The 2002 Australian Football International Cup was the inaugural international Australian rules football tournament held in Melbourne, Australia in 2002.
11 nations participated from around the world and the tournament was officiated by the International Australian Football Council.
Ireland won the tournament, finishing undefeated and victorious over Papua New Guinea in the Grand Final on 23 August at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Pool A Flag Nation Rep team Denmark Vikings Great Britain Bulldogs Japan Samurais Nauru Chiefs Papua New Guinea Mosquitos
Pool B Flag Nation Rep team Canada Northwind Ireland Warriors New Zealand Falcons Samoa Bulldogs South Africa Buffaloes United States Revolution
Group Stage Round 1 PNG 13.11 (89) d. Great Britain 2.2 (14) – Warrawee Park, Oakleigh Nauru 17.17 (119) d. Japan 1.8 (14) – Warrawee Park, Oakleigh USA 7.10 (52) d. Samoa 4.7 (31) – TEAC Oval, Port Melbourne New Zealand 25.13 (163) d. South Africa 0.1 (1) – Trevor Barker Beach Oval, Sandringham Ireland 7.14 (56) d. Canada 4.7 (31) – Trevor Barker Beach Oval, Sandringham
Round 2 PNG 9.15 (69) d. Denmark 3.5 (23) Great Britain 9.11 (65) d. Nauru 8.11 (59) – Elsternwick Park, Elsternwick Canada 4.11 (38) d. South Africa 1.5 (11) Ireland 5.6 (36) d. Samoa 4.5 (29) New Zealand 11.12 (78) d. USA 4.1 (25)
Round 3 Great Britain 7.3 (45) d. Japan 4.6 (30) – Whitten Oval, Footscray Denmark 5.10 (40) d. Nauru 3.9 (27) Samoa 12.15 (87) d. South Africa 1.4 (10) New Zealand 10.8 (68) d. Canada 2.6 (18) Ireland 7.7 (49) d. USA 6.3 (39)
Round 4 Denmark 12.9 (81) d. Great Britain 4.2 (26) PNG 23.9 (147) d. Japan 0.0 (0) Ireland 15.8 (98) d. South Africa 3.3 (21) USA 8.4 (52) d. Canada 1.1 (7) New Zealand 10.10 (70) d. Samoa 5.8 (38)
Round 5 Denmark 10.6 (66) d. Japan 4.7 (32) PNG 13.13 (91) d. Nauru 6.8 (44) USA 20.12 (132) d. South Africa 0.4 (4) Samoa 9.15 (69) d. Canada 0.5 (5) Ireland 4.10 (34) d. New Zealand 3.2 (20)
Standings Group A
Group B
Playoffs Minor Placing deciders New Zealand 3.7 (25) d. Denmark 2.4 (16) Samoa 5.7 (37) d. Nauru 2.8 (20) Canada 6.5 (41) d. Japan 5.2 (32) USA 13.15 (93) d. Great Britain 2.3 (15) – Junction Oval, St Kilda
Grand final Friday 23 August 2002 Ireland51 – 19Papua New GuineaStadium: Melbourne Cricket GroundAttendance: 32,393 Match Report7 9 A.Coomey 3, J.O'Sullivan, D.Burns, L. O'Connor, D.Stynes Alan Coomey, Denis Reidy, Joe Cunnane, Declan O SullivanGoals BehindsScorers Best2 7Peter Melli, John BoskoRex Leika, Peter Melli,
Grand Final was played as a curtain raiser to the round 21 AFL match between Hawthorn vs North Melbourne, so this figure is the total crowd for the match, although not all spectators were inside the stadium at the start or conclusion of the curtain raiser event. Ireland Squad Coach Manager Michael Johnson (C), Neil McFlynn, Donal Boylan, Dualtach Johnson, Barry Denham (VC), Ryan McFlynn, Michael Currane, Fergal Bradshaw, Joe Cunnane, Aaron Flood, Derek Mulligan, Alan Kelly, Denis Reidy, Fergal Killoury, Diarmuid Griffin, Gary Lane, Liam O'Connor, Brian Currane, Declan O'Sullivan, Paul Kiely, John Lack O'Sullivan, Alan Coomey, Emmet Humphries, Declan Cotter, Brian Shortall, Sean McPhillips, Brian Boyle, David Stynes, Damien Burns. Darren FitzpatrickDamien Cassidy Papua New Guinea Squad Coach Manager Navu Maha (C), Jackson Gavuri (VC), Walter Yangomina, John Ropa, Douglas Lai, Vagi Lai, John Bosko, Stephen Keu, Nelson Saroa, Andrew Boko, Abraham Henao, Rex Leka, Overa Gibson, Matthew Mondo, David Gavara, Bruce Sovara, Pepe Kila, Nathan Lowa, Peter Meli, Raymond Rae, Bruce Tandawai, Alphonse Gela, Joe Dau, Peter Maisu, Hendrey Pare, Matthew Bae, Fidelis Kelteri, Patrick Vuluka, Richard Aupae, Joachim Loggha Andrew Cadozow Stanley Tavul Team Lists
Final standings Ireland Papua New Guinea New Zealand Denmark USA Great Britain Samoa Nauru Canada Japan South Africa
All-International Team A 22 player All-International squad was named, however names were unplaced and not allocated to any specific field position.
Player Nation Club Stefan Leyhane Canada Broadview Hawks Erik Krolmark Denmark North Copenhagen Barracudas Mogens Hansen Denmark North Copenhagen Barracudas John Boyle Great Britain West London Wildcats Ben Rees Great Britain Sussex Swans Michael Johnson Ireland Belfast Redbacks Aaron Flood Ireland Midland Tigers Liam O'Connor Ireland Leeside Lions David Stynes Ireland Dublin Demons Yuta Kobayasi Japan Tokyo Goannas Alfred Spanner Nauru Menaida Quinson Cook Nauru Menaida Vince Serci New Zealand Eastern Suburbs Steve Frogatt New Zealand University Mike Seversinsen New Zealand Eastern Suburbs Walter Yandomina Papua New Guinea Enga John Bosko Papua New Guinea Morobe Navu Maha Papua New Guinea Central Overa Gibson Papua New Guinea Gulf Fia Tootoo Samoa Clayton Mikaele Pesamino Samoa Fasitoo-Uta Tigers Mtutuzeli Hlomela South Africa Johannesburg Charley Ellis United States Denver Bulldogs Chad Martin United States Phoenix Scorpions
References
External links http://www.aussierulesinternational.com Australian Football International Cup, 2002 – World Footy News review