Winners (Sr) of the eight annual National Championship – The Jharkhand Crows

The eighth edition of the annual National Championship of Australian Rules Football in India organised by Australian Rules Football Association of India (ARFAI), resulted in the crowning of a new national champion in the senior division with Jharkhand Crows winning back the national title from Bengal Tigers by 05-02-32 to 03-04-22. The Bengal Tigers won the junior grand final for the very first time by defeating the 5-time defending champions Jharkhand Crows by a score of 04-04-28 to 02-05-17.

Each year, the tournament witnesses an increase in the level of competition, interest and development of the sport and this was added to the local crowd that gathered over the two days to watch a new sport they had never heard about. A crucial touch-point for the tournament success is the strong support displayed by the Australian umpires’ delegation that flew in from Bendigo, Australia to help organise the National Championship’2020. The delegation was led by Bendigo Umpires’ Association (BUA) Vice Chairperson Paula Shay and was supported by AFL Central Victoria from Australia.

Added to the group from Bendigo we had the privilege to host Shane Sayner, Treasurer of Port Pirie Football Club based out of the Australian state of South Australia and also a long-term supporter and well-wisher of ARFAI.

The gradual development of Footy in India is proved by the fact that every year, we have a new state debut in the National Championship and this year we had three teams making their debut from three different states.  A senior division debut was made by the Andhra Pradesh state team – Andhra Magpies alongside Jharkhand Crows, Bengal Tigers, Maharashtra Giants, Kerala Bombers, Rajasthan Eagles, Odisha Swans, Telangana Saints and Bihar Bulldogs. All though the Magpies failed to register a win, their efforts were loved and appreciated by all. The junior division also saw debut made by Bihar Bulldogs junior team and Telangana Saints junior team.

Debutants Andhra Pradesh Magpies vs Rajasthan Eagles

The ARFAI National Championship 2020 was organised at the Lalgola M.N. Academy ground in Murshidabad, West Bengal. ARFAI would like to recognise and appreciate the support provided by Footy Association of Bengal (FAB) and the Murshidabad Footy Association (MFA) in helping organise the national championship in the small country town of Lalgola, organised outside a big city for the very first time.

Day one saw a mix of very competitive league matches added to a few games where some of the more experienced state teams dominated over some of the newer states. The few hundred spectators gathered were all impressed by some of the high scoring games. The Kerala Bombers and Odisha Swans played some quality footy, improving their performance from the previous year.

The day also started with an opening ceremony including a march-past around the ground by all participating states letting the local crowd of Lalgola know that they have travelled all the way from their states to showcase their skills in the rapidly growing sport of Footy. They were led by the National Cadet Corps (NCC) troop from Lalgola before the customary national anthem of India was sung together by everyone attending the tournament to kick off the first league game between Bengal Tigers and Bihar Bulldogs (Sr.)

Snapshot from Crows Vs Tigers Grand Final with the crowd cheering for the teams

ARFAI has received increasing media attention every year and this year the interest from media personnel to understand the new sport caught everyone’s attention. We thank all the media houses from the state of West Bengal and Jharkhand along with local media houses from Murshidabad districts for taking interest in Australian Football and sharing the stories with sports lovers in the country.

Day two saw the remaining league matches in the morning deciding the finalists for the junior division along with the semi-finalists for the senior divisions. The Bengal Tigers and Kerala Bombers from Group A of senior division along with the Jharkhand Crows and Odisha Swans from Group B fought it out in the two most exciting games of the day. Bengal Tigers ended up defeating the Odisha Swans 01-08-14 to 01-03-09 in the first semi-final while the Jharkhand Crows defeated the Kerala Bombers 05-04-34 to 01-02-08 to repeat the historic and now traditional Bengal versus Jharkhand senior Grand Final.

The Bengal Tigers juniors led by their captain Selim Raja and coached by the veteran Biswajit Das put on a fantastic performance in the Grand Final to defeat the five-time reigning champions Jharkhand Crows and took the junior division trophy away from them for the very first time. The local crowd gathered cheering for the home state team broke loose and gathered on the ground to congratulate the winning team

The Senior Division Grand Final saw these two powerhouses of Indian footy facing off against each yet again. The Tigers started with intent and took control of the game early on. Led by their captain and star player Mahesh Tirkey (who was also the senior Player of the Tournament), Jharkhand Crows were determined to win back the title they had lost previous year to the Bengal Tigers. The Crows with a lot of experienced players in the side including five international players proved themselves in front of the crow that was supporting the home state.

