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Port Moresby Australian Rules Football League

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The Port Moresby Australian Football League (also known as the Port Moresby Australian Rules Football League or POM AFL) is the longest running Australian rules football league outside of Australia, founded in 1955.[1] It is Papua New Guinea's most popular league in the sport and for a time in the 1970s shared similar prominence to the Port Moresby Rugby League competition playing to large paying crowds at Hubert Murray Stadium.

Port Moresby Australian Rules Football League
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2023
SportAustralian rules football
Founded1955; 69 years ago (1955)
PresidentDouglas Lai
Divisions4
No. of teams11
CountryPapua New Guinea
HeadquartersPort Moresby
Most recent
champion(s)		Mens: Gerehu, Gereka
Women's: Gerehu
Most titlesMens: Koboni (19)
Women's: Gerehu (2)
Sponsor(s)Moni Plus
Official websitePOMAFL

Port Moresby's Koboni Demons club (founded 1965 it is one of the longest running outside Australia), consisting mainly of players from the Central Province with 19 premierships has dominated the competition along with its major rival West (consisting of players from West New Britain).

The league since the 1980s has struggled for recognition, and following ongoing disputes with Cricket PNG over use of its grounds plays mainly out of Bisini Park Colts Oval - however due to the rapid growth of the sport in 2023 funding was allocated for its re-development to AFL standards.[2]

The POMAFL premiership is contested by 11 clubs with senior men's (10 teams), men's reserves (10 teams), senior women's (6 teams) and junior/colts divisions.

History

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See also: Australian rules football in Papua New Guinea

The league began in Port Moresby in 1955.[1] Initially it was mostly expatriate Victorians, including many from the Warrnambool district working in Moresby at the time, whose numbers rapidly swelled the competition to 8 teams.[3] Port Moresby was one of the founding clubs. Initially the competition maintained a low profile, with rugby league being the main sport for locals in Moresby. Despite having several clubs, other Australian Rules Football leagues in Madang and Lae were more popular. By the end of the 1960s, the Port Moresby league had shrunk to a handful of clubs consisting almost entirely of expatriates.

By 1970, a wave of interest in the sport across the country saw the Port Moresby league grow rapidly. This saw an influx of players to the national capital. With Boroko, Goroka, Elcom and PIR entering the league, it now had 6 clubs.[4][5] An increase in the number of Papuans in the league saw its media profile lift considerably.[6]

In 1972 the league played its first match at the newly developed Hubert Murray Stadium under lights.[7] The match was a success and during the 1970s due the league's increasing popularity, it played a match of the round there at night, drawing large crowds despite charging spectators for admission.[8] Due to the popularity of the games the league scheduled all of its matches at the stadium in 1973.[9] During this period, the league ran A, B and C grades with most clubs fielding a side in all three grades.

In 1975 all matches were played at Boroko Sports Ground.[10]

In 1976 the competition expanded with 3 new sides: Police, NBC and Bomana.[11] By this time, most of the Australian expatriates had left the competition, due to the increasing standard and increased competition with Papua New Guinean nationals.[12]

The league along with the sport across the country, reached a height in popularity in 1977 with the Grand Final that year attracting a record crowd of 6,000 paying spectators to the Hubert Murray Stadium.[13]

Despite booming in the 1970s in the 1980s the sport in Papua New Guinea went into rapid decline following a failed restructure by Australian interests and the POMAFL came close to folding due to withdrawal of funding for the sport at senior level. The league considered radical changes to stay afloat including shifting the season to the summer months to avoid clashes with other sports, primarily rugby league.

The competition expanded to ten clubs in 2013[14] with the addition of 3 new teams.[15]

Due to ongoing disputes with PNG Cricket in the 2010s, the league was restricted from utilising grounds used for cricket. Access to Amini Park for occasional finals matches was granted in the 2010s before the league had to find its own facilities.

While member clubs sell naming rights to local business sponsors the league suffered from inadequate infrastructure, relying heavily on support from Australia.[16] Matches were played at Murray Barracks Oval before settling on its current home in 2019, the Bisini Colts Oval one of its historic homes which was in desperate need of redevelopment due to its degraded surface after funding for its redevelopment was reallocated.[17] The league receives donations of equipment from its affiliation with AFL Queensland.[16]

The league added a women's division in 2022.[16] However the season was cancelled during the finals series due to controversy over player eligibility with clubs fielding star rugby players who had not played sufficient games during the season proper to qualify.[18]

Due to the rapid growth of the sport in 2023 funding was allocated for the re-development of Bisini Park Colts Oval to AFL standards.[2]

