World Footy News

An annual Anzac Day Match is an important event held near the start of the Philippine AFL season.  The match has been held on or around Anzac Day since 2007,  and is contested for "The PAFL ANZAC Day Match Sands Of Gallipoli Trophy" which was donated by the Defence Attache to the Philippines. The Defence Attache also donates and awards the 'Anzac Medal' each year to the player who best typifies the Anzac spirit - courage, tenacity, initiative and teamwork.

This year the official season kicks off on 5th May 2012 with matches now played at the Nomad Sports Club in Manila.

The Philippine AFL was created in 2004 and currently has about 40 players, of ex-pat Aussies and an handful of Filipino and similarly, players of several other nationalities. The league has run a two team weekly competition since its inception, currently playing at about 10/11-a-side.

The league has hosted the Manila Cup, a 12-a-side competition with up to 6 other Asia based teams participating each year since 2008. This annual competition has so far been played at the Manila Polo club, that the league proudly touts as the best playing surface in Asia.

In 2005 the Philippine AFL hosted the Asian Championships at this same ground in Manila.

At the 2011 Manila Cup the Alabang Crows, a Philippine based team took part for the first time and the league is hopeful of the Crows becoming that all important 3rd 'expansion' team in the league in the near future.

Thanks to Derek Ackary for this story.