On the improve

The Canadians benefited from their last visit to Melbourne

The Canadian Australian Football Association was established in May of 1989, with two teams, the Mississauga Mustangs and the Toronto Panthers.

Melbourne and Geelong played an exhibition match in Canada later that year, and two days later, the Panthers defeated the Mustangs to win the inaugural Conacher Cup.

In 1990, the Scarborough Rebels, the North York Hawks and the Hamilton Wildcats joined, with the Balmy Beach Saints coming on board in 1992. The North York Hawks later relocated and became known as the Broadview Hawks.

The Brampton Wolverines, the league’s seventh team, were formed in 1993. The Scarborough Rebels relocated and became the Lawrence Park Rebels. A Canadian representative team, known as the Northwind, beat a British team.

In 1994, the Canadians again defeated the British at home. The following year, several games were broadcast on a Hamilton cable TV channel. In July, the Hamilton Wildcats played a Canadian All-Star team in front of 21,000 fans during the half-time break at a Canadian Football League (gridiron) match.

Later in 1994, the Canadians headed to England and beat the British again. The Downtown Dingos, wearing Essendon colours, joined the CAFL in 1996.

The next year started shakily, with the collapse of the Balmy Beach Saints. Canada defeated an Australian All-Star team for the first time, but fell to visiting Melbourne team Diamond Creek.

In the middle of the 1999 season, the Brampton Wolverines merged with the Mississauga Mustangs.

The Canadian national team headed to Chicago to play the American national team, going down to the Revolution in a close battle.

The CAFL had six strong teams playing a 15-round season in 2000. The national team hosted the Americans, with the Revolution again winning a close affair.

The code enjoyed growth in Ontario and western Canada in 2001, with the Vancouver Cougars and the Calgary Kangaroos formed.

The Northwind participated in the first Atlantic Alliance Cup, playing against teams from England, Ireland, Denmark and the United States, picking up valuable experience in preparation for the 2002 International Cup.

Canada finished ninth in Melbourne, with injuries taking their toll in the end. Canada’s overall International win-loss record is 6-14 since 1993.

In 2003, there was further expansion in Ontario, with the London Magpies and the Etobicoke Kangaroos taking the field. The Northwind headed south to play arch-rivals the Revolution, winning by two points. The experience gained in Melbourne in 2002 was certainly a factor, with the Canadians displaying a significant improvement in their skills.

The CAFL has 15 clubs, with a successful Auskick development program operating. Late last year, an all-girls game featuring high school students was played, following a successful three-week junior development program.

The Northwind formed an alliance with the Sydney Swans last year as part of their preparations for this year’s Australian Football International Cup in Melbourne.

The relationship has been most beneficial, with former Swan Tony Morwood, currently the club’s Melbourne-based general manager, visiting Toronto this year for the naming of the team.