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.

AFL Asia has announced that Australian Football Coaching Courses will be held in Singapore and Vung Tau, Vietnam on the weekend prior to Anzac Day, 2016.

AFL Asia Media Release:

Thanks to the support of the AFL and in conjunction with the Vietnam Swans and Singapore Sharks and Wombats, AFL Asia is delighted to make available Level 1 Coaching Courses in Singapore on Saturday 23 April and in Vung Tau, Vietnam on Sunday 24 April.

The courses will be conducted by Wally Gallio, High Performance Manager for AFL Northern Territory and NT Thunder. Wally is an AFL High Performance (Level 3) accredited coach and the courses will be open to all levels of senior and Auskick coaches across Asia, free of charge.

Port Adelaide's Chinese International recruit, Chen Shaoliang has suffered a serious injury during training with the Port Adelaide Magpies this week.

The 23-year old Team China captain, damaged the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee while being tackled at his second only training session with the Magpies.
"While the injury will sideline Chen for 12 months," said Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas, "Chen will remain in Adelaide and he will be immersed in our club for the next two years."

 

"Power Invests in China" Port Adelaide Power has this week signed its first Chinese born recruit, Team China captain Chen Shaoliang, 23, on an International Scholarship for the club's academy at Alberton, South Australia.

Chen Shaoliang arrived on Tuesday 15th March, to join the Port Adelaide Magpies (Port Adelaide Powers' reserves side that plays in the SANFL) and is expected to be selected to play in the next couple of months.

He joins Croatian International, Josip Habljak (at Sturt) in attempting to break in to footy at SANFL level in season 2016. Ultimately he hopes to become an AFL listed rookie. He expects to become a trailblazer in the untapped Chinese market while playing football in the SANFL and studying English at UniSA in Adelaide.