Sport in Papua New Guinea - Australian Rules Football

Australian Rules Football

Australian rules football has experienced considerable growth over the past decade, boasting the second highest number of players in the world (after Australia). Australian rules football was introduced by Australian soldiers during World War II, but has gained popularity with the introduction of players at the top level into the AFL, including Mal Michael and James Gwilt.

The Papua New Guinea national Australian rules football team (The Mosquitos) were crowned International champions in 2008, by defeating the previous title holders New Zealand. In 2008, they also lead the international competition in overall medal placings, having previously won silver, in both 2002 and 2005.

AFL-PNG is the governing body of the sport in Papua New Guinea.

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Famous quotes containing the words australian, rules and/or football:

    Each Australian is a Ulysses.
    Christina Stead (1902–1983)

    For rhetoric, he could not ope
    His mouth, but out there flew a trope;
    And when he happen’d to break off
    I’ th’ middle of his speech, or cough,
    H’ had hard words ready to show why,
    And tell what rules he did it by;
    Samuel Butler (1612–1680)

    In football they measure forty-yard sprints. Nobody runs forty yards in basketball. Maybe you run the ninety-four feet of the court; then you stop, not on a dime, but on Miss Liberty’s torch. In football you run over somebody’s face.
    Donald Hall (b. 1928)