Australian Convicts
Encyclopedia
Amateur
An amateur is generally considered a person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science, without pay and often without formal training....
team of Australian rules football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
players and officials from Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
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The Convicts were formed in 2003 to help promote Australian rules football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
internationally through playing tour matches against international amateur sides
Countries playing Australian rules football
Note: In order to be recognised as a true national team and not simply expatriates , the list is subject to International Cup eligibility rules....
.
Tours
The Convicts have conducted 4 tours to date, EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
(2003), South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
(2005 & 2007) & USA and Canada in 2007.
Matches in Europe were against the Sussex Swans (London), Madrid Bears (Madrid) and Germany (Frankfurt).
In South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
the Convicts played matches against the national representative side the South African Buffaloes
South African national Australian rules football team
The South African national Australian rules football team represent South Africa in the sport of Australian rules football....
and ran coaching clinics for children in conjunction with AFL South Africa
AFL South Africa
AFL South Africa is the governing body and development organisation for Australian rules football in South Africa.They manage the South African national Australian rules football team, development leagues and competitions in several provinces as well as junior participation.The body is funded by...
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In March 2007 the Convicts conducted the first ever Aussie Rules clinic on behalf of AFL South Africa for children in the township of Nayana, Cape Town.
In October 2007 the Convicts toured Canada and the USA participating firstly in the Canadian grand final day and again a week later at the USAFL championships in Louisville Kentucky. These exhibition games were played against the Canadian Northwind and The USA Revolution.
In October 2010 the Convicts will become the first ever Aussie Rules side to tour South America.
Future tours to USA & Canada (October 2011) and South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
(November 2011) are planned.
Promotions and Patrons
A promotion at the 2006 Commonwealth Games2006 Commonwealth Games
The 2006 Commonwealth Games were held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia between 15 March and 26 March 2006. It was the largest sporting event to be staged in Melbourne, eclipsing the 1956 Summer Olympics in terms of the number of teams competing, athletes competing, and events being held.The site...
saw footballs presented to Tanzanian athletes including marathon gold medalist, Samson Ramadhani Nyonyi
Samson Ramadhani Nyonyi
Samson Ramadhani Nyonyi is Tanzanian marathon runner. He was the gold medalist at the 2006 Commonwealth Games that took place in Melbourne, Australia with the result at 2:11:29....
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Patrons of the Convicts include football legend Ron Barassi
Ron Barassi
Ronald Dale Barassi, Jr AM is a former Australian rules football player and coach. During a long and decorated career, Barassi has been one of the most important figures in the history of Australian football. His father, Ron Barassi, Sr., was the first Australian footballer killed at Tobruk during...
and Herald Sun
Herald Sun
The Herald Sun is a morning tabloid newspaper based in Melbourne, Australia. It is published by The Herald and Weekly Times, a subsidiary of News Limited, itself a subsidiary of News Corporation. It is available for purchase throughout Melbourne, Regional Victoria, Tasmania, the Australian Capital...
reporter Scott Palmer.