Port Moresby Australian Rules Football League
Current season, competition or edition: 2023 | |
Sport | Australian rules football |
---|---|
Founded | 1955 |
President | Douglas Lai |
Divisions | 4 |
No. of teams | 11 |
Country | Papua New Guinea |
Headquarters | Port Moresby |
Most recent champion(s) | Mens: Gerehu, Gereka Women's: Gerehu |
Most titles | Mens: Koboni (19) Women's: Gerehu (2) |
Sponsor(s) | Moni Plus |
Official website | POMAFL |
The Port Moresby Australian Football League (also known as the Port Moresby Australian Rules Football League or POM AFL) is the longest running Australian rules football league outside of Australia, founded in 1955.[1] It is Papua New Guinea's most popular league in the sport and for a time in the 1970s shared similar prominence to the Port Moresby Rugby League competition playing to large paying crowds at Hubert Murray Stadium.
Port Moresby's Koboni Demons club (founded 1965 it is one of the longest running outside Australia), consisting mainly of players from the Central Province with 19 premierships has dominated the competition along with its major rival West (consisting of players from West New Britain).
The league since the 1980s has struggled for recognition, and following ongoing disputes with Cricket PNG over use of its grounds plays mainly out of Bisini Park Colts Oval - however due to the rapid growth of the sport in 2023 funding was allocated for its re-development to AFL standards.[2]
The POMAFL premiership is contested by 11 clubs with senior men's (10 teams), men's reserves (10 teams), senior women's (6 teams) and junior/colts divisions.
History
[edit]The league began in Port Moresby in 1955.[1] Initially it was mostly expatriate Victorians, including many from the Warrnambool district working in Moresby at the time, whose numbers rapidly swelled the competition to 8 teams.[3] Port Moresby was one of the founding clubs. Initially the competition maintained a low profile, with rugby league being the main sport for locals in Moresby. Despite having several clubs, other Australian Rules Football leagues in Madang and Lae were more popular. By the end of the 1960s, the Port Moresby league had shrunk to a handful of clubs consisting almost entirely of expatriates.
By 1970, a wave of interest in the sport across the country saw the Port Moresby league grow rapidly. This saw an influx of players to the national capital. With Boroko, Goroka, Elcom and PIR entering the league, it now had 6 clubs.[4][5] An increase in the number of Papuans in the league saw its media profile lift considerably.[6]
In 1972 the league played its first match at the newly developed Hubert Murray Stadium under lights.[7] The match was a success and during the 1970s due the league's increasing popularity, it played a match of the round there at night, drawing large crowds despite charging spectators for admission.[8] Due to the popularity of the games the league scheduled all of its matches at the stadium in 1973.[9] During this period, the league ran A, B and C grades with most clubs fielding a side in all three grades.
In 1975 all matches were played at Boroko Sports Ground.[10]
In 1976 the competition expanded with 3 new sides: Police, NBC and Bomana.[11] By this time, most of the Australian expatriates had left the competition, due to the increasing standard and increased competition with Papua New Guinean nationals.[12]
The league along with the sport across the country, reached a height in popularity in 1977 with the Grand Final that year attracting a record crowd of 6,000 paying spectators to the Hubert Murray Stadium.[13]
Despite booming in the 1970s in the 1980s the sport in Papua New Guinea went into rapid decline following a failed restructure by Australian interests and the POMAFL came close to folding due to withdrawal of funding for the sport at senior level. The league considered radical changes to stay afloat including shifting the season to the summer months to avoid clashes with other sports, primarily rugby league.
The competition expanded to ten clubs in 2013[14] with the addition of 3 new teams.[15]
Due to ongoing disputes with PNG Cricket in the 2010s, the league was restricted from utilising grounds used for cricket. Access to Amini Park for occasional finals matches was granted in the 2010s before the league had to find its own facilities.
