City | Power | Kansas City | Missouri | Central | 1998 | Link | |||
Las Vegas | Gamblers | Las Vegas | Nevada | West | 2005 | Link | |||
Los Angeles | Dragons | Los Angeles | California | West | 2010 | Link | |||
Louisville | Kings | Louisville | Kentucky | Central | 1996 | Link | |||
Maine | Cats | Portland | Maine | East | 2018 | Link | |||
Milwaukee | Bombers | Milwaukee | Wisconsin | Central | 1998 | 1 | Link | ||
Minnesota | Freeze | Minneapolis | Minnesota | Central | 2005 | Link | |||
Nashville | Kangaroos | Nashville | Tennessee | Central | 1997 | Link | |||
New York | Magpies | New York | New York | East | 1998 | 2 | Link | ||
North Carolina | Tigers | Raleigh | North Carolina | East | 1997 | Link | |||
North Star Blue Ox | Blue Ox | Minneapolis–Saint Paul | Minnesota | Central | 2017 | Link | |||
North Texas | Devils | Plano | Texas | Central | 2020 | Link | |||
Oklahoma | Buffaloes | Oklahoma City /Tulsa | Oklahoma | Central | 2010 | Link | |||
Orange County | Giants | Orange County | California | West | 1998 | Link | |||
Philadelphia | Hawks | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | East | 1998 | Link | |||
Portland | Steelheads/Sockeyes | Portland | Oregon | West | 1998 | Link | |||
Rome | Redbacks | Rome | Georgia | East | 2018 | Link | |||
Sacramento | Suns | Sacramento | California | West | 2009 | Link | |||
San Diego | Lions | San Diego | California | West | 1997 | 2 | Link | ||
Savannah | Hurricane | Savannah | Georgia | East | 2017 | Link | |||
Seattle | Grizzlies | Seattle | Washington | West | 1998 | Link | |||
St Louis | Blues | St. Louis | Missouri | Central | 1997 | Link | |||
Tampa Bay | Tiger Sharks | Tampa Bay | Florida | East | 2017 | Link | |||
Virginia | Lions | Richmond | Virginia | East | 2018 | Link | |||
Wasatch | WarGulls | Wasatch County | Utah | West | 2019 | Link | |||
Wisconsin | Wombats | Madison | Wisconsin | Central | 2017 | Link |
Colours | Club | Nickname | City | State | Region | Est. | Titles (M) | Titles (F) | Website |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Calgary | Kangaroos | Calgary | Alberta | AFL Canada | 2002 | 1 | Link | ||
Quebec | Saints | Montreal | Quebec | AFL Canada | 2008 | Link |
Club | Nickname | City | State | Region | Est. | Senior Club Affiliate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Appalachian State | Mountaineers | Boone | North Carolina | East | 2024 | North Carolina Tigers |
Cincinnati | Bearcats | Cincinnati | Ohio | Central | 2024 | Cincinnati Dockers |
Colours | Club | Nickname | Years in competition | Reason for Disbandment |
---|---|---|---|---|
Arizona | Outlaws | 2018 - 2021 | Absorbed back into Arizona Hawks | |
Baltimore Washington | Eagles | 1998 - 2017 | Split to form Baltimore Dockers and DC Eagles | |
Charleston | Saints | 2011 - 2015 | Folded | |
Centennial | Tigers | 2020 - 2022 | Withdrew from league | |
Detroit | Overdrive | 1999 - 2006 | Folded | |
Florida | Redbacks | 1999 - 2013 | Folded | |
Illinois | Ironmen | 2000 - 2004 | Merged with Chicago Swans | |
Inland Empire | Eagles | 1997 - 2002 | Folded | |
Lehigh Valley | Crocs | 1999 - 2003 | Absorbed by Philadelphia Hawks | |
Little Rock | Coyotes | 2017 - 2021 | Folded | |
Los Angeles | Crows | 1996 - 2003 | Folded | |
Mojave | Greens | 2003 - 2006 | Folded | |
Oklahoma City | Flyers | 2016 - 2017 | Absorbed into Oklahoma Buffaloes | |
Pittsburgh | Wallabies | 2004 - 2006 | Absorbed by Philadelphia Hawks | |
South Carolina | Hawks | 1999 - 2001 | Folded | |
St. Petersburg | Swans | 2014 - 2017 | Left to create Major League Footy, both folded in 2019 | |
Tri Cities | Saints | 1999 - 2004 | Folded | |
Tucson | Javelinas | 1999 - 2004 | Folded |
The Australian Football International Cup is a triennial international tournament in Australian rules football. It is the biggest international tournament in the sport that is open to all nations. More than 26 nations have participated and the competition has expanded into multiple pools and both men and women's divisions. At the time of the last tournament in 2017, the sport had a record 170,744 registered players outside Australia growing at a rate of 25 per cent per annum.
