Australian rules football in Nauru
| Australian rules football in Nauru | |
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Football being played at the Linkbelt Oval
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| Country | Nauru |
| Governing body | Nauru Australian Football Association |
| National team | Nauru |
| First played | 1930s |
| Registered players | 680 (total) 180(adult) 500 (junior) |
| Clubs | 12 |
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National competitions
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Audience records
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| Single match | 3,000 (1999). Menaida vs Panzer. NAFA Grand Final. Linkbelt Oval, Aiwo. |
Australian rules football in Nauru dates back to the 1930s and quickly established itself, along with weightlifting as the national sport of the country.
The overall participation rate of over 30% is the highest for the sport in the world.
The football league system consists of one national league, run by the Nauru Australian Football Association (NAFA), based in the Linkbelt Oval, the country's only active stadium. The surface of the oval is crushed phosphate dust.
An interim Nauru Australian Football League (NAFL) has established after two workshops has been held under the Ministry of Sports led by Honorable Minister for Sports, Justice, & Health Mr Matthew Batsiua MP.
The Interim new Board Executives for NAFL elects Mr Roy Harris, Former Lions full back Player as the new President, football administration elects youth advocator a female to be part of the NAFL, Ann Hubert as Secretary others former interim president of NAFA Mr David Dowiyogo, and other passionate members Fidelis Amwano, Samuel Grundler and Andy Cain are all elected by community groups.
Australian rules was first played by Nauruan schoolchildren in the 1930s in schools in Victoria, Australia. Among these schoolkids was Hammer DeRoburt. Schools in Geelong and Melbourne in Victoria were popular destinations of Nauruan schoolchildren of secondary-school age.
After DeRoburt left Australia, he headed back to Nauru with a couple of friends and popularised the sport in his hometown.
Nauru's president Marcus Stephen played for the local Aces team before going on to win multiple medals in Olympic weightlifting which also became a popular sport in Nauru.
In 2006 games in the NAFA final Series was stopped by the Minister for Sports after thugs, hooligans and bullies violated rules of NAFA.
New clubs participating in the competition are BOE Lions, Ace Magpies and Anibare Dockers.
According to 2007 AFL International Census figures there are around 180 players in the Nauru senior competition and 500 players in the junior competition, representing an overall participation rate of over 30% for the country.
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