On the back of Canadian Rugby convert Mike Pyke debuting for the Sydney Swans last Sunday afternoon, it is appropriate to look at where Australian footy is heading in Canada.
The greatest traction gained has been around Toronto. The Ontario Australian Football League boasts ten senior teams that play a thirteen round season plus finals. This is one of the largest single leagues outside of Australia.
Outside of that, Quebec has a small amount of activity. Alberta and British Columbia, though, have much more. Note though, some Quebec players make a nine hour one way trip to Toronto for a game!
Around Vancouver, there has been some recent growth.
Just a few years ago, there was only one Vancouver team. Now, there are five. The games are all eighteen a-side, which is significant.
The growth in recent years is also significant, including the Delta Bay Hawks, which is the senior club growing out of the North Delta Juniors program that began in 2003. This develops a junior to senior pathway, similar to Farum in Denmark.
Also reported recently, junior footy is kicking off in Alberta.
The North Delta program has been a success and was highlighted last year by the tour to Australia of the Canadian ‘Wolfpack’ junior squad for matches around the time of the International Cup.
There are some ‘natural’ advantages in Canada.
One is the proximity to the US and the reasonably buoyant US-Footy program, thus allowing annual ‘Test matches’ for Men’s, Women’s and Juniors. Also, Canadian teams can participate in the US Nationals, although border security raise some eyebrows when a busload of Canadians try to get through to play ‘Australian Football’ in America.
Another natural ‘advantage’ is actually ice-hockey.
Australian Football does appeal to Ice Hockey fans and players, and when ice hockey finishes for the summer, many players are now seeing footy as an ideal summer sport to keep in shape. This has been reported as assisting with recruitment and expansion.
Whilst then Mike Pyke may not be a ‘graduate’ of the CAFL, he is, however, a new poster boy to prove that a Canadian can make it.
With a little luck, Pyke may be able to fly the flag for five years or so and perhaps by then, some ‘home-grown’ Canucks might be ready to be drafted.
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