The Senior finalists Jharkhand Crows & Bengal Tigers lining up with the Umpires before the Grand Final

Paula Shay from BUA was very happy to be back in India for the third time umpiring voluntarily at the ARFAI National Championship again. She thought “the skill level and enthusiasm grows each year and with it we expand the details of our coaching and umpiring. The distance the players can kick has increased dramatically, marking contests see two or three players reach for the sky and the final scores are higher due to increased goals (which can only happen from a kick with no interference)”.

ARFAI would like to thank the supporters for the event, including the Australian High Commission – New Delhi, the Australian Consulate General – Chennai, SEED, NEEDS, Buy Box Online, Bendigo Umpires Association (BUA), Essendon Football Club and the Gamila Nabin Sangha, West Bengal.

Historic Ind Vs Aus match under way with thousands watching

The seemingly incessant rain gave way to partially clear skies as the AFL Masters (Australian) team disembarked the bus at Rabindra Mitali Sangha Ground in Daspur, West Midnapore, West Bengal, on the afternoon of Saturday, 22^nd July. This historic day will be marked in the records of ARFAI as the day when a small village in the West Midnapore district of West Bengal hosted the first ever international Footy match on Indian soil. The AFL Masters team took on Team India as part of the AFL Masters’ tour, and the memories of this day will live long with everyone who witnessed the momentous occasion.

Flag Hoisting ceremony & National Anthems of both countries being sung with Ms. Sidhu as Chief Guest

The AFL Masters team, comprising players above the age of 30, have started maing tours to Europe and Asia to promote Footy across the world. After having played England and Ireland last year, India was their second stop this year, after China, and they were treated to an experience of a lifetime. The West Midnapore Footy Association with support from Footy Association of Bengal (FAB) took the mantle of organizing the event and they ensured that it was a spectacle to behold. The inauguration ceremony saw the Guest of Honour, Australian High Commissioner in India, Ms. Harinder SIdhu, greet both sets of players following a flag hoisting ceremony, and our visitors from Down Under were treated to some traditional song and dance performances. Before the Footy players took to the pitch, there were exhibition matches of Kabaddi contested by girls and boys from the West Bengal Kabaddi Association. For most of the Australians present, it was the first time they were witnessing the indigenous Indian sport in flesh, which has become increasingly popular in India over the last 3-4 years. Notably, AFL India and Essendon Football Club helped form the first ever Australian Kabaddi team that participated in the Kabaddi World Cup in 2016 in India.

The Indian team at the historic match

Late afternoon saw the serious stuff unfold – the event that 6000 odd spectators from in and around the district had been waiting for. The AFL Masters and Team India took to the field to rapturous applause. Most of the bystanders had never seen a game of Footy, but that didn’t stop them from creating an atmosphere of a true sporting spectacle; and the game did not disappoint. The first quarter was a closely contested affair ending in 3.5.23 – 3.2.20 in favour of the Australians and the fight put up by the Indian amateurs drew ample praise from the Ms. Sidhu and her team from the Australian Government Ms. Geraldine Gant, First Secretary, Public Affairs, Australian High Commission in India. But the experience and endurance of the Masters’ players shone through as the game went on, and the match ended 12.26.98 – 4.7.31 in their favour. In a match where the final score was of little significance, the Indian players left the field with their heads held high knowing that they had pushed the Masters’ to be at the top of their game and identified areas of improvement in their own.

According to Bengal Footy Association Secretary General Rakesh Ghosh, who also led the Indian team on field for the match, “We had put in a lot of hard work along with the West Midnapore District Footy Association to get the show together for the day. The heavy downpour in the morning before the game had got us scared but everything went really well in the end and thanks to the local crowd who travelled over to the stadium from all parts of the district to make this game more memorable for us. Would also like to specially thank Mr. Utpal Samanta and Mr. Probir Mondal, our district association leaders who ran the show on the day and made it a grand success.”

