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
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)
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
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
In 2003, at home, the Hong Kong Dragons won the first of their Asian Champs!
2005 AFL Asian Championships – Manila
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
The Hong Kong Dragons tasted success in 2007 in Bangkok!
The Vietnam Swans first Asian Championships was 2007 in Bangkok, The Hong Kong Dragons took that one out!
2010 AFL Asian Championships – Shanghai
In 2010 Fev was a keen spectator of the Shanghai Asian Champs.
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
2012 in Pattaya saw the Hong Kong Dragons success once more!
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
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!
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.
2013 All Asian squad in Pattaya.
Eagles legend Evan Spargo was player of the tournament in 2013!
2014 AFL Asian Championships – Angeles City
The Wombats won in Angeles…
… and they were pretty happy about it!
The infamous boat race – 2014. One of the most coveted titles each year!
2015 AFL Asian Championships – Bangkok
Back to Thailand meant back to the winners podium for the Hong Kong Dragons in 2015.
But the Eagles were building some momentum!
Rooster has been there since before the beginning of Asian Footy and remains an on and off field staple to this day!
2015 All Asian Squad
Andrew Embley presenting the player of the tournament medal to Christian “Cookie” Cook in 2015.
2016 AFL Asian Championships – Saigon
The Philippine Eagles tasted their first ever ultimate success in 2016 in Saigon.
meanwhile AFL Grand Final celebrations spilled over onto the sidelines of the Asian Champs.
And the first ever AFLW match in Asia was played!
2017 AFL Asian Championships – Manila
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
As defending title holders the Malaysian Warriors hosted an epic Champs in 2018.
The Indonesian Volcanos buried the hatchet between islands and took out the 2018 Asian Championships.
And the Vietnam Swans won the first AFLW Asian Championships beating Hong Kong in the final.
The PNG Maruks more than impressed in Division 2 proving to be a class above. With a few more in the squad they will be one to watch in 2019!
The first ever AFLW Asian Champs was a massive success and will continue to grow!
Bring on 2019, and 20+ more AWESOME AFL Asian Championships!
