You may have watched a few minutes on TV and wondered if it was rugby, football or a little of both.
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, but also called Aussie rules, football or footy, is a contact sport played between two teams of 18 players on an oval-shaped field, often a modified cricket ground. The main way to score points is by kicking the oval-shaped ball between the two tall goal posts. The team with the higher score by the end of the match wins unless a draw is declared.
Max Peterson has founded the Vernon Roosters AFC and is looking for a few good men.
“We’re a community-focused club bringing the excitement of AFL footy to Vernon,” said Peterson, who moved to Vernon in October, 2015 with his Canadian wife and six kids. “We’re seeking guys who have played Aussie Rules before, as well as those that might be interested in learning to play a new sport.
“We are also looking for social members and fans. We are a sister club of the Griffith Moorooka Roosters Australian Football Club in Brisbane, Australia who graciously supplied the teams’ jerseys. This is the club I played at starting as an U8 playing there for most of my junior years, finishing up in the Masters competition (over 35s) before coming to Canada.”
Peterson and Paul Lewis, also of Vernon, combined with some Kelowna players for a tournament in Banff last weekend and are hoping to get some games in the Kelowna Cup in Rutland next Saturday (10 a.m.-5 p.m.).
“The Kelowna Cup will showcase some of the best Canadian men and women players who will represent Team Canada at the International Cup which will be held in Melbourne, Australia in August,” said Lewis, named the Roosters’ inaugural coach. “There will be teams from Vancouver and Edmonton.”
The Roosters train Saturdays from 9-10:30 a.m. at Kelowna City Oval but are hoping to change the venue to Beasley Park in Lake Country once more Vernon players express interest:.
“I was aware that Australian Rules Football was being played in Canada but only in major capital cities such as Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary,” said Peterson. “Because of the distance to these clubs and the Aussie presence in and around Vernon, I decided to launch a footy club. I missed playing footy.”
Peterson (250-306-8087) officially launched the Roosters Dec. 14, 2016 and has solid support from AFL Canada. Lewis can be reached at 250-260-0986.
Peterson is 44 and works as the builder and managing director at Smith & Sons Remodeling Experts. Lewis is 42 and working in renovations and construction.
What is Australian Rules Football?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqymJpIhpPY
AFL Canada
http://websites.sportstg.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=1-7259-0-0-0&assoc=7259