The AFL Asian Championships are turning 20 and we asked for some photos documenting the epic tournaments held all over the Asian continent in the past 2 decades. We got some great contributions and would love to continue to build on this. Factual corrections or any more Champs pics can be sent to our Facebook page!
How good is 20+ years of footy in Asia!
2000 AFL Asian Championships – Jakarta
![Jakarta Asian Championships 2000](https://aflasia.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/jakarta-champs-2.jpg)
Indonesian Bintangs claiming the first Asian Champs in Jakarta. Rob Spurr , Tim Hakfoort (President) , Matt Stephens , Sean Keenihan and Leo Crohan (assistant coach) with the original silverware. (Pic courtesy of Rob Spurr)
![Jakarta 2000 AFL Asian Championships](https://aflasia.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Jakarta-2000-e1567093414189-1024x768.jpeg)
The Bali Geckos members of the Indonesia Bintangs wore green boardies to identify themselves. They also helped secure Indonesia the first ever official Asian Championship Title! (Pic courtesy of Greg Hinchcliffe)
2002 AFL Asian Championships – Singapore
![Jakarta win Asian Championships in Singapore 2002](https://aflasia.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/singapore-champs-2.jpg)
Indonesia were champs in Singapore. Pictures are Coach Neil Thompson and Captain Rob Spurr. Thommo was also player of the tournament with Tony Begovich BOG in the final. (Pic courtesy of Rob Spurr)
2003 AFL Asian Championships – Hong Kong
2005 AFL Asian Championships – Manila
![2005 AFL Asian Champs Hong Kong Dragons](https://aflasia.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/2005-Manila-1024x683.jpg)
The Singapore Wombats actually went on to win the 2005 Thriller in Manila Asian Champs. Pictured here are the Hong Kong Dragons that year!
2007 AFL Asian Championships – Bangkok
![Vietnam Swans 2007 first ever AFL Asian Championships](https://aflasia.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/2007-Bangkok-6-1024x683.jpg)
The Vietnam Swans first Asian Championships was 2007 in Bangkok, The Hong Kong Dragons took that one out!
2010 AFL Asian Championships – Shanghai
![](https://aflasia.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/2010-Shanghai-3-1024x768.jpg)
The Dragons and Wombats are best of rivals at the Asian Champs. However for 3 straight years from 2008-2010 the Dubai Heat held them both at bay. The Heat haven’t been invited back since! 😉
2012 AFL Asian Championships – Pattaya
![](https://aflasia.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Steve-Fat-Cat-Arthur-2012.jpg)
Steve (Fat Cat) Arthur one of the founders of the Philippine Eagles on the Eagles first ever Asian Champs tour.
2013 AFL Asian Championships – Pattaya
![](https://aflasia.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Philippne-Eagles-Team-2013-1024x437.jpg)
The Champs stayed in Pattaya in 2013 and the Dragons won back to back. The Philippine Eagles also returned and became a true contender for the Asian Champs!
![](https://aflasia.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Manoli-Loukas-Philippine-Eagles-Goal-Kicking-Champion-2013.-1024x987.jpg)
Manoli Loukas was critical in getting the Eagles onto the AFL Asian scene along with Allan Sharman. Unfortunately he suffered a heart attack and passed away about 10 months after this picture was taken.
2014 AFL Asian Championships – Angeles City
2015 AFL Asian Championships – Bangkok
![](https://aflasia.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/2015-Bangkok-1024x683.jpg)
Rooster has been there since before the beginning of Asian Footy and remains an on and off field staple to this day!
2016 AFL Asian Championships – Saigon
2017 AFL Asian Championships – Manila
![2017 AFL Asian Championships Manila Malaysian Warriors winners](https://aflasia.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/2017-Asian-Championships-Manila.jpg)
As the sun set in Manila the Malaysian Warriors claimed their first ever Asian Championships after 25 years as an Asian footy club.
2018 AFL Asian Championships – Kuala Lumpur
![The joining of the Bali Geckos and the Jakarta Bintangs proved successful as the Indonesian Volcanos took out the 2018 Asian Championships in their first attempt.](https://aflasia.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/IMG_0312-1024x734.jpg)
The Indonesian Volcanos buried the hatchet between islands and took out the 2018 Asian Championships.