Clubs

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Current clubs

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Club Home Ground Nickname Founded Years in men's competition Premiers
(Men's)		 Years in women's competition Premiers
(Women's)
Koboni Australian Rules Football Club Colts Oval Bomini Park, Port Moresby Demons 1965 1965- 1969, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1983, 1991*, 1993, 1994, 1997, 1999*, 2009, 2015, 2018, 2022 2017-
University of Papua New Guinea Australian Rules Football Club (known as "University") University of Papua New Guinea Oval Tigers (formerly Bulldogs) 1975 1975- 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2012 2014- 2014
West New Britain Football Club (known simply as "West" or "Wests") Eagles 1976 1976- (except 2009–2014) 1979, 1987, 1989, 1991*, 1995, 1996, 1999*, 2007, 2019, 2020 2021- 2023
Lamana Football Club Dockers 1996 1996- 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014, 2017 2015- 2017, 2020
Bomana Football Club Cats 2008 2008- 2011
Gordons Football Club Kokofas 2013 2013- 2016, 2023* 2015- 2019
Gerehu Football Club Magpies 2013 2013- 2024* 2015- 2015
Gereka Football Club (began as Centrals, later Goroka) Bombers 2013 2013- 2023*, 2024*
Alavana Football Club Hula, Rigo District[19] Swans 2020 2021-[20]
Port Football Club Port Moresby Technical College Powers 2022 2022-[21]
PNG Power Football Club Hohola (PNG Power Limited) Power 2023 2023-[22]

Former clubs

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Club Home Ground Nickname Founded-Folded Premiers
(Men's)		 Notes
Port Moresby Australian Rules Football Club (known as "Moresby") Boroko Sports Ground Swans 1955-?[23] 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1968 Foundation club
Boroko-Badili Football Club Boroko Sports Ground 1955-1970[24] Foundation club
Defence Force Australian Rules Football Club (formerly Murray Barrack Football Club) Defence 1969 1975
Aviat Australian Rules Football Club (Civil Aviation Agency) 1969 1971 Changed name to Rigo in 1978 and began a cricket club[25]
Goroka Football Club 1969
Elcom Football Club 1970[5] Merged with Bomana in 1978[26]
Pacific Islands Regiment Football Club (known as "PIR") 1970[27]
Halagu Football Club 1974
Police Football Club 1976
NBC Football Club 1976
Bomana Australian Rules Football Club Demons 1976 Merged with Elcom in 1978[26]
Boroko Australian Rules Football Club Koboni Ground, Boroko Demons 1978 1978 Formed out of the merger of Elcom and Bomana clubs[26]
Sogeri Football Club 1963
Collegians Football Club
Taurauma Football Club Taurama AFL Oval, Pari Suns, Diggers 2013 2014
Koki Football Club
Laloki Football Club
Gulf Isapeas Football Club Giants (Isapeas) 2013

Men's Premiership results

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Year Teams Venue Notes
1960 Moresby
1961 Moresby
1962 Moresby
1963 Sogeri def Moresby [28]
1964 Moresby
1965
1966 Moresby def Koboni
1967
1968 Moresby
1969 Koboni 12.7(79) def Moresby 8.6(54) Attendance: 3,000[29]
1970 Koboni 8.11(59) def PIR 3.8(26) [30]
1971 Aviat vs Koboni [31][32]
1972 Koboni 14.10(94) def Aviat 13.10(88) [33]
1973 Koboni 17.17(119) def Moresby 10.2(67) [34][35][36]
1974 Koboni 12.4(76) def Moresby 5.4(34) [37][38]
1975 Defence 8.8(56) def Koboni 4.10(34) [39]
1976 Koboni 10-14(74) def Defence 9-17(71) Hubert Murray Stadium [40]
1977 Koboni 9.5(69) def 6.6(42) Moresby Hubert Murray Stadium Attendance: 6,000[13]
1978 Koboni 12.8(80) def Moresby 4.11(35) Hubert Murray Stadium [41]
1979 West 26.20(176) def Moresby 14.16(100) Colts Oval [42]
1980 Koboni def Boroko [43]
1981
1982
1983 Koboni
1984
1985
1986
1987 West
1988
1989 West
1990
1991 West drew Koboni
1992
1993 Koboni
1994 Koboni
1995 West
1996 West
1997 Koboni def West
1998
1999 West drew Koboni Attendance: 5,000
2000
2001
2002 University def West
2003 Lamana def West
2004 University def West
2005 Lamana def West
2006 University 7.7(49) def Moresby 6.3(39) Colts Oval [44]
2007 Lamana def West
2008 University 11.7 (73) def Moresby 8.9(57) [45]
2009 University (60) def Bomana Cats (52) [46]
2010 Season cancelled due to dispute with PNG Cricket Board
2011 Bomana 13.13 (91) def Lamana 5.5 (35) Amini Park [47]
2012 University 8.8(56) def Gordon 3.8(26) Amini Park Attendance: 2,000[48]
2013 Lamana vs Gordon Colts Oval [49]
2014 Tuarama 9.5(59) def Lamana 7.11(53) Murray Barracks Oval [50]
2015 Koboni 8.10(58) def Taurama 8.5(53) Murray Barracks Oval Attendance: 3,000[51]
2016 Gordon 6.6(42) def Bomana 2.3(25) Colts Oval [52]
2017 Lamana 9.2(56) def Koboni 7.9(51) Colts Oval [53][54]
2018 Koboni 5.10 (40) def Lamana 3.6 (24) Colts Oval [55]
2019 West 16.4(100) def Koboni 3.5(23) Colts Oval [56]
2020 West (44) def Kokofa Cats (33) Colts Oval [57]
2021 Season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2022 Koboni 4.1 (25) def West 3.3 (21) Colts Oval [58]
2023 Gordons 5.6 (36) vs Gereka 5.4 (34) Colts Oval Tie awarded due to game being halted at half time without winner by spectator violence following an on field brawl.[59][60]
2023 Gerehu 10.10 (70) vs Gereka 10.10 (70) Colts Oval Tie awarded[61]