While member clubs sell naming rights to local business sponsors the league suffered from inadequate infrastructure, relying heavily on support from Australia.[16] Matches were played at Murray Barracks Oval before settling on its current home in 2019, the Bisini Colts Oval one of its historic homes which was in desperate need of redevelopment due to its degraded surface after funding for its redevelopment was reallocated.[17] The league receives donations of equipment from its affiliation with AFL Queensland.[16]
The league added a women's division in 2022.[16] However the season was cancelled during the finals series due to controversy over player eligibility with clubs fielding star rugby players who had not played sufficient games during the season proper to qualify.[18]
Due to the rapid growth of the sport in 2023 funding was allocated for the re-development of Bisini Park Colts Oval to AFL standards.[2]
Clubs
[edit]Current clubs
[edit]Club | Home Ground | Nickname | Founded | Years in men's competition | Premiers (Men's) |
Years in women's competition | Premiers (Women's) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Koboni Australian Rules Football Club | Colts Oval Bomini Park, Port Moresby | Demons | 1965 | 1965- | 1969, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1983, 1991*, 1993, 1994, 1997, 1999*, 2009, 2015, 2018, 2022 | 2017- | |
University of Papua New Guinea Australian Rules Football Club (known as "University") | University of Papua New Guinea Oval | Tigers (formerly Bulldogs) | 1975 | 1975- | 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2012 | 2014- | 2014 |
West New Britain Football Club (known simply as "West" or "Wests") | Eagles | 1976 | 1976- (except 2009–2014) | 1979, 1987, 1989, 1991*, 1995, 1996, 1999*, 2007, 2019, 2020 | 2021- | 2023 | |
Lamana Football Club | Dockers | 1996 | 1996- | 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014, 2017 | 2015- | 2017, 2020 | |
Bomana Football Club | Cats | 2008 | 2008- | 2011 | |||
Gordons Football Club | Kokofas | 2013 | 2013- | 2016, 2023* | 2015- | 2019 | |
Gerehu Football Club | Magpies | 2013 | 2013- | 2024* | 2015- | 2015 | |
Gereka Football Club (began as Centrals, later Goroka) | Bombers | 2013 | 2013- | 2023*, 2024* | |||
Alavana Football Club | Hula, Rigo District[19] | Swans | 2020 | 2021-[20] | |||
Port Football Club | Port Moresby Technical College | Powers | 2022 | 2022-[21] | |||
PNG Power Football Club | Hohola (PNG Power Limited) | Power | 2023 | 2023-[22] |
Former clubs
[edit]Club | Home Ground | Nickname | Founded-Folded | Premiers (Men's) |
Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Port Moresby Australian Rules Football Club (known as "Moresby") | Boroko Sports Ground | Swans | 1955-?[23] | 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1968 | Foundation club |
Boroko-Badili Football Club | Boroko Sports Ground | 1955-1970[24] | Foundation club | ||
Defence Force Australian Rules Football Club (formerly Murray Barrack Football Club) | Defence | 1969 | 1975 | ||
Aviat Australian Rules Football Club (Civil Aviation Agency) | 1969 | 1971 | Changed name to Rigo in 1978 and began a cricket club[25] | ||
Goroka Football Club | 1969 | ||||
Elcom Football Club | 1970[5] | Merged with Bomana in 1978[26] | |||
Pacific Islands Regiment Football Club (known as "PIR") | 1970[27] | ||||
Halagu Football Club | 1974 | ||||
Police Football Club | 1976 | ||||
NBC Football Club | 1976 | ||||
Bomana Australian Rules Football Club | Demons | 1976 | Merged with Elcom in 1978[26] | ||
Boroko Australian Rules Football Club | Koboni Ground, Boroko | Demons | 1978 | 1978 | Formed out of the merger of Elcom and Bomana clubs[26] |
Sogeri Football Club | 1963 | ||||
Collegians Football Club | |||||
Taurauma Football Club | Taurama AFL Oval, Pari | Suns, Diggers | 2013 | 2014 | |
Koki Football Club | |||||
Laloki Football Club | |||||
Gulf Isapeas Football Club | Giants (Isapeas) | 2013 |
Men's Premiership results
[edit]Year | Teams | Venue | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1960 | Moresby | ||
1961 | Moresby | ||
1962 | Moresby | ||
1963 | Sogeri def Moresby | [28] | |
1964 | Moresby | ||
1965 | |||
1966 | Moresby def Koboni | ||
1967 | |||
1968 | Moresby | ||
1969 | Koboni 12.7(79) def Moresby 8.6(54) | Attendance: 3,000[29] | |
1970 | Koboni 8.11(59) def PIR 3.8(26) | [30] | |
1971 | Aviat vs Koboni | [31][32] | |
1972 | Koboni 14.10(94) def Aviat 13.10(88) | [33] | |
1973 | Koboni 17.17(119) def Moresby 10.2(67) | [34][35][36] | |
1974 | Koboni 12.4(76) def Moresby 5.4(34) | [37][38] | |
1975 | Defence 8.8(56) def Koboni 4.10(34) | [39] | |
1976 | Koboni 10-14(74) def Defence 9-17(71) | Hubert Murray Stadium | [40] |
1977 | Koboni 9.5(69) def 6.6(42) Moresby | Hubert Murray Stadium | Attendance: 6,000[13] |
1978 | Koboni 12.8(80) def Moresby 4.11(35) | Hubert Murray Stadium | [41] |
1979 | West 26.20(176) def Moresby 14.16(100) | Colts Oval | [42] |
1980 | Koboni def Boroko | [43] | |
1981 | |||
1982 | |||
1983 | Koboni | ||
1984 | |||
1985 | |||
1986 | |||
1987 | West | ||
1988 | |||
1989 | West | ||
1990 | |||
1991 | West drew Koboni | ||
1992 | |||
1993 | Koboni | ||
1994 | Koboni | ||
1995 | West | ||
1996 | West | ||
1997 | Koboni def West | ||
1998 | |||
1999 | West drew Koboni | Attendance: 5,000 | |
2000 | |||
2001 | |||
