Australian rules football in Samoa
Encyclopedia
Australian rules football
in Samoa
has been played since 1997.
The governing body for the sport was formed under the name Samoa Australian Rules Football Association in 1998, becoming the AFL Samoa in 2007. The national team
, which first competed at the Arafura Games
was originally known as the Bulldogs, the name being chosen as the AFL's Western Bulldogs
wore the Samoan national colours and has sent some professional players to visit the islands on clinics. The team was later renamed the 'Kangaroos', after forging ties with the North Melbourne Football Club
.
In early years, the game was typically played under derived rules known as 'Samoa Rules' and on rugby
fields.
The Australia Network
began televising games in Samoa in 2002.
AFL
players to visit Samoa for coaching clinics include Dermott Brereton
, Brad Johnson
and Steve Kretiuk.
Australian football competition went into recess in 2006 following the 2005 Australian Football International Cup
. In 2007 the AFL Samoa's programs were reinvigorated under new development officer in Michael Roberts, mainly focussing on junior and schoolboys' development.
There is a full time development officer funded by AusAid, a junior development program and a schoolboy's tournament.
In 2004, Samoa had a total of 246 players including 80 senior players in 4 teams consisting of over 80 players and 166 juniors in six school sides.
According to the 2007 AFL International Census, these figures have not changed.
Over 5000 primary school children have experienced a 6 week plus program in 2007 with programs designed for each sector of primary school children developing skills from fundamental motor skils, body awareness activities and game specific skills.
The programs in primary schools year levels are titled 'Reach for the stars'(K-2) , Kicking Goals (3-5), Let them Fly (6-8).
is a professional Samoan football player in the Australian Football League
.
Fia Tootoo
has represented Samoa on numerous occasions in the Australian Football International Cup
and plays football semi-professionally in Australia.
Rambo Tavana and Mikaele Pesamino
began as Samoa Rules juniors, playing for Samoa in the 2002 Australian Football International Cup
and now represent Samoa in rugby union
.
Former National Rugby League
player Karmichael Hunt
, who was recruited in 2009 to the Gold Coast Football Club, is half Samoan.
that has also been played in Samoa
. The game is played on rugby
fields and each team consists of 15 players per side.
Unlike Australian rules football, player movement is restricted to zones (similarly to Rec Footy
). There is a line across the centre that backs and forwards can not cross. Onballers are allowed to go anywhere.
The Vailima Six-Shooters' Championship began in Samoa in 1998 under these rules, becoming known as Samoa Rules. A number of Samoa Rules players went on to represent Samoa in the Samoan national Australian rules football team
, known originally as the Bulldogs and since 2008 as the "Kangaroos".
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...
in Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
has been played since 1997.
The governing body for the sport was formed under the name Samoa Australian Rules Football Association in 1998, becoming the AFL Samoa in 2007. The national team
Samoan national Australian rules football team
The Samoan national Australian rules football team and represents Samoa in the team sport of Australian rules football. The team is selected from the best Samoan born players, who are currently mostly players from the Samoa Australian Rules Football Association.Samoa debuted internationally at the...
, which first competed at the Arafura Games
Arafura Games
The Arafura Games is a Multi-sport event held every 2 years in the Australian city of Darwin, in the Northern Territory. It is an international event which draws its competitors from around the world. First held in 1991, the most recent Games, held in 2009, involved over 30 nations and over 3,000...
was originally known as the Bulldogs, the name being chosen as the AFL's Western Bulldogs
Western Bulldogs
The Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...
wore the Samoan national colours and has sent some professional players to visit the islands on clinics. The team was later renamed the 'Kangaroos', after forging ties with the North Melbourne Football Club
North Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
.
In early years, the game was typically played under derived rules known as 'Samoa Rules' and on rugby
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
fields.
The Australia Network
Australia Network
Australia Network, originally Australia Television International and later ABC Asia Pacific, is a free-to-air international satellite television service operated by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation since 2006. The television and online service broadcasts 24 hours a day on 7 days a week, to...
began televising games in Samoa in 2002.
AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
players to visit Samoa for coaching clinics include Dermott Brereton
Dermott Brereton
Dermott Hugh Brereton is a former Australian rules football player in the Australian Football League, regarded as one of the greatest players of his generation. Of Irish descent , he is known for his aggressive style of play. Brereton kicked 464 goals and played in five Premierships for during...
, Brad Johnson
Brad Johnson (Australian rules footballer)
Brad Johnson is a former Australian rules footballer who was the captain of Australian Football League team Western Bulldogs...
and Steve Kretiuk.
Australian football competition went into recess in 2006 following the 2005 Australian Football International Cup
Australian Football International Cup
The Australian Football International Cup is an international sport competition in Australian rules football...
. In 2007 the AFL Samoa's programs were reinvigorated under new development officer in Michael Roberts, mainly focussing on junior and schoolboys' development.
There is a full time development officer funded by AusAid, a junior development program and a schoolboy's tournament.
Participation
According to the 2007 AFL International Census, these figures have not changed.
Over 5000 primary school children have experienced a 6 week plus program in 2007 with programs designed for each sector of primary school children developing skills from fundamental motor skils, body awareness activities and game specific skills.
The programs in primary schools year levels are titled 'Reach for the stars'(K-2) , Kicking Goals (3-5), Let them Fly (6-8).
High profile players
Aaron EdwardsAaron Edwards
Aaron Edwards is an Australian rules footballer for the North Melbourne Football Club.-Early life:Edwards was born in Samoa to a Samoan mother and New Zealander father. He migrated with his family to Australia at the age of two and played rugby union until the age of 13...
is a professional Samoan football player in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
.
Fia Tootoo
Fia Tootoo
-Playing career:He was selected on the International Cup All-Star team in 2002, 2005 & 2008. He won the Best & Fairest Award in 2002, 2005 and narrowly missed out on the Award in 2008...
has represented Samoa on numerous occasions in the Australian Football International Cup
Australian Football International Cup
The Australian Football International Cup is an international sport competition in Australian rules football...
and plays football semi-professionally in Australia.
Rambo Tavana and Mikaele Pesamino
Mikaele Pesamino
Mikaele Pesamino is a rugby union player in the Samoa Sevens team. He is one of the highest point scorers in the 2009–2010 IRB Sevens World Series.Pesamino was born in Vailele on the island of Upolu in Samoa....
began as Samoa Rules juniors, playing for Samoa in the 2002 Australian Football International Cup
2002 Australian Football International Cup
The 2002 Australian Football International Cup was the inaugural international Australian rules football tournament held in Melbourne, Australia in 2002....
and now represent Samoa in rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
.
Former National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
player Karmichael Hunt
Karmichael Hunt
Karmichael Neil Matthew Hunt is an Australian professional multi-code football player, currently playing Australian rules football for the newly formed Gold Coast Suns in the Australian Football League ....
, who was recruited in 2009 to the Gold Coast Football Club, is half Samoan.
Samoa Rules
Samoa Rules is a game derived from Australian rules footballAustralian 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...
that has also been played in Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
. The game is played on rugby
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
fields and each team consists of 15 players per side.
Unlike Australian rules football, player movement is restricted to zones (similarly to Rec Footy
Rec Footy
Recreational Football is a non-contact version of the Australian rules football game sanctioned by the Australian Football League...
). There is a line across the centre that backs and forwards can not cross. Onballers are allowed to go anywhere.
The Vailima Six-Shooters' Championship began in Samoa in 1998 under these rules, becoming known as Samoa Rules. A number of Samoa Rules players went on to represent Samoa in the Samoan national Australian rules football team
Samoan national Australian rules football team
The Samoan national Australian rules football team and represents Samoa in the team sport of Australian rules football. The team is selected from the best Samoan born players, who are currently mostly players from the Samoa Australian Rules Football Association.Samoa debuted internationally at the...
, known originally as the Bulldogs and since 2008 as the "Kangaroos".