Australian Rules Football in Asia - East Timor

East Timor

Australian rules football has been played sporadically in East Timor since the country's independence in 1999 saw a large number of Australian Defence Force personnel stationed in the country, although the first lasting club wasn't formed until early 2008.

In 2001 an organisation named the Timor Lorosae Australian Futeball Associacao (TILAFA) was formed in Dili and there were plans to send a team to the Arafura Games in Darwin, although this organisation later disappeared.

In early 2006 two teachers from Kambrya College, a secondary school in the outer-eastern Melbourne suburb of Berwick, visited a partner-school in the village of Letefoho, Ermera district as part of the Friends of Ermera organisation, holding clinics in Australian rules football in addition to donating other sporting and educational materials.

In 2007, several matches were played between ADF personnel and locals at Democracy Field in Dili, including several Auskick clinics.

In 2008, the East Timor Crocodiles team formed, making their debut at the 2008 Bali 9s tournament.

East Timor, playing as Timor-Leste participated in its first International Cup in 2011.

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