Australian rules football in the Australian Capital Territory

Australian rules football in the Australian Capital Territory has a history dating back to the formation of the territory in the 1910s and was the most popular football code in Canberra prior to the introduction of teams from the national competitions in both rugby league and rugby union.

Australian rules football in the Australian Capital Territory
Governing bodyAFL NSW/ACT
Representative teamAustralian Capital Territory
First played1911, Canberra
Registered players8,306 (2019)[1]
Club competitions
Audience records
Single match14,974 (4 June 2016), AFL Greater Western Sydney Giants v Richmond Football Club (Manuka Oval, Canberra)

Canberra was once considered to be one of the points which define the Barassi Line. The sport edged out rugby league and rugby league in participation in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Home grown hero Alex Jesaulenko was a household name and the sport was widely covered in the local media and ACT provided a wealth of talent to professional VFL clubs. The ACT was one of the first proponents for a national Australian rules football competition and it became the first state or territory outside of Victoria to make an official bid to join a proposed national competition. The (rejected) Canberra bid for a team in the Victorian Football League (now AFL) in 1981 was dismissed in favour of a Sydney team, which became the Sydney Swans. Canberra has made numerous failed bids since, including bids to move the Swans when they became insolvent. However, the popularity of Australian rules football suffered substantially after the introduction of the Raiders (rugby league in 1982) and Brumbies (rugby union in 1996), falling behind both rugby codes and also soccer. It is now classified as a minor sport.

Despite Canberra not having a locally based team in the AFL, the AFL does schedule regular matches in the city. It retains a loyal support base as well as a strong local competition. Occasional AFL matches were played there by neutral sides from 2001. From 2012, Greater Western Sydney Giants acts as a local side, playing four home games a year at Manuka Oval. In 2016, the Canberra Giants averaged 12,886 at Manuka, higher than the club's average attendance at Sydney Showgrounds, and more than 7,000 Giants (almost a third) members are Canberrans. The ACT is classed as a development region by the AFL and in the AFL Draft, ACT is designated priority AFL recruitment zoning for the Greater Western Sydney Giants (and previously Sydney Swans), so most of the local players recruited from the ACT to the AFL (unless overlooked) generally start their careers at one of these two New South Wales based clubs.

The ACT debuted at representative level in 1925 against New South Wales, its first win coming in 1941 against New South Wales and went on to defeat New South Wales, Queensland and the National Amateur team numerous times between the 1950s and 1980s culminating in defeats of the powerhouses of the VFL in 1980 and Tasmania in 1981. It was also the third side to enter the National Underage Championships in 1973 however it never won the tournament. Despite the enormous popularity of the senior team, captained for a long time by Jesaulenko, it was wound up by the AFL in 1993 and since then ACT players have represented only in composite teams.

Australian rules football now attracts the lowest media profile and lowest attendance record of the four major football codes.

History

Competing team in the Canberra Australian Rules Football League 1926 Grand Final
Goal posts at Manuka Oval, home of Australian rules football in Canberra

1911 saw the first recorded match of Australian rules in Canberra between the Royal Military College and employees of the Home Affairs Department.

Three teams (Canberra, Duntroon and Federals) contested matches at the Acton Racecourse (now covered by Lake Burley Griffin) and at Blanfordia (now Manuka Oval).

In 1924, the first regular league was formed in the ACT, named the Federal Territory Australian Rules Football League.

New clubs gradually entered the league, when in 1927 it became known as the Canberra Australian National Football League (CANFL).

In 1931, the Canberra Australian National Junior League was formed.

1970s Building on strong foundations

Gate takings increased by 40% in 1975, and the CANFL changed to ACTAFL.

In 1974 the ACT hosted an Aboriginal Australian rules tournament, which included one of the earliest international matches.[2] The Papua New Guinea national Australian rules football team visited to play an Indigenous Australian side in 1974 and played at Ainslie Oval defeating the Australian side.[3][4]

1980s & 1990s: AFL declines a license, Rugby and soccer popularity grows

In 1981, the ACTAFL, had just begun to edge out rugby league in popularity with an increase in participation.[5] Under significant pressure from rugby league junior development in the territory and fearing the impact on its strong local competition of entry of a Sydney team made a formal bid for license to enter a Canberra team into the VFL. With strong corporate backing[6] and strong public support including local legend Alex Jesaulenko,[7] the Canberra bid was confident it would be a successful expansion club.[8] The VFL's Allen Aylett however dismissed the Canberra bid publishing a scathing report on the development of football in the ACT, stating that the VFL would not consider Canberra for a license for more than 10 years. The report was criticised by the ACTAFL as a template for the NSW Rugby League to raid the prime Canberra market,[9] which it did successfully, the following year.[10]

Frustrated at repeatedly being denied entry to the AFL, the ACTAFL applied to the Australian National Football Council to join its night series.[11]

Prior to the 1985 sale of the Sydney Swans to Geoffrey Edelsten, a bid was made by ACT interests to move the Swans to Canberra, which was once again rejected by the VFL.