Australian rules football is played in more than 60 countries around the world. By 2017 more than 26 nations had contested the Australian Football International Cup, the highest level of worldwide competition.
The United States national Australian rules football team, nicknamed the Revolution, represents the United States of America in the sport of Australian rules football. The Revolution are named after the American Revolution and wear the colors of the American flag.
Women's Australian rules football, is the female-only form of Australian rules football, generally with some modification to the laws of the game.
Australian rules football in Canada is played in seven provinces – Ontario, Alberta, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, British Columbia and Saskatchewan. The Ontario league, centred on Toronto is a nine-team league, including sides from cities as far afield as Guelph, Hamilton and Ottawa. In western Canada, there are clubs in Edmonton, Calgary and a six-team league in the Vancouver area. There is also a number of junior and women's clubs across Canada.
Australian rules football in the United States is a team and spectator sport which has grown rapidly since the late 1990s.
The USAFL National Championships is a tournament for Australian rules football in the United States.
The 49th Parallel Cup is an annual representative Australian rules football match between the United States and Canada first contested in 1999. Since 2007 the women's teams have also contested the cup.
The Atlantic Alliance Cup is an international Australian rules football tournament run every 3 years. The inaugural tournament pitted clubs and national teams from the North Atlantic together.
Note: In order to be recognised as a true national team and not simply expatriates, the list is subject to International Cup eligibility rules.
Australian rules football is played in Europe at an amateur level in a large number of countries. The oldest and largest leagues are those in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Denmark, in each of these nations there are several established clubs, and organised men's, women's and juniors programs. The British AFL has now expanded into Welsh, Scottish and English leagues. The Danish AFL has been responsible for the expansion of Australian Football into Sweden, Finland, Iceland and Norway. The governing body for Australian Football in Europe was founded in Frankfurt in January 2010; the body was initially called the European Australian Football Association, but changed its name to AFL Europe at a general assembly meeting in Milan in October of the same year. It currently has 22 member nations. AFL Europe, with backing of the AFL in Australia has overseen a large improvement in the organisation of Australian football in Europe.
Australian rules football has been played at an organised amateur level in the United States and Canada since around 1990. There have also been clubs formed for occasional play in Bermuda, Brazil, Chile, Argentina and Colombia.
AFL Canada is the governing body for Women's Australian rules football competition in Canada. The primary competition is centred in the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec and the national team is known as the "Northern Lights".
The United States women's Australian Rules football team, also nicknamed USA Freedom represents the United States in the sport of women's Australian rules football.
The Baltimore Washington Eagles was a United States Australian Football League (USAFL) team, based in Washington, D.C., and Baltimore. It was founded in 1998, and includes men's and women's teams that compete at a national level. Several of its players have participated in the USA national team in numerous AFL International Cups, which are held every three years in Melbourne, Australia. The club has won two Division II Championships, were runners-up in the Division I Championship in 2008, and won the 2017 Arctic Cup in Iceland. The Baltimore Washington Eagles also are affiliated with a kids footy program in the D.C. and Baltimore areas, as well as the AFL-light, tackle-free variation of the sport known as Ausball. The Eagles are affiliated with the West Coast Eagles, being one of only two USAFL teams to share the AFL club's name and wear its colors. At the end of the 2017 season, the Baltimore Washington Eagles voted to expand into two clubs, the DC Eagles and the Baltimore Dockers.
The Dallas Dingoes are an Australian Rules Football team based in Dallas, Texas, United States. Formed in 1997 as the Dallas Outlaws, the team would play under that moniker until 2000. In that year the team changed its name to the Dallas Magpies after forming an alliance with the Collingwood Magpies of the Australian Football League (AFL). In 2018, a few years after the end of the partnership with the Collingwood Magpies, the club re-branded as the Dallas Dingoes.
The Denver Bulldogs are a United States Australian Football League (USAFL) club, based in Denver, Colorado, United States. Founded in 1997, the club is currently composed of a Division 1 men's team, a Division 1 women's team, and a Reserves men's team. The Denver Bulldogs are the most successful club in the 22-year history of the USAFL, having won eight men's national championships and six consecutive women's national championships. The Denver Bulldogs are devoted to promoting the international sport of Australian Rules Football in Colorado, the United States, and abroad at all levels of competition.
The 2014 Australian Football International Cup was the fifth edition of the Australian Football International Cup, an international Australian rules football competition run by the Australian Football League.
The Los Angeles Dragons are an Australian rules football team, based in Los Angeles, California. They were founded in 2010 and play in the United States Australian Football League.
Danielle Marshall is a former American Australian rules football player for the Essendon Bombers in the AFL Women's (AFLW) League. Marshall is the first American and first USA Freedom representative to play in the AFLW league, and the first player recruited to play professionally at AFL level from a club outside Australia.