The victorious Australian (AFL Masters) team with the trophy

The biggest highlight of the day for the Indian team, apart from being cheered for every run by 6000 plus spectators, was the fact that they spent an entire day with their Australian counterparts who shared their knowledge, advice and words of encouragement. This would definitely serve as the perfect precursor to their participation in the International Cup (IC) 2017 starting from 5^th August in Australia. For the Masters on the other hand, everything was a highlight apparently. They experienced a side of India and Bengal that they had never even heard of, complete with social, cultural and sporting immersions. According to one f the Australian team players, there was no comparison between the experiences they had in China to what they experienced in India, which was a huge complement for AFL India. There was a lot to talk about on the bus journey back and there will be more when they see some familiar faces Down Under during the IC17.

While talking to ARFAI Founder & Secretary General Sudip Chakraborty, Ms. Sidhu mentioned “it was truly fantastic to have attended the tournament on the weekend. The team spirit and also the enthusiasm of the crowd more than everything made up for all the rain! I am a convert and you are to be congratulated for all the work you have done to bring the AFL relationship to this point.”

Teams cherishing the experience together after the match

Special thanks to the International Ambassador of the AFL Masters Paul Newbury, who had got in touch with Sudip who is now working for the AFL and Essendon FC in Melbourne, Australia, to make this memorable day take shape and also to our long term supporters Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan School, Salt Lake, OGM Technical Institute and Global Reach, who helped the Indian team prepare for the day.

Our founder and Captain Sudip Chakraborty was recently on a worldwide popular Bengali TV show named ‘Dadagiri Unlimited’, hosted by the former Indian cricket legend Saurav Ganguly, where he introduced the sport to Saurav ‘Dada’ Ganguly and also the work put in by ARFAI to grow the game in India

A great achievement for AFL India to be on the popular ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) 7.30 report, covering the development of Australian Rules Football throughout India.

The Footy journey of India gained further momentum as the AFL Multicultural and International Coordinator, Peter Romaniw, touched down in India for the coaches and umpires training for ARFAI officials. The training was scheduled on the 22^nd and 23^rd of November 2014 and was held at the school ground of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Kolkata. A group of 19 participants, comprising officials and experienced players, underwent the 2 days training which included a few hours in the conference room and many on the field.

The training, though intensive, was a rejuvenating experience for everyone present and was tailor made to instil ideas which can be directly implemented in coaching sessions. The drills included demonstration of basic skills and then an upgrade on the same to simulate in-game situations. There was a lot of emphasis on the SPIR method of training and the importance of an overall positive atmosphere around training. The session also covered umpiring standards with the help of video tutorials and quizzes. Lots of goodies were doled out as well, but the ultimate prize of the training will soon arrive in the form of an AFL Level 1 Coaching Certificate. As the curtains fell on the training session, everyone departed in high spirits, reemphasizing Peter’s aptly put words – “Footy, at the end of the day, is all about having fun.”

The day after the session saw Peter make the long trip to Bongaon, right on the Indo-Bangladesh border. An exhibition match was played out and the umpiring lessons previously learnt were put to the test. Peter witnessed the hardships spread across the land and the toil that some of the players had to endure to make a journey up to the city just to follow their passion.

Peter’s short stay involved some local sightseeing and trying out some local cuisines, all of which he claims to have liked. His short trip proved to be a highly productive one for the ARFAI and we express our sincerest gratitude to him and the AFL for the same. We look forward to more such endeavours on behalf of the AFL to help grow Footy in India and we’ll be waiting for Peter with more local cuisines and of course, more Footy!

The first ever Maharashtra State Championship organized by the ARFAI took place this year at the Seawoods Estate Ground, Navi Mumbai on the 28^th of October. Enough kids had started playing the sport to form ten teams of twelve players each,all aged between 12-16, being coached by the Magic Bus CYL’s under the guidance of Magic Bus Coaches and ARFAI officials. All the players seemed to be very excited about the tournament and not a face was seen without a smile after receiving the colorful team jumpers.

The tournament began with an opening ceremony in which Sudip Chakraborty, the Secretary General of ARFAI and also the Captain of the Indian Tigers, gave an introductory speech welcoming all the players and the guests followed by a performance of the National Anthem by the Magic Bus CYL’s, ARFAI officials and players. Lincoln Harris who has been supporting footy activities in Mumbai since the early 2011 and who is now the Vice President of ARFAI was present at the event along with his brother Rhan Harris, showing their support by umpiring matches and mentoring the teams.