Not only did the VFL's Sydney plan and the Canberra Raiders decimate the ACTAFL's popularity, but to later bail out the struggling Swans and without consulting the ACTAFL, the VFL designated the ACT an exclusive recruitment zone for the Swans, taking with it many of the league's best players.[12]

In 1986 a Canberra bid was again overlooked in favour of Perth and Brisbane.[13]

In 1988 when the Sydney Swans folded and the licence was put out to tender, the AFLACT moved to buy the club and move it to Canberra[14] however the VFL blocked the move claiming that it would lose its identity if it were to play matches in Canberra.[15]

A local lobby group, increasingly frustrated with the national league became very vocal in the 1990s. In 1993 an official "AFL For Canberra Bid" led by Ron Cahill and backed by the ACT government was launched.[16] The AFL officially rejected it in 1995.[17]

In 1990, the AFL scheduled an International Rules match for Canberra Stadium in an effort to appeal to fans of and directly compete with the rectangular field international codes. The match was attended by just 7,000 and Australian rules fans and media alike heavily criticised the AFL for its insistence in promoting a hybrid code in the territory over Australian rules matches. Further calls were made to move the struggling Swans to Canberra.[18] The AFL ignored the bid until it finally responded in 2009 by officially rejecting it in favour of pursuing a Western Sydney license.[19]

The Fitzroy Football Club expressed interest to the AFL in playing home games in Canberra. Accordingly, the AFL scheduled the first match to be played in Canberra for Round 9, 1995 match between the Fitzroy and the West Coast Eagles. Like the earlier International Rules, the match was played at the rectangular Bruce Stadium rather than Manuka Oval. Despite a frost, the match attracted a large amount of interest and a crowd of just under 12,000 attended and the Eagles defeated the struggling Lions by 28 points.[20]

The introduction of a successful locally based rugby union side, the ACT Brumbies in 1996 (and a slide in Raiders on-field performance), saw rugby union overtake rugby league as the most popular sport.

2000s: AFL takes control

In 1998, the AFL (NSW/ACT) Commission took over operations of the ACTAFL. Canberra began hosting the Barassi International Australian Football Youth Tournament.

In 2001, the AFL club the Kangaroos signed a deal with the ACT government to play some home matches at Manuka Oval. The team has drawn crowds averaging around 10,000 at Manuka Oval. However, in 2007 the Kangaroos received a more lucrative offer, to play some home games at Carrara Stadium on the Gold Coast, Queensland, and signed a deal to that effect. In August 2006, the AFL announced that the Melbourne Demons and Western Bulldogs would each play home games at Manuka, to fill the void left by the Kangaroos.

GWS adopts Canberra as a 'Second home'

In 2012 the ACT government signed a contract with the GWS Giants to play four home games per season at Manuka Oval (three regular season, one preseason), having signed a 10-year deal worth $23 million. A Canberra logo (incorporating the Black Mountain Tower as a symbol) is incorporated on its guernsey, with a slightly altered Canberra-specific guernsey used for the games at Manuka. The Giants also played in a special guernsey as part of the centenary of Canberra celebrations, stating that the team is "part of the Canberra community".[21] A GWS/ACT Academy has also been envisioned, and the territory has representation on the club's board.[22][23]

The 2016 round 19 AFL match between GWS Giants and Richmond attracted a record crowd of 14,974, just overtaking the previous 2006 record for the match between the Kangaroos and Sydney.[24]

The round 21, 2019 match between Greater Western Sydney and Hawthorn was notable as it was the first professional Australian rules football match to be played in snowfall.[25][26]

Players

Greats

Over the years, the ACT has produced many top players for elite professional leagues such as the Australian Football League, including Alex Jesaulenko, Adrian Barich, Shaun Smith, Craig Bolton, Brett Allison, James Hird and Aaron Hamill.

Men's

Currently on an AFL senior list
PlayerACT Junior/Senior clubVFL/AFL Years*VFL/AFL Matches*Connections to ACT, References
Tom HighmoreTuggeranong Lions/Tuggeranong Hawks/Canberra2021-13Birth, recruited
Jackson Hately-2019-16Birth
Jack SteeleBelconnen/NSW/ACT Rams2015-118Birth, recruited
Aaron vandenBergAinslie2015-47Recruited
Ivan Soldo-2015-34Birth, raised, recruited
Phil Davis2009-166Birth (1990) to 2004 (age 14)[27][28]
Josh BruceEastlake2012–135Birth (1992) to 2008
Jason TuttAinslie2010–201640Birth (1991) to 2009

Women's

Currently on an AFLW senior list
PlayerACT Junior/Senior clubAFLW Years*AFLW Matches*Connections to ACT, References
Jacqueline ParryCanberraRecruited from ACT
Talia RadanBelconnenRecruited from ACT
Britt TullyGungahlinRecruited from ACT
Rhiannon MetcalfeGungahlinBirth and recruited from ACT
Ellie Brush-Birth and recruited from ACT
Jodie HicksBelconnenRecruited from ACT
Rheanne LuggRiverina LionsRecruited from ACT

Governing body

The governing body is AFL NSW/ACT.

