The United States Australian Football League ( USAFL ) is the governing body for Australian rules football in the United States . It was conceived in 1996 and organized in 1997. It is based in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin .
14-579: The New York Magpies is a United States Australian Football League team, based in New York City , United States . It was founded in 1998 by an American, Erik Kallhovd. They play in the Eastern Australian Football League . The New York Magpies play their home games at Tibbetts Brook Park . The New York team became known as the Magpies, when American expatriate and then club historian of
28-577: A local league. Each year the USAFL holds a National club championship , a tournament open to all clubs across the nation, the largest of its type in the world for the sport. In addition to the Nationals, the USAFL holds major regional tournaments including the Central, East and West regional tournaments. The USAFL selects the national men's ( USA Revolution ) and women's ( USA Freedom ) teams for competitions such as
42-620: The Australian Football International Cup and the 49th Parallel Cup . The first match between two local US clubs was played in 1996 between Cincinnati and Louisville . In the first year the Mid American Australian Football League was formed. Many of the local players had found out about the game in the 1980s on television via the then-nascent ESPN cable network. Although the local game grew, ESPN no longer broadcast AFL matches, and in response
56-653: The Collingwood Football Club , Richard Stremski, furnished the fledgling club with footballs and guernseys and have been an affiliate of Collingwood ever since. The club also has a connection with the Port Adelaide Magpies in the SANFL where some New York players have enjoyed scholarships to play with the club. About half of the players of the New York Magpies team are Australian. The New York Magpies won
70-550: The Canada Northern Lights in five of seven contests. The Revolution competed in the 2002 Australian Football International Cup , finishing 5th out of 11 countries and in the 2005 Australian Football International Cup finishing 3rd out of 10 countries. They competed in the 2008 Australian Football International Cup , where the Revolution finished 7th out of 16 countries. At the 2011 Australian Football International Cup ,
84-612: The Grand Final, and both would lose to Ireland. 2002 Australian Football International Cup The 2002 Australian Football International Cup was the inaugural international Australian rules football tournament held in Melbourne , Australia in 2002. 11 nations participated from around the world and the tournament was officiated by the International Australian Football Council . Ireland won
98-626: The Liberty went 3-2 in five matches against teams from various leagues in and around Melbourne. After the postponement and subsequent cancellation of the International Cup in 2020, 2021, 2023 and 2024, both the Revolution and Freedom took part in the 2024 AFL Transatlantic Cup , one of three regional tournaments scheduled by the AFL to sustain the international Aussie Rules game until the International Cup could be restored. Both American teams would advance to
112-587: The Men's Division 1 & 4 USAFL National Championships Grand Final in 2010 and Division 1 in 2014 . United States Australian Football League As of 2011, there were over 1,000 registered USAFL players. There are 48 member clubs, of which 47 have men's teams (all except North Star Blue Ox) and 25 have women's teams. Most of the football clubs in the United States have a traditional 18-a-side team for representative purposes and multiple 9-a-side teams running in
126-450: The Revolution finished 4th in an increased field of 18 countries. The Revolution finished 8th at the 2014 Australian Football International Cup , again with 18 countries participating. They would come in 4th at the 2017 Australian Football International Cup which, as of 2024, was the last edition. After completing a tour of Australia in 2009, the Freedom were one of five teams to compete in
140-482: The best US-born players from the club teams across the country. With close proximity to Canada, the Revolution & Freedom participate in the annual 49th Parallel Cup against Canada each year except for years of the Australian Football International Cup . As of the last edition in 2023, the Revolution men have won eleven of the twelve meetings against the Canada Northwind, while the Freedom women have fallen to
154-453: The first International Cup Women's Division at the 2011 Australian Football International Cup , finishing third. At the 2014 Australian Football International Cup , the Freedom finished in third place again while a reserves team, the USA Liberty, came in last of the seven competing teams. Three years later, the Freedom finished fourth at the 2017 Australian Football International Cup while
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#1732883686134168-459: The lobby group, Australian Football Association of North America was formed. In 1997, the first club national championships were held in Cincinnati. Nashville hosted the first Australian Grand Final Festival in the same year. The United States Australian Football League (USAFL) was formed in 1997 to govern the code in the country. The involvement of many well-known Australians has helped boost
182-625: The relations between the USAFL and AFL. In the early days, Paul Roos was a key figure. Robert DiPierdomenico , Leigh Matthews and Michael Voss are official USAFL ambassadors. USAFL is responsible for the co-ordination of the National Teams, the USA Revolution men's team and the USA Freedom women's team. The team plays in international tournaments and exhibition matches against other countries. National team players are selected from
196-525: The tournament, finishing undefeated and victorious over Papua New Guinea in the Grand Final on 23 August at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Friday 23 August 2002 Grand Final was played as a curtain raiser to the round 21 AFL match between Hawthorn vs North Melbourne , so this figure is the total crowd for the match, although not all spectators were inside the stadium at
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