Great Britain men's national Australian rules football team


The Great Britain men's national Australian rules football team is known as the Great Britain Bulldogs. The team is made up of the best British born players selected from clubs of in England, Wales and Scotland, and occasional appearances from British players playing for clubs in Australia.
As well as regular international friendlies, the team has played in every Australian Football International Cup since its inception in 2002.
They also compete at the triennial AFL Europe Championship, winning the 2016 edition in London after beating the Irish Warriors 7.9 to 4.5.
The Great Britain women's national Australian rules football team are called the Great Britain Swans.

History

The Great Britain Bulldogs played their first international on 2 October 1993 against Canada in Toronto.
They competed at the 2001 Atlantic Alliance Cup, recording wins over Canada and eventual runners-up Denmark. Great Britain's Best and Fairest player was Tyrone Hallam.
In 2002, the Great Britain Bulldogs competed at the first ever Australian Football International Cup in Australia, finishing sixth. Three years later they also finished sixth at the 2005 tournament.
In October 2005, the Bulldogs played against Ireland in a curtain raiser at the West Coast Eagles vs Fremantle exhibition match at the Oval in London. After this match head coach Matt Connell handed over the coaching role to Charlie Kielty.
In October 2006, the Great Britain vs Ireland fixture was repeated before the Geelong Football Club vs Port Adelaide Power match.
After coach Charlie Kielty resigned in late 2009, Mark Pitura became had coach, with Rob Fielder as assistant. The first test was against a travelling Denmark Vikings squad, which resulted in an 11.10 to 9.9 win for the Bulldogs on Putney Heath, London.
In 2010, the squad competed in the inaugural European Championships in Denmark and Sweden. The squad achieved a credible 4th place, losing out to losing finalists Denmark in the group and co-hosts Sweden in the qualification final. Three Bulldogs were named in the Team of the Tournament. These players were Adam Bennett, Martyn Hinchey and Gareth Blackstaffe-Turner.
At the 2011 International Cup, Paul Harris from the Putney Magpies captained the squad to a seventh-place finish. Brendan McGeever, Ian Mitchell and Paul Francis served as vice-captains.
A marked improvement in performance culminated in a fantastic performance at the 2013 AFL Europe Championships, where the squad finished as runners-up to hosts Ireland.
In 2014 the Bulldogs once again travelled to the AFL International Cup and were placed in Pool A alongside Ireland, Nauru, Fiji, France and Indonesia. Victories over France and Fiji were achieved and Great Britain finished 9th overall, defeating Fiji 5.7 to 2.7 in the Qualification Final.
2016 was a successful year for the Bulldogs as they became champions of Europe for the first time. The bulldogs defeated Ireland 7.9 to 4.5. Six players made the team of the tournament. These were Luke Booth, Marc Cashman, Jack Coughlan, Myles Hudson, Michael Sharp and Andrew Walkden.
At the 2017 version of the AFL International Cup, Will Worthington captained the squad and was assisted by Luke Booth and Sean Walton as Vice-Captains. The Bulldogs finished in a joint-highest position of six.
As of February 2018, Ross Denton, formerly of Birmingham University and currently playing for the North London Lions, was appointed captain of the Great Britain Bulldogs.

International competition

International Cup

AFL Europe Championship

Results (2010-present)

2010

DateOppositionForAgainstVenueWinnerStatus
01/08/2010Finland 11.16 1.2 Stefan Boldklub, CopenhagenGreat BritainAFL Europe Championship
03/08/2010Iceland 11.20 4.12 Stenvadskolen, FarumGreat BritainAFL Europe Championship
05/08/2010Denmark 5.5 10.11 Stenvadskolen, FarumDenmarkAFL Europe Championship
07/08/2010Sweden 3.11 5.9 Limhamnsfältet IP, MalmöSwedenAFL Europe Championship

2011

DateOppositionForAgainstVenueWinnerStatus
03/04/2011Ireland 8.6 8.11 IrelandIrelandInternational Friendly
23/06/2011Ireland 5.6 11.6 LondonIrelandInternational Friendly
13/08/2011East Timor 10.10 0.0 Blacktown International Sportspark, SydneyGreat BritainAFL International Cup
13/08/2011Ireland 1.0 8.6 Blacktown International Sportspark, SydneyIrelandAFL International Cup
15/08/2011Canada 6.8 2.3 Blacktown International Sportspark, SydneyGreat BritainAFL International Cup
17/08/2011New Zealand 0.2 15.10 Bruce Purser Reserve, SydneyNew ZealandAFL International Cup
24/08/2011South Africa 2.3 7.9 Ransford Oval, MelbourneSouth AfricaAFL International Cup
26/08/2011Denmark 8.12 3.3 McAllister Oval, MelbourneGreat BritainAFL International Cup

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

DateOppositionForAgainstVenueWinnerStatus
14/08/2016Sweden 18.17 1.1 Motspur Park, LondonGreat BritainAFL Europe Championship
16/08/2016Ireland 4.16 6.5 Motspur Park, LondonIrelandAFL Europe Championship
18/08/2016Germany 18.14 0.5 Motspur Park, LondonGreat BritainAFL Europe Championship
20/08/2016Ireland 7.9 4.5 Motspur Park, LondonGreat BritainAFL Europe Championship
24/09/2016Netherlands 15.8 3.1 Battersea Park, LondonGreat BritainInternational Friendly
22/10/2016Ireland 10.11 12.6 Dublin, IrelandGreat BritainInternational Friendly

2017

DateOppositionForAgainstVenueWinnerStatus
19/05/2017Canada 15.19 0.0 Motspur Park, LondonGreat BritainLondon Footy Carnival
06/08/2017South Africa 9.11 4.4 McAllister Oval, MelbourneGreat BritainAFL International Cup
09/08/2017Canada 2.6 5.3 St. Francis Xavier College, OfficerCanadaAFL International Cup
12/08/2017Ireland 8.7 9.16 Koornang ParkIrelandAFL International Cup
15/08/2017Fiji 8.8 3.9 McAllister Oval, MelbourneGreat BritainAFL International Cup
18/08/2017Nauru 5.2 8.5 McAllister Oval, MelbourneNauruAFL International Cup

2018

DateOppositionForAgainstVenueWinnerStatus
25/08/2018Netherlands 9.17 6.1 Sir Joseph Hood Memorial Field, LondonGreat BritainInternational Friendly