Australian Rules Football was first played in 1858 between Melbourne Grammar and Scotch College. The modern day AFL has many teams dating bact to this era - The Melboune Football Club is the oldest professional sporting club in the world, being formed in 1860. Other clubs include Geelong (1860), North Melbourne (1869) Port Adelaide (1870) and Essendon (1873).
While Australian Rules Football is only played domestically, there is a growing international competition in countries such as New Zealand, Ireland, Denmark, the USA, Canada and South Africa. Australian Football is popular in Australia due to its fast and exciting style of play, which is far better than the consistent nill all-draws in soccer or the chess style of American Gridiron and rugby.
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