Asian Australian Football Championships
The Asian Australian Football Championships are an annual tournament of Australian rules football between mainly expat-Australian teams from around Asia.
History
The Asian Australian Football Championships were first held in 2000, although a precursor tournament named the Four Nations Cup was held in Bangkok, Thailand in 1999. The tournament is considered the pinnacle of Asian Australian football calendar and is challenged by teams from over a dozen Asian countries.
Teams that have competed include the Hong Kong Dragons, Singapore Wombats, Bali Geckos, Brunei Sharks, China Blues, China Reds, Japan Goannas, Philippines Eagles, Indonesian Bintangs (as a combined Jakarta and Bali side in early years), Jakarta Bintangs, Thailand Tigers, Vietnam Swans, Malaysian Warriors, Dubai Heat and Lao Elephants.
There was an offer in 2005 to make the championships part of the Arafura Games, in Darwin, Australia, but this was turned down by Asian clubs.
The 2015 competition featured a two-division format for the first time, with a record 404 participants across 13 teams, including 40 local players from China, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam. An East Asia vs South East Asia local player exhibition game was also held for the first time.[1]
The 2016 competition will be held on Saturday October 15 at RMIT University Vietnam Saigon Campus.[2]
Tournament statistics
| Year | Venue | Champions | Junior Champions | Div 2 Champions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Bangkok, Thailand | Singapore Wombats | - | - |
| 2000 | Jakarta, Indonesia | Indonesian Bintangs | - | - |
| 2001 | Bangkok, Thailand | Singapore Wombats | - | - |
| 2002 | Singapore | Indonesian Bintangs | - | - |
| 2003 | Hong Kong | Hong Kong Dragons | - | - |
| 2004 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Hong Kong Dragons | - | - |
| 2005 | Manila, the Philippines | Singapore Wombats | - | - |
| 2006 | Jakarta, Indonesia | Singapore Wombats | - | - |
| 2007 | Bangkok, Thailand | Hong Kong Dragons | - | - |
| 2008 | Singapore | Dubai Heat | Jakarta Bulldogs | - |
| 2009 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Dubai Heat | Jakarta Bulldogs | - |
| 2010 | Shanghai, China | Dubai Heat | - | - |
| 2011 | Bangkok, Thailand | Singapore Wombats | - | - |
| 2012 | Pattaya, Thailand | Hong Kong Dragons | - | - |
| 2013 | Pattaya, Thailand | Hong Kong Dragons | - | - |
| 2014 | Angeles City, Philippines | Singapore Wombats [3] | - | - |
| 2015 | Bangkok, Thailand | Hong Kong Dragons [4] | - | Lao Elephants |