Leagues

Open

Masters

Women's

Representative Side

An Australian Capital Territory representative side played Interstate Football matches against other states and territories. Australian Capital Territory's first National Football Carnival appearance was at the 1933 National Football Carnival. The side placed second in Division 2 of the 1958 National Football Carnival, and second in the 1968 Minor States National Football Carnival. In the 1990s, the Australian Capital Territory team was merged with the New South Wales team to form NSW/ACT; and from 1995, Australian Capital Territory was represented in interstate football as part of Australian Alliance, which also incorporated players from New South Wales, Queensland, Northern Territory and Tasmania.

Principal venues

Audience

Attendance record

Major Australian rules events in the ACT

References

  1. Ausplay Australian Football report
  2. Aboriginal carnival in ACT. The Canberra Times 4 Oct 1974 Page 18
  3. pg.10 The Canberra Times Mon 7 Oct 1974
  4. PNG defeats Aborigines. The Canberra Times 7 Oct 1974 Page 10
  5. "Swans might be Canberra's lever into AFL". The Canberra Times. Vol. 64, no. 19, 730. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 15 October 1989. p. 14. Retrieved 9 December 2021 via National Library of Australia.
  6. "More sponsorship for Australian rules". The Canberra Times. Vol. 54, no. 16, 303. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 15 May 1980. p. 22. Retrieved 9 December 2021 via National Library of Australia.
  7. "Jesaulenko confident of playing". The Canberra Times. Vol. 52, no. 15, 602. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 10 June 1978. p. 46. Retrieved 9 December 2021 via National Library of Australia.
  8. "Weaknesses exposed in VFL transfer plan". The Canberra Times. Vol. 55, no. 16, 746. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 2 August 1981. p. 6. Retrieved 9 December 2021 via National Library of Australia.
  9. "A setback seen for Australian football". The Canberra Times. Vol. 56, no. 16, 983. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 28 March 1982. p. 6. Retrieved 9 December 2021 via National Library of Australia.
  10. "Raiders only bright spot of ACT year". The Canberra Times. Vol. 57, no. 17, 276. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 16 January 1983. p. 6. Retrieved 9 December 2021 via National Library of Australia.
  11. "VFL deferral 'offers breathing space' ACT looking better for national league". The Canberra Times. Vol. 59, no. 17, 909. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 10 October 1984. p. 38. Retrieved 9 December 2021 via National Library of Australia.
  12. "Swans given OK to 'annex' Canberra ACTAFL irate at VFL ruling". The Canberra Times. Vol. 61, no. 18, 627. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 1 October 1986. p. 42. Retrieved 9 December 2021 via National Library of Australia.
  13. "VFL no longer exists as sport moves interstate". The Canberra Times. Vol. 62, no. 19, 188. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 19 April 1988. p. 20. Retrieved 2 December 2021 via National Library of Australia.
  14. "TIMES Sport Canberra gets Swans: Bidder". The Canberra Times. Vol. 62, no. 19, 057. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 8 December 1987. p. 22. Retrieved 9 December 2021 via National Library of Australia.
  15. "The Swans, Canberra and '88..." The Canberra Times. Vol. 62, no. 19, 053. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 4 December 1987. p. 28. Retrieved 24 November 2021 via National Library of Australia.
  16. The Canberra Times 18 Nov 1993 Page 26 Canberra's AFL bid launch
  17. "It's time for the sleeping giant to lie kicked out of bed". The Canberra Times. Vol. 70, no. 21, 953. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 26 May 1995. p. 36. Retrieved 2 December 2021 via National Library of Australia.
  18. "Would the Swans be more successful in Canberra?". The Canberra Times. Vol. 64, no. 20, 130. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 24 May 1990. p. 24. Retrieved 9 December 2021 via National Library of Australia.
  19. Canberra, Dan Silkstone (16 June 2009). "Canberra rejects AFL bid as it waits for 18th club". The Age.
  20. AFL Record. Round 9, 2009. Slattery Publishing. p. 35
  21. "GIANTS add gold for Canberra". 9 April 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  22. "GWS-Canberra deal 'good value for money'". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 11 November 2010. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
  23. John-Paul Moloney and Jon Tuxworth (10 November 2010). "ACT secures deal with GWS". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
  24. Cordy, Neil (30 July 2016). "Reference at www.theaustralian.com.au". The Australian.
  25. Tiernan, Eamonn (9 August 2019). "Snow way! Giants and Hawks brave the elements in Canberra". afl.com.au. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  26. McCutchan, Ellen (22 August 2019). "The Hawks and the Giants played AFL in the snow, but was it the first time ever?". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 4 September 2019. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  27. Colman, Elizabeth (8 March 2017). "Single and scandal-free GWS Giants defender Phil Davis is all class". Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  28. Lovett, M. AFL Record Season Guide 2013 (2013) AFL Media ISSN 1839-8383
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