Women's Premiership results

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Year Teams Venue Notes
2014 University
2015 Gerehu 3.5 (23) def Lamana 2.0 (12) [62]
2016
2017 Lamana 2.1 (13) def Koboni 1.3 (9) [63]
2018
2019 Gordon def Lamana
2020 Lamana def Mix Mates
2021
2022 Finallist not declared due to eligibility controversy
2023 West def Lamana [64]
2024 Gerehu 2.1 (13) def West Eagles 1-2 (8)

Sponsors

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References

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  1. ^ a b "PRESENTING PORT MORESBY'S '56 ALL STARS". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 3 September 1975. p. 27. Retrieved 12 July 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ a b K10 Million for New AFL Stadium in Port Moresby by Emmanuel Maipe 23 January 2023
  3. ^ "Port Moresby ex-pats kick on after 50 years". 3 March 2014. The Standard. MARCH 3 2014
  4. ^ "March is wedding time for this family". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 24 March 1970. p. 23. Retrieved 15 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ a b "New Aussie Rules club gets 60 at training". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 11 February 1970. p. 32. Retrieved 15 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "PIR TROUNCE TIGERS IN GREAT VICTORY". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 22 June 1970. p. 22. Retrieved 15 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "Aviat-Koboni to clash in night match". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 16 May 1972. p. 24. Retrieved 14 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "Rules season to start with night games". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 3 April 1973. p. 24. Retrieved 14 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ "PIR bow out of Moresby rules". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 11 May 1973. p. 52. Retrieved 14 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "Advertising". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 18 April 1975. p. 24. Retrieved 8 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ "Ten sides in PM Aust rules comp". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 30 January 1976. p. 38. Retrieved 14 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ "SPORTS BIGGEST CHANGE IN MY 10 YEARS HERE". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 22 December 1976. p. 27. Retrieved 15 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ a b "Koboni surge to 7th premiership". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 19 September 1977. p. 22. Retrieved 9 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ^ Footy in Port Moresby, PNG by Raitman for The Footy Almanac 3 July 2014
  15. ^ Three new teams boost AFL comp from The National 13 March 2013
  16. ^ a b c POM AFL get new gear from donation programme from The National 15 August 2022
  17. ^ Abandoned AFL oval sits idle by Simon Kelsep for PNG Post Courier 6 November 2019
  18. ^ POMAFL cancels women's competition by Emmanuel Waipe 3 September 2022
  19. ^ Hula eyes inclusion from The National 24 July 2020
  20. ^ Hula team joins POMAFL competition by DONALD NANGOI for the Post Courier. 2 August 2021
  21. ^ POM AFL Season Proper Starts from Loop PNG 13 May 2022
  22. ^ PNG Power set to join POM AFL competition from The National 14 March 2023
  23. ^ Long Taim Stori Bilong Port Moresby Australian Rules Football Club 1955-1975
  24. ^ "Port Moresby football clubs in trouble..." Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 6 March 1970. p. 46. Retrieved 15 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  25. ^ "AVIAT RULES CLUB CHANGE TO RIGO". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 26 January 1978. p. 17. Retrieved 14 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  26. ^ a b c "RULES CLUBS AMALGAMATE IN MORESBY". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 1 February 1978. p. 32. Retrieved 14 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  27. ^ "New club to be formed". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 2 September 1970. p. 32. Retrieved 13 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  28. ^ "Sir". Australian Army. Vol. 5, no. 5. Australia, Australia. 5 September 1963. p. 8. Retrieved 15 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  29. ^ "Koboni oust Mores