First of all Australian Football is not Rugby!
The Finland Australian Football League was founded with the vision of bringing the great game of Australian Football to Finland. It started from small beginnings in Helsinki with a group of mates getting together to have a kick. This soon spread from the grass roots level with Fins, who had experienced the game in Australia whilst on there travels starting it up in Salo. This formed the first league games in Finland and the combined teams represented Finland as the Finland Lions in tournaments against Sweden as well as representing in the EU Cup.
The FAFL now oversees the running of the Finnish Australian Football League, which comprises of three teams and the selection of the Icebreakers, Finland's national team.
The FAFL is looking to build knowledge of the game and development in Finland as we firmly believe that Australian Football is the greatest team sport in the world, with it's fast paced action, skill and fitness required, ability to unite people and build great long lasting relationships and strong spectator appreciation.
Come and join us today and give Australian Football a go!
The Icebreakers
The Finland Icebreakers are the representative Australian Rules Football Team of Finland.
Finland Icebreakers at the 2009 EU Cup in Samobor (Croatia)
The Finland Icebreakers are the representative Australian Rules Football Team of Finland.
The Finnish Lions in 2006, and the Finland Icebreakers from 2007 onwards, won the Central European AFL Championships. For the record, it can be said that the Lions' first home game on May 13, 2006 has been claimed as the northernmost international game of Australian rules ever played, being hosted in Helsinki, the northernmost capital of Europe. (First run of the Baltic Cup against Sweden).
In the European continent, the Finland Icebreakers also appeared in the 2007, 2008 and 2009 EU Cups (Finishing 6th, 5th and 8th). The Icebreakers will also represent Finland in the first full Australian rules format competition in Europe, the Euro Championships during the first week of August 2010 in Sweden and Denmark. Then in October 2010, the Icebreakers will make there fourth appearance at the EU Cup in Milan for the 9 a side format European championships of the game.
In 2008, Finland went to Australia to participate in the 3rd International Cup held in Warrnambool and Melbourne, Victoria. The Finns finished 14th out of the 16 competing nations, losing their first four matches, but then defeating fellow debutants India in their final game of the tournament. A good experience as it was the first time many of the players had played the full 18 a side format of the game and on the big oval grounds that the game is traditionally played on. In 2011 the Icebreakers will again be heading to Melbourne for the ultimate in world footy, IC Cup 2011.
The Icebreakers is fully self funded by playing members receiving no financial support from government or major sponsors. With an absolute passion for AFL and national pride, the team is dedicated and united through mateship and Sissu.
Finland Icebreakers entering Telstra Dome, Melbourne Australia with a crowd of 60,000
spectators for the march of the nations in the 2008 IC Cup
The Finnish National League
In 2008, the local Finnish Australian Football League was created with three teams, the Helsinki Heatseekers, the Espoo Roos, and the Salo Juggernauts. The Helsinki Heatseekers finished 1st for this first edition of the league.
In 2009, the Turku Dockers joined the league and the Roos went to play with the Heatseekers because of a lack of players. The Turku Dockers capped off a fairy-tale debut year by beating the Helsinki Heatseekers by 4 goals in the first ever grand final in the FAFL. Turku will defend its premiership in 2010!
Turku Dockers after 2009's Grand Final