The United States Australian Football League ( USAFL ) is the governing body for Australian rules football in the United States . It was conceived in 1996 and organized in 1997. It is based in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin .
15-667: The MAAFL was a division of the United States Australian Football League and an Australian rules football competition based in the United States . The league formed 1996 when clubs from Cincinnati and Louisville played the first ever game of Aussie Rules in the United States . Unlike many Metro Footy leagues in the US, the MAAFL was a traditional 18-a-side Australian rules competition and
30-498: The 2008 Australian Football International Cup , where the Revolution finished 7th out of 16 countries. At the 2011 Australian Football International Cup , the Revolution finished 4th in an increased field of 18 countries. The Revolution finished 8th at the 2014 Australian Football International Cup , again with 18 countries participating. They would come in 4th at the 2017 Australian Football International Cup which, as of 2024,
45-770: The Australian Football International Cup . As of the last edition in 2023, the Revolution men have won eleven of the twelve meetings against the Canada Northwind, while the Freedom women have fallen to the Canada Northern Lights in five of seven contests. The Revolution competed in the 2002 Australian Football International Cup , finishing 5th out of 11 countries and in the 2005 Australian Football International Cup finishing 3rd out of 10 countries. They competed in
60-614: The AFL to sustain the international Aussie Rules game until the International Cup could be restored. Both American teams would advance to the Grand Final, and both would lose to Ireland. 2005 Australian Football International Cup The 2005 Australian Football International Cup was the second time that the Australian Football International Cup tournament, an international Australian rules football competition
75-557: The Central, East and West regional tournaments. The USAFL selects the national men's ( USA Revolution ) and women's ( USA Freedom ) teams for competitions such as the Australian Football International Cup and the 49th Parallel Cup . The first match between two local US clubs was played in 1996 between Cincinnati and Louisville . In the first year the Mid American Australian Football League
90-471: The Freedom finished fourth at the 2017 Australian Football International Cup while the Liberty went 3-2 in five matches against teams from various leagues in and around Melbourne. After the postponement and subsequent cancellation of the International Cup in 2020, 2021, 2023 and 2024, both the Revolution and Freedom took part in the 2024 AFL Transatlantic Cup , one of three regional tournaments scheduled by
105-648: The co-ordination of the National Teams, the USA Revolution men's team and the USA Freedom women's team. The team plays in international tournaments and exhibition matches against other countries. National team players are selected from the best US-born players from the club teams across the country. With close proximity to Canada, the Revolution & Freedom participate in the annual 49th Parallel Cup against Canada each year except for years of
120-573: The football clubs in the United States have a traditional 18-a-side team for representative purposes and multiple 9-a-side teams running in a local league. Each year the USAFL holds a National club championship , a tournament open to all clubs across the nation, the largest of its type in the world for the sport. In addition to the Nationals, the USAFL holds major regional tournaments including
135-404: The same year. The United States Australian Football League (USAFL) was formed in 1997 to govern the code in the country. The involvement of many well-known Australians has helped boost the relations between the USAFL and AFL. In the early days, Paul Roos was a key figure. Robert DiPierdomenico , Leigh Matthews and Michael Voss are official USAFL ambassadors. USAFL is responsible for
150-577: The tournament undefeated. It was played as a curtain raiser to an official Australian Football League premiership season match and was replayed on Fox Sports (Australia) and the Fox Footy Channel . New Zealand were crowned international champions for the first time. (Wednesday 3 August 2005) (Friday 5 August 2005) (Sunday 7 August 2005) (Tuesday 9 August 2005) (Thursday 11 August 2005) (Thursday 11 August 2005) (Saturday 13 August 2005) (Saturday 13 August 2005) The grand final
165-496: Was formed. Many of the local players had found out about the game in the 1980s on television via the then-nascent ESPN cable network. Although the local game grew, ESPN no longer broadcast AFL matches, and in response the lobby group, Australian Football Association of North America was formed. In 1997, the first club national championships were held in Cincinnati. Nashville hosted the first Australian Grand Final Festival in
SECTION 10
#1732793486899180-432: Was held. The event was hosted by both Melbourne and Wangaratta , Australia, in 2005. 10 nations participated following the late withdrawal of both Nauru and Denmark and the introduction of Spain. All sides were scheduled to play 4 games, after which the top 4 sides played off in semi-finals for a berth in the Grand Final decider. The Grand Final was between Papua New Guinea and New Zealand. Both sides went through
195-430: Was replayed on Fox Sports (Australia) and the Fox Footy Channel . The best and fairest medal was awarded to New Zealand 's James Bowden. Note: the grand final was played as a curtain-raiser to the round 20 AFL match between Collingwood vs Carlton , so this figure is the total crowd for the match, although not all spectators were inside the stadium at the start or conclusion of the curtain-raiser event. Like
210-492: Was the last edition. After completing a tour of Australia in 2009, the Freedom were one of five teams to compete in the first International Cup Women's Division at the 2011 Australian Football International Cup , finishing third. At the 2014 Australian Football International Cup , the Freedom finished in third place again while a reserves team, the USA Liberty, came in last of the seven competing teams. Three years later,
225-796: Was the oldest and arguably the best supported league in the country. It still holds the record for attendance. As of 2007, the league split its teams into two divisions to reduce travel costs. After 2013, the MAAFL gave way to the Central Region Tournament, one of three annual regional tournaments organized directly by the United States Australian Football League. United States Australian Football League As of 2011, there were over 1,000 registered USAFL players. There are 48 member clubs, of which 47 have men's teams (all except North Star Blue Ox) and 25 have women's teams. Most of
#898101