Game taking off

Samoans love the unique aspects of Australian Football

Australian Football has quickly developed in Samoa, a small Pacific nation made up of two islands. Commonly known as Aussie Rules or Samoa Rules, Samoans have developed a love for the Australian game, taking a shine to its physical contact, flair and skill.

In 1998, a public meeting was held in the capital of Apia in order to establish a body to organise structured Australian Football competition in the country. The meeting saw the formation of the Samoa Australian Rules Football Association (SARFA).

The SARFA made rapid progress with an exhibition game staged between two schools before an international rugby match. Played in front of 5000 spectators, the game was broadcast live in Samoa and attracted the interest of the Samoan media.

In the next two years, Australian Football well and truly took off in Samoa. A senior competition sponsored by the Samoan Brewery was established late in 1998.

The code effectively became known as ‘Samoa Rules’, with the rules slightly modified to meet Samoan conditions.

In February of 1999, an initiative led to an under-age competition being set up. A one-day lightning carnival was played, with eight secondary schools taking part.

Samoa College won the event, which was supported by the Australian High Commission.

Three months later, the SARFA made history when it sent its first national side to Darwin.

Samoa was well represented and finished the tournament in third. The representative side was adopted by the Western Bulldogs, and therefore became known as the Samoa Bulldogs.

Samoa’s next senior international representative match was at the inaugural Australian Football International Cup in Melbourne.

Samoa defeated South Africa and Canada in its group matches, but lost to the USA, eventual winner Ireland and New Zealand. It beat Nauru in a classification match to finish the carnival in seventh place with three wins and three losses.

In a major highlight, Fia Tootoo, this year’s Samoan captain, was named player of the series, with Tootoo and teammate Mika Pesamino named in the team of the series.

The 2002 International Cup kick-started an interest in Samoans playing Australian Football. SARFA formed a relationship with the Moorabbin Kangaroos, and several Samoans have represented Moorabbin, helping the club’s resurgence in the Southern Football League, which is considered one of the best local leagues in Victoria.

Since the International Cup in 2002, SARFA has been building on its success, strengthening the secondary school competition, developing a junior program and enhancing its sustainability through corporate support.

Last year, Samoa hosted its first international match against Tonga, with the Samoan team enjoying a win.

A name change to AFL Samoa in May this year will hopefully lead to increased awareness of and participation in Australian Football in Samoa.

The Western Bulldogs will be hosting Samoa at this year’s Australian Football International Cup.

The support offered by the Bulldogs ensured the mighty Samoa Bulldogs were able to take part in this year’s carnival. Participation will ensure the code continues to develop in Samoa.