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The Ontario Australian football league (OAFL) was formed in Toronto in 1989, when it was started by the Toronto Mustangs and the Panthers playing in the first Lionel Conacher Cup. Since this first simple game when a group of home sick Australian boys got together for a kick, the league has evolved into the largest Australian football league outside the golden shores of the mother land.

With the beginning of the 2008 season set to start in May, this fast and exciting game has grown into a 10 club league with over 330 playing members from Guelph, Hamilton, Ottawa, Etobicoke as well as teams around the GTA.

The teams, comprising of 24 players a side, are looking forward to the biggest year yet as they begin to prepare to compete for the 20th year anniversary Conacher Cup. Further improvements to the OAFL this year is the signing of two full time employees and the revamping of a junior development program called Auskick Canada.

In 2003, when Auskick Canada was created, the program was able to teach over 11,000 kids throughout schools and summer camps this unique sport that kids absolutely love.

The AFL, the governing body of the sport in Australia, has noticed the potential of the sport here in Toronto sending AFL coaching legend, Kevin Sheedy for a tour and to report on the successes of the league.

The tour, conducted last September, was part of the AFL’s 150th anniversary celebrations. Further part of the celebrations is the third International Cup event scheduled to take place this August in Melbourne.

The Canadian national team, Northwind, will be competing in this world wide event and will compete against various countries including New Zealand, England, Ireland, South Africa and USA just to name a few of the 16 planning to attend.

2008 is the big year for Australian Football in Canada, with the league going all out to increase it’s public awareness, and with it being an International Cup year, they are looking for major sponsors to support all the fantastic projects are currently working on and have more people playing this action packed sport.