Australian rules footy in Germany dates back to 1995 when the Frankfurt Redbacks and Munich Kangaroos were founded.
AFL Germany was created with these two teams in 1999. The league consisted of these two teams until 2003, when it expanded to include sides from Hamburg and Berlin.
The current president of AFL Germany is Fabian Cordts, who played Australian football in Adelaide for the Unley Jets when he studied there in the early 2000s.
Cordts was one of the founders of the Hamburg side and supports Carlton in the AFL.
He says that there are around 250 players in Germany now, with expatriate Australians making up about one-third of that number.
There are six major teams in Germany with teams joining from Cologne (Rheinland) and Stuttgart.
An additional side based in Dresden competes in the Czech AFL league. In addition several cities have nine a side metro teams that feed the major sides.
Distance is a challenge for the amateur league with clubs having to travel up to 800 kilometres between cities for matches (comparable to a Melbourne district club travelling to Adelaide to play a game).
Cordts explains that there are teams in the Danish league that are just three hours away from Hamburg.
They play 16 a side, or 18 a side if agreed to by the other side. The field is an oval in shape, but generally in parks marked out with cones.
In 2009, AFL Germany was reported as being set to ally themselves with American football in order to gain better access to facilities and funding.
Cordts explains that hasn’t happened yet for a variety of reasons, but says that the league is still exploring the option.
The same year, former President and Frankfurt founder Malte Schudlich, complained that the AFL was neglecting its overseas leagues.
“Since 1995 we have been asking the AFL for support on a regular basis, mostly concerning material. Apart from a few footballs, there was basically no support. We would be in exactly the same situation today if we would have never had any contact with the AFL.”
Fabian Cordts says that the AFL still doesn’t contribute funding, but says that AFL Europe has been great with administrative assistance, including arranging international competitions like the nine a side EU Cup.
Clubs with partnership agreements do receive limited amounts of gear.
Oddly enough, Cordts says that Hamburg Dockers merchandise is popular in Australia.
Germany hasn’t sent a team to the International Cup, although Cordts is very keen on the idea, but says its all dependent on sponsorship.
AFL Germany is currently trying to arrange sponsorship through German companies with branches in Australia. Germany has competed at the 9-a-side EU Cup competition, finishing fourth at the inaugural competition in 2005, coming runner up in 2007 and third in 2008.
Unfortunately, they “proudly came last” in 2013.
Avon River
Guest
#SVB Funnily enough soccer celebrates the ability of amateurs and semi pro clubs to compete with the big boys via the FA Cup. And they all use the same ball!!
Stavros
Guest
If the AFL boys practiced for a few more months and had more warm up games, then I'm sure they would do a lot better.
Avon River
Guest
#Stavros And I do believe Gaelic footballers do just that - and have developed round ball skills sufficient to be poached by EPL sides. Go figure.
Avon River
Guest
#c Did you not read the whole 'soccer is crap' post?? I guess not.
Stavros
Guest
You think it is strange that they would struggle with the round ball, yet soccer nuts are forever telling us that you have to start playing the game from about the age of 6 to have the required ball skills.
Avon River
Guest
#SVB Funny you should ask given that the sole goal last night was a deflection off the post which is only a point in Australian Football. Btw you do realise a point in Aust Football is one sixth of a goal unlike in soccer where it's purely binary scoring system (although last night 1 goal from 17 shots as per the stats and that one goal was severely flukey. I'm a crap golfer but even my flukey ratio of hitting a fairway or even sinking putts is better than that!!). Btw2 - score accumulation via the means in the rules - we can ask why crickets batters can run for legbyes when they couldn't even hit the ball.
Ronny
Roar Rookie
Don't know, and don't care, but IMO it seems to be the only game in the world, that i can think of, that players actively attempt to hit the ball with their head. Medical evidence says over a period of time, brain damage will occur from this, most other football codes shy away from, and indeed have actively changed rules to prevent the head being hit. Just a matter of time, before some old broken down soccer players suffering from brain damage, depression etc are rolled out in front of the courts.
c
Guest
Ronnie in which century do you expect that it will eventually be banned ?
c
Guest
ok thanks my apologies but somthink stinks on here
SVB
Guest
Do players in an AFL game get a point for missing because of their lack of kicking skills?
Avon River
Guest
#SVB I think we've heard your recollection before. Several times in fact. Btw I was told on another thread about the great ball controlling skills in soccer - last night from what I saw in the best of the A-League it was a struggle to identify. I do know that what you struggle to comprehend in AustFooty has a lot to do with a true contest for the ball without artificial "off-side" style limitations (Rugby folk struggle on this point even more). I wondered whether the problem for the lads last night was that there was an opposition on the ground?? Afterall it couldn't have been the shape of the ball.
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
its on the to do list. Im tryg not to swamp myself too much.
hardnut
Guest
Make sure you include Norway too. Took off three years ago here.
SVB
Guest
I once watched an AFL game. The players seemed to lack co-ordination and kept on falling over each other, and struggled to catch a ball properly or kick straight. It was pretty funny. Then the AFL players got been by some amateurs from Ireland in a game because they struggled with a round ball. That was even funnier.
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
Im not a moderator on here. Ive no control over anything said in comments
Ronny
Roar Rookie
Heading the ball will eventually be banned, it's really not good for your head.
Avon River
Guest
Flicked over to SBS during the ads and saw Leijer headbutt a Roar guy in a headclash as they both tried to head it ( it's a skill of the game) and at halftime at 0-0 and I guess it to be a euphemism they described the first half as "..slowing down to a tactical affair". I luckedxin by flicking over for the one goal. A guy runs too deep and has no angle left.... his kick is straight at the goalie who in a comedy of errors straddles it and through his legs it goes across the face and the inside of the far post for a rebound in and goal. Or did he plan/execute it to perfection? Ah the skill. 90 mins of such skill and that was the highlight after Ange promised it would rain goals. Perhaps that's another euphemism.
Ronny
Roar Rookie
@ Punter, as Bill said, shouldn't you be analysing all the draws ... LOL.
c
Guest
i am pleased that you do not also moderate the comment that soccer is crap wookie well done
c
Guest
you go boy you tell them ronnie