The AFL’s latest attempt to establish an international presence by turning its attention towards India is one filled with hope rather than with any guarantee of success. But AFL boss Andrew Dillon’s announcement alongside Anthony Albanese and India’s visiting prime minister Narendra Modi of a long-term plan to open up a new frontier shows the move comes with the right backing, being as much about strengthening ties between India and Australia as growing the game.
The goal is to have more than 100,000 registered participants in India over the noticeably fluid “coming years”, as the AFL formally picks up the ball from the local volunteers and community leaders who have promoted and developed the sport organically. More than 20,000 people have “participated” in Australian rules football since it was introduced in India in 2008, the league said while announcing its plan, leaving plenty of room for growth in the world’s most populous nation.
