STEPS are being taken to set up an Asian branch of the Australian National Football League following a match between teams from Hongkong and Tokyo at Stanley Fort on Sunday.
The distinctively Australian game which is a fusion of rugby, Gaelic football and soccer, draws big crowds domestically and has developed bands of devoted followers in the US and England.
But the game is virtually unknown in Asia and followers of the code in Hongkong, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia are eager to lift its profile.
The first step in this direction is planned for next year when a two-day carnival is planned in Hongkong.
Aussie Rules stalwart and founding member of the Hongkong Dragons team, Bruce Brown, is confident the game has a future in Asia.
''If we can get the carnival off the ground here next year featuring all the Asian teams in the area we would have good grounds to set up an Asian Association and seek support and funding from the Australian national body,'' said Brown.
