Michael Ryan
Rotary Club of Strathfield
Guest Speaker on Wednesday 10 July 2002
"Australian Gridiron Football"
Michael has represented
Australia in this sport as a player and coach, although he comes from a
Rugby Union and Rugby League background. He informed us that Gridiron
Football is a growing sport in Australia, being represented in every
state. The national team’s name is "The Outback", but there are 80 teams
nationwide. The Australian senior team in the World Cup came 5th
(there were six competing countries) and Japan won. All Gridiron in Oz
is amateur, including coaches. The number of players in Australia is
about 4,000. The sport evolved from Union in 1875 and Michael tells us
that it is such a dangerous sport that the huge, typifying ‘armour’ that
the players wear is absolutely necessary and was introduced into the
Australian game in 1984. As Gridiron is a summer game, it is not just
yet posing a threat to entrenched football codes, nor is it intended to,
according to Michael. "We are just trying to provide an alternative for
Australian youngsters," he suggested.
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