For this instalment of the series on Australian Rules football around the world, I spoke to Janne Hokkonen, the President of the Finland AFL.
Hokkonen first got involved in Aussie Rules when he was looking for a hobby in 2009. He says it was an accident, when a family friend introduced him to the game.
He started playing kick to kick in the park with a small group of guys, and within the month was playing in his first game. He’s spent most of the time in the backline, but has played all over except ruck due to his short stature.
Hokkonen is the President of the FAFL board, which takes responsibility for the organisation of the national team, including its practice matches, as well as the the national league grand final and the pre-season competition.
He says that the league has taken some forward strides since it started, but that it can be difficult to branch out – and to get people to watch games.
The FAFL consists of four teams, with plans to branch out to two other towns in the country, but those teams are not yet competing in the league. Distance can be a problem, with one of the teams located a six-hour drive from its nearest side.
Hokkonen hopes for two or three more teams in the FAFL and a good regional league in the future.
The league consists of about 100 players, around 25 of those from Australia, with two of the four teams almost completely stocked by guys from Finland and the other two teams are around 50/50.
The league plays a variant of nine a side, with three players in the forward line, three on the ball, three in the backline and six on the bench.
The field used is the typical European football field. There can be difficulties booking fields because clubs sometimes confuse the game with rugby union and are concerned that players may ruin the pitches.
Teams play 10 games in the Finnish summer if they make finals in the FAFL league competition. They also play a number of games in the FAFL Cup pre-season competition.
While presently the FAFL cup consists only of Finnish sides, there are plans to try to expand that to national leagues close to them, like Sweden.
There is the beginnings of a junior program in Finland, where one of the coaches had a young son who was of the age to begin Australian footy and began a junior program to accommodate that.
The Finnish national team was originally called the Lions, but are now known as the Icebreakers. The name change was a necessity, says Hokkonen, because of the number of national sides already known as the Lions.
At the recent Euro Cup, Finland finished sixth. They couldn’t get the player numbers to go to the European Championships due to a somewhat unique reason – mandatory national service.
Hokkonen tells me that plans are afoot for the Icebreakers to come to the Australian Football International Cup in 2014 – having only competed once before – and expects the team to be a lot stronger than it was in the past, as its players get more experienced in the game.
There are a small number of Finish players living in Australia who will make the Finnish side at the IC in 2014.
Read all of the series covering how other countries are involved in AFL
Australian football in Fiji
The way of the Samurai – Australian football in Japan
Oh Canada! Australian football in the far far north
Frenchmen playing Australian football
Knights in shining armour – Croatia
Rise of the Black Eagle – Germany’s AFL connection
More to footy in the Emerald Isle than International Rules
Wesley Hull
Guest
Hi Wookie, I was about to start a series of articles looking at the past season in Euro countries and previews for 2014. Was going to contact Janne and the crew, then found your article. I write for World Footy News, and wondered if there was a chance I could use your article (with correct acknowledgement to you as the writer) to tell the Finnish story? Be delighted if you could help. Wesley Hull.
Storm Boy
Guest
If the VFL was a breakaway comp & nothing else before 1897 counts, how did the AFL get to claim 150 years then?
Ronny
Roar Rookie
Breakaway comp in 1897, Port Adelaides 3 zillion flags in the SANFL dont count in the AFL either.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Storm Boy, Because Helsinki didnt win any of them. Read the title. Durrrrrr.
Storm Boy
Guest
So why don't the flags before 1897 get listed by the AFL? Why don't the clubs jack up & get these added to the flag list of winners?
Ronny
Roar Rookie
The game of Australian football did, and the AFL as the codes leading body was involved, but the AFL did not turn 150.
clipper
Guest
Polocrosse is just a combination of Polo and Lacrosse, Vigoro is cricket / baseball combination played by women and Trugo isn't widely played. Surf Life Saving could be claimed as Australian, but Rodeo is questionable.
Storm Boy
Guest
Didn't AFL celebrate 150 years a little whiles back?
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
well not really. The VFL was renamed the AFL in 1990. In fact, the AFL was STARTED in 1897.
Shmick
Guest
No, but Australian football was. The AFL was only started in 1990.
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
lol thats awesome
me, I like football
Guest
Could someone tell me how does AFL.com.au make it to the 235th most visited website in Finland, despite only being 151st in Australia (due to off season) and account for 14.5% of all site visits. ?????? http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/afl.com.au
albatross
Roar Pro
>>most of those are either variations of other sports That's certainly an arguable point. But I think that's being a bit tough on sports like Trugo, Vigoro and Polocrosse. I think that Rodeo and Surf Life Saving qualify as sports even though they are comprised of many disparate activities and events. >>(they have league 7's – do they mean 9's Both RL 7s and 9s are played. For example the University of Newcastle RL club has run a schoolboys 7s carnival for many years (in memory of the late club stalwart Terry Kachel)
Storm Boy
Guest
AFL was around in the 1850s?
clipper
Guest
Albatross - most of those are either variations of other sports (they have league 7's - do they mean 9's) or debatable (sheep shearing). About the only one that would hold any credence would be wood chopping.
albatross
Roar Pro
There's quite a lot of sports and/or pastimes that originated in Australia. Let Wikipedia be your friend. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Sports_originating_in_Australia
Avon River
Guest
I saw the Finns having a crack in 2008 at Royal Park v Canada. They only had a smallish group and injuries were taking a toll but they fought it out. For most nations getting to Melbourne it is their sporting Mecca (how cool is that?) and to play on the big and level (no crab holes like in Vanuatu) ovals is a shock to the system along with playing 18 aside every couple of days for two weeks - but it is equally a rare delight and opportunity. And the carrot of the GF at the MCG. Granted the GF is likely out of reach of the Icebreakers.
Adam Smith
Guest
Great news! I'd love to see AFL become an international game. Hey it's probably the only game Australia has invented (correct me if I'm wrong). Before they play the International Cup they will really need to find an oval though!
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
Thanks, its being quite an educational experience.
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Well done on this series, Wookie. At the footer of this article I've put some links to all the other pieces covering the international scene. Take a look - it's impressive reading - from France to Fiji to Finland!