Wheelchair Australian rules football

The first organised game of competitive wheelchair Australian rules football was played at the RAAF base in Adelaide, South Australia on 8 November 2015. ^{[1] [2]} The game involved a team of wounded Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel undergoing rehabilitation at Darwin's soldier Recovery Centre and a Disability Sports Australia (DSA) team made up of players from South Australia. The game was organized by the ADF, Australian Football League and DSA. The final score was: DSA team 16.8.104 defeated the ADF team 14.5.89. ^[2]

In April 2015, Prince Harry whilst visiting Darwin, Northern Territory raised the profile of this new sport by participating in a game of wheelchair AFL. ^[3] The game involved wounded Australian soldiers. ^[3]

In November 2015, there were plans to create a national league. ^[2]

Rules

Rules of the game have some similarity to AFL rules for Australian rules football and include: ^[2]

• Game is started by throwing up the ball in the centre of the field.
• Six points for a goal, and one point for a behind.
• Kicks are replaced with handballs, and handballs replaced with underarm throws.
• A red Sherrin football is used, with the game split into four quarters.
• Game is played on a basketball court with plastic posts at each end of the court.
• Only five players from each team can be on the field at any given time.
• Team is divided in backs, centres and forwards but only forwards can score.

Leagues

Every state in Australia provides access to play wheelchair Australian rules football. Select states have organised leagues where clubs compete.

List of State Leagues:

• Queensland Wheelchair Football League ^[4]

• Victorian Wheelchair Football League ^[5]

• WA Wheelchair Football League ^[6]

• Northen Territory Wheelchair Football League ^[7]

• South Australian Wheelchair Football League ^[8]

• NSW/ACT Wheelchair Football League ^[9]

See also

• Wheelchair sports
• Wheelchair rugby
• Wheelchair rugby league

References

1. Hartigan, Brian (8 November 2015). "First officially organised wheelchair Aussie Rules". Contact - Air, Land and Sea. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
2. "Wheelchair Aussie rules makes official debut in match between diggers and locals at Adelaide RAAF base". ABC News. 8 November 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
3. Martin, Lisa (19 April 2015). "Prince Harry plays wheelchair AFL". The Australian. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
4. "Queensland Wheelchair Football League returns this Sunday". Play AFL.
5. "Victorian Wheelchair Football League". Play AFL.
6. "WA Wheelchair Football". All Abilities Footy.
7. "Nothern Territory Wheelchair Football League". playhq.com.
8. "Wheelchair Football".
9. Members, Wheelchair Sports NSW/ACT Sporting. "Wheelchair AFL". www.wsnsw.org.au.