The tournament took off with the first match between Tigers and Cats and both the teams fought bravely for the possession of the ball. There seemed to be room for improvement in the kicking skills of the players but one got to see some very good handballing during the game. The Cats emerged victorious defeating the Tigers by 14 points, who couldn’t put any number on the score board.

Two semi final matches took place between the teams Cats and Crows and Hawks and Eagles. All the teams showed considerable improvement in their game with every match and impressed everyone with their strong and fierce attack on the ball. Cats continued their brilliant performance and defeated Crows to face the other best team, Hawks in the grand final of the tournament.

The Hawks proved to be a tough side for the Cats and they couldn’t break through their defense. The Hawks bagged the winner’s trophy with the final score of the match being Hawks 15 – Cats 8. The prize distribution ceremony was presided over by Sudip Chakraborty with Lincoln and Rhan Harris helping with the distribution of prizes and awarding the trophies. A beautiful day of footy came to an end with all the teams joining in the celebration. The enthusiasm with which the kids played and the energy they brought on the field made it certain that Maharashtra will be seeing many good players and the sport is definitely going to be developed further more in time to come.

Jharkhand witnessed its first taste of competitive Footy action as the ARFAI Jharkhand State Championship kicked off on the 21^st of October 2014 at Mitra Mandal Ground, Ranchi under bright sunny skies. 10 teams with 12 players each, and all between the ages of 12-16 years, participated in the inaugural tournament. The hard work put in by the ARFAI coaches and MB CYLs was purely evident as the players showed skill and maturity well beyond their tender years.

The dexterity with which the players from Jharkhand were playing had left Helen Mell, ARFAI ambassador,gobsmacked. The four teams which went through to the semi finals were Crows, Giants, Tigers, Bombers. Crows played against the Giants and the Bombers against the Tigers. Bombers and Crows qualified for the finals after crushing their opponents in the semi finals.

The championship trophy was lifted by The Crows after they defeated The Bombers in a gripping final which ended 32-16 in favour of the champions. Amar Roshan Bara of The Crows shone the brightest of them all and he was deservingly voted the Player of the Tournament. Sachit Ekka of The Tigers and Navin Thapa of The Bombers received the award for Best Mark and Best Goal respectively. Sudhashil Mitra, ARFAI Game Development Manager and Regional Development Manager and also one of the coaches under the ASOP initiative was visibly pleased – “The skills of the players here in Jharkhand are just remarkable. If they can continue playing like this they will not just impress spectators in India but will also impress spectators in Australia when they will be selected to play for the Indian team in the International Cup ” The tournament has set a marker for a promising future indeed and one should not be surprised to see the boys from Jharkhand punching above their weight soon.

19^th October 2014marked a first in ARFAI’s Footy calendar as 10 teams from Rajasthan took the field at Chogan Stadium, Jaipur, to stake a claim for the inaugural ARFAI Rajasthan State Championship crown. The players, all aged between 12-16, put on an impressive show despite the harsh weather and every match was keenly contested.

The semi finals witnessed some exceptional skills from the players. The first semi final was contested between the Cats and the Kangaroos where the Cats won 6-12 and the second semi final saw the Giants playing against the Eagles where the Eagles had a convincing win by 2-17.

The Eagles took home the spoils defeating The Kangaroos in the final with a score of 48-6. All the participating players were trained under the ASOP initiative and the ARFAI and MB officials present were visibly proud of what unfolded before them. The individual awards were bagged by Arun Kumar Roy (Eagles) for the Best Mark, D’Costa (Crows) for the Best Goal and Rohit Singh (Cats) for the Best Player of the Tournament. Speaking of the tournament, ARFAI Game Development Manager and Regional Development Manager, Saurabh Bhandekar said – “The kids are showing a good flair for the sport. a little more training with experienced coaches and the players are sure to come up as formidable in the near future”

The state tournament of Rajasthan accentuates the fact that how footy in the state has been developing in a commendable way. It was a pleasing moment indeed for ARFAI and the Footy journey of India rolls on.