2002 | University def West | ||
2003 | Lamana def West | ||
2004 | University def West | ||
2005 | Lamana def West | ||
2006 | University 7.7(49) def Moresby 6.3(39) | Colts Oval | [44] |
2007 | Lamana def West | ||
2008 | University 11.7 (73) def Moresby 8.9(57) | [45] | |
2009 | University (60) def Bomana Cats (52) | [46] | |
2010 | Season cancelled due to dispute with PNG Cricket Board | ||
2011 | Bomana 13.13 (91) def Lamana 5.5 (35) | Amini Park | [47] |
2012 | University 8.8(56) def Gordon 3.8(26) | Amini Park | Attendance: 2,000[48] |
2013 | Lamana vs Gordon | Colts Oval | [49] |
2014 | Tuarama 9.5(59) def Lamana 7.11(53) | Murray Barracks Oval | [50] |
2015 | Koboni 8.10(58) def Taurama 8.5(53) | Murray Barracks Oval | Attendance: 3,000[51] |
2016 | Gordon 6.6(42) def Bomana 2.3(25) | Colts Oval | [52] |
2017 | Lamana 9.2(56) def Koboni 7.9(51) | Colts Oval | [53][54] |
2018 | Koboni 5.10 (40) def Lamana 3.6 (24) | Colts Oval | [55] |
2019 | West 16.4(100) def Koboni 3.5(23) | Colts Oval | [56] |
2020 | West (44) def Kokofa Cats (33) | Colts Oval | [57] |
2021 | Season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | ||
2022 | Koboni 4.1 (25) def West 3.3 (21) | Colts Oval | [58] |
2023 | Gordons 5.6 (36) vs Gereka 5.4 (34) | Colts Oval | Tie awarded due to game being halted at half time without winner by spectator violence following an on field brawl.[59][60] |
2023 | Gerehu 10.10 (70) vs Gereka 10.10 (70) | Colts Oval | Tie awarded[61] |
Women's Premiership results
[edit]Year | Teams | Venue | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2014 | University | ||
2015 | Gerehu 3.5 (23) def Lamana 2.0 (12) | [62] | |
2016 | |||
2017 | Lamana 2.1 (13) def Koboni 1.3 (9) | [63] | |
2018 | |||
2019 | Gordon def Lamana | ||
2020 | Lamana def Mix Mates | ||
2021 | |||
2022 | Finallist not declared due to eligibility controversy | ||
2023 | West def Lamana | [64] | |
2024 | Gerehu 2.1 (13) def West Eagles 1-2 (8) |
Sponsors
[edit]- South Pacific Brewery (1975)[65]
- Kellogg's, Mars (2008)
- PNG Super (2009)
- Bank of South Pacific (2011-2013)
- Esiloan (2014-2019)[66]
- Moni Plus (2021-2023)[67]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "PRESENTING PORT MORESBY'S '56 ALL STARS". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 3 September 1975. p. 27. Retrieved 12 July 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b K10 Million for New AFL Stadium in Port Moresby by Emmanuel Maipe 23 January 2023
- ^ "Port Moresby ex-pats kick on after 50 years". 3 March 2014. The Standard. MARCH 3 2014
- ^ "March is wedding time for this family". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 24 March 1970. p. 23. Retrieved 15 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b "New Aussie Rules club gets 60 at training". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 11 February 1970. p. 32. Retrieved 15 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "PIR TROUNCE TIGERS IN GREAT VICTORY". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 22 June 1970. p. 22. Retrieved 15 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Aviat-Koboni to clash in night match". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 16 May 1972. p. 24. Retrieved 14 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Rules season to start with night games". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 3 April 1973. p. 24. Retrieved 14 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "PIR bow out of Moresby rules". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 11 May 1973. p. 52. Retrieved 14 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Advertising". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 18 April 1975. p. 24. Retrieved 8 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Ten sides in PM Aust rules comp". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 30 January 1976. p. 38. Retrieved 14 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "SPORTS BIGGEST CHANGE IN MY 10 YEARS HERE". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 22 December 1976. p. 27. Retrieved 15 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b "Koboni surge to 7th premiership". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 19 September 1977. p. 22. Retrieved 9 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Footy in Port Moresby, PNG by Raitman for The Footy Almanac 3 July 2014
- ^ Three new teams boost AFL comp from The National 13 March 2013
- ^ a b c POM AFL get new gear from donation programme from The National 15 August 2022
- ^ Abandoned AFL oval sits idle by Simon Kelsep for PNG Post Courier 6 November 2019
- ^ POMAFL cancels women's competition by Emmanuel Waipe 3 September 2022
- ^ Hula eyes inclusion from The National 24 July 2020
- ^ Hula team joins POMAFL competition by DONALD NANGOI for the Post Courier. 2 August 2021
- ^ POM AFL Season Proper Starts from Loop PNG 13 May 2022
- ^ PNG Power set to join POM AFL competition from The National 14 March 2023
- ^ Long Taim Stori Bilong Port Moresby Australian Rules Football Club 1955-1975
