Mynmar Nationals Star in AFL Asia Debut  - Article from Myanmar Times by RG Vogt

After stepping to his mark and smashing a kick through the uprights, Han Tun Aung kept his cool.

The rest of the team erupted into triumphant shouts.

Euphoria was to be expected, as the historic goal marks the first ever kicked by a Myanmar national in AFL Asia competition. It was a weekend of firsts for Han Tun Aung and his compatriot Min Thiha Kaung, both playing footy for the Fighting Cocks for the first time.

Australian Rules football has just received its first international football identity on his way to the House of Representatives after Saturday’s Australian federal election. Luke Gosling, one of the key foundation members of the footy scene in Timor Leste (along with Justin Bayard), [stood] as the Labor Party candidate for the seat of Solomon.

“Gosling spent a number of years in East Timor with the Australian Defence Force peacekeeping and development mission, after the nation achieved independence in 2002. During his time in the country he was one of a group of Australians who helped introduce the sport of Australian rules. Members of the Asian footy scene may remember him through his involvement in the early years of the Timor-Leste Crocodiles national side.” (World Footy News, 2013 – Foundation member of AFL Timor-Leste running for Australian parliament)

The following article by Michelangelo Rucci in the Adelaide Advertiser looks at the continuing search for an AFL home for Port Adelaide in shanghai, China. The original story can be found at:  http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/teams/port-adelaide/port-adelaide-eyes-china-stadium-with-potential/news-  

PORT Adelaide’s home in China is now down to two prospective venues in Shanghai — either a 1930s open “colosseum” or a modern 15,000-seat concrete bowl.

 

And Power president David Koch is now preferring the 1935 Jiangwan Stadium that hosted the 2010 AFL exhibition match between Melbourne and Brisbane.

The vast tentacles of Australian Rules football have been spreading across India at an alarmingly pleasing rate, driven enormously by the work of Sudip Chakraborty and his tremendous team at AFL India. Teams are springing up all over India – north to south, east to west – and many young people are being inspired to start their own dream and create a club.

One such example is the Pink City Triceratops team in Jaipur, northern India. The city of three million people is around 250 kilometres from the nation’s capital, New Delhi. Jaipur is also referred to as the “Pink City Of India”, hence the new club’s name.

The Triceratops are a long way from having a competitive team at a national, or even local, level. But their commitment, dedication and desire suggests that things may change. Certainly, if D’Costa david, club founder, has his way that change will be sooner rather than later.

Thanks to AFL Asia for this update on footy in China.

On the back of the massive headlines to come out of Port Adelaide’s China strategy, grassroots footy right across Greater China continues to grow strongly.

Record numbers at South China AFL games, a new “Greater China Cup” tournament and the re-emergence of the Beijing Australian Football League (BAFL) show efforts by AFL Asia’s China Clubs are bearing fruit.

The AFL Japan 2016 season kicked off on Sunday 8th May with two matches played at the Akigase Park Rugby Field.

The first match was played between R246 Lions and Senshu Powers with the Powers taking the honours 19 point victors. 12.14 (86) - 10.7 (67).

The match was won in the last Quarter when the Powers kicked 7 goals to 2. Goal kickers for Powers were Shoki Mokudaka 5. Riku Tokutake, Yoshiharu Sasaki 2. Ito Junpei, Kyoto Nakagawa, Shota Horiguchi 1.

ANZAC Day is always well commemorated by AFL Asia clubs and 2016 is no different - the following preview comes courtesy of AFL Asia and first appeared here. 

The 2016 AFL Asia season will heat up on Saturday 23 April with another big round of ANZAC games across the region. Matches will be played in Vietnam, Thailand and Hong Kong, with commemoration events to also accompany the games.

AFL Asia President Darren Whitfield was excited about the Round ahead in saying “Anzac Day matches in Asia are always a massive, a sought after highlight of the AFL Asia season. They are a great way for our Clubs to remember the hardship of Wars gone by and acknowledge the enduring friendships that still survive. We expect large crowds across the footy fields of Asia for this momentous day in the Asian Footy calendar! Get involved!”

The Port Adelaide Football Club is proud and delighted to welcome Shanghai Cred as a new partner under a three-year, multimillion-dollar agreement connecting one of China’s leading property developers with one of Australia’s most successful sporting organisations.

The partnership – announced in Shanghai this morning – aims to bring the people of Australia and China together through a mutual passion for sport.

Port Adelaide and Shanghai Cred will work together to continue the development of Australian football in China through the support and sponsorship of the South China AFL, Guandong AFL, Team China and Auskick.

The AFL and Port Adelaide Football Club are one step closer to playing an AFL game for premiership points in China after both parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding this morning in Shanghai with Shanghai Cred Real Estate.

The historic signing was witnessed by the Prime Minister of Australia the Honourable Malcolm Turnbull in his first act in China as Prime Minister.

As part of the Memorandum of Understanding all parties will use reasonable endeavours to play an AFL match, in which Port Adelaide is a one of the participating teams, for premiership points in Shanghai during the 2017 AFL season.

The Port Adelaide Football Club and the world’s largest television network, China Central Television (CCTV) have reached a landmark agreement to broadcast AFL throughout China.

The agreement will see Port Adelaide’s upcoming home games against Essendon in Round 3 and Geelong in Round 5 broadcast on CCTV, with the latter to be televised live.