Melbourne welcomes the world

NEXT Wednesday, Melbourne's Royal Park North will be a jungle teeming with Mosquitoes, Lions, Falcons and Elks.

Vikings, Chiefs, Warriors and Samurais will roam the grounds and prepare to do battle. The Northwind will blow in and the Icebreakers will muster their strength as 16 nations converge for the Australian Football International Cup.

The triennial competition attracts diehards of the game from nations as far-afield as Denmark, Sweden, South Africa and the United States – lovers of the code that are prepared to scrimp and save to pay their way for the privilege of competing in its heartland.

There are countries that have taken the game up in the past 12 months – India, China, Finland, and the improbable union of Israel and Palestine forming a united front as the Peace Team.

Purists argue the attraction of footy is that it is indigenous, something best confined to Australian shores. But AFL talent and international manager Kevin Sheehan disagrees.

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Courtesy of afl.com.au

- Chelsea Roffey
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