- ^ "Port Moresby football clubs in trouble..." Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 6 March 1970. p. 46. Retrieved 15 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "AVIAT RULES CLUB CHANGE TO RIGO". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 26 January 1978. p. 17. Retrieved 14 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b c "RULES CLUBS AMALGAMATE IN MORESBY". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 1 February 1978. p. 32. Retrieved 14 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "New club to be formed". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 2 September 1970. p. 32. Retrieved 13 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Sir". Australian Army. Vol. 5, no. 5. Australia, Australia. 5 September 1963. p. 8. Retrieved 15 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Koboni oust Mores to win first Aust. Rules flag". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 11 August 1969. p. 24. Retrieved 9 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Koboni thrash PIR to win Rules flag". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 24 August 1970. p. 26. Retrieved 9 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Aviat win Rules flag KOBONI'S LAST FLING BLASTED". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 6 September 1971. p. 26. Retrieved 9 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Moresby sport in pictures Premiers: Magani, Aviat". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 7 September 1971. p. 22. Retrieved 9 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "1972 rules flag won by Koboni". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 4 September 1972. p. 23. Retrieved 9 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Moresby win rules final against Aviat". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 3 September 1973. p. 26. Retrieved 9 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Grand final action". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 10 September 1973. p. 27. Retrieved 9 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Koboni fly for 4th rules title". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 10 September 1973. p. 26. Retrieved 9 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Defence's first flag". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 1 September 1975. p. 15. Retrieved 13 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Brawl at Aussie rules final". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 26 August 1974. p. 20. Retrieved 9 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Action at the rules grand final". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 1 September 1975. p. 8. Retrieved 9 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Au kicks Koboni to victory in PM rules". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 20 September 1976. p. 27. Retrieved 13 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "KOBONI ARE UNDISPUTED CHAMPIONS". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 18 September 1978. p. 35. Retrieved 9 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Brown key to Wests victory". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 11 September 1979. p. 32. Retrieved 9 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Koboni takes Cup". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 29 September 1980. p. 23. Retrieved 9 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ PNG 2006 - Port Moresby Grand Final wrap and other stories by Brett Northey for World Footy News. 6 November 2006
- ^ Club Premiers 2008 by Brett Northey for World Footy News 1 January 2009
- ^ Club Premiers 2009 by Brett Northey for World Footy News 5 January 2010
- ^ Bomana Cats claw Dockers to lift POM AFL crown from The National 18 October 2011
- ^ AFL Port Moresby BSP premiership decided for 2012 by Michael Christiansen for World Footy News 23 October 2012
- ^ AFL’s day of reckoning from The PNG National. 12 September 2013
- ^ Grand Finals and more in PNG by Michael Christiansen for World Footy News 24 September 2014
- ^ PNG update including Grand Final day in Lae by Michael Christiansen for World Footy news 10 October 2015
- ^ Kokofas run riot over Cats on Grand Final day by Charles Lapumi for Loop 29 November 2016
- ^ After holding off a late comeback from Koboni by DONALD NANGOI 9 October 2017
- ^ Dockers make it two from three by Troy Taule for Loop PNG 9 October 2017
- ^ Koboni new champs of AFL, dethrone Dockers from PNG Post Courier 28 August 2018
- ^ Port Moresby AFL conclude 2019 season from PNG Buzz 8 October 2019
- ^ West Eagles retain crown by Robinson Leka for The National 30 November 2020
- ^ Koboni claim POM AFL premiership by DONALD NANGOI 14 November 2022
- ^ Spectator Violence Mars AFL Grand Final Loop Sports 10 October 2023
- ^ POM AFL decides against a grand final Rematch Emmanuel Maipe 13 October 2023
- ^ A significant Grand final for POM AFL by Fidelis Wasari for The Post Courier 18 August 2024
- ^ Gerehu are AFL queens from The National 30 September 2015
- ^ After holding off a late comeback from Koboni by DONALD NANGOI for the Post Courier 9 October 2017
- ^ Grant stars in POM AFL Grand Final from PNG Post Courier 22 August 2023
- ^ "Advertising". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 5 September 1975. p. 20. Retrieved 8 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Loan firm throws lifeline to AFL PNG from The National 21 April 2014
- ^ Premiers start AFL season on high note from The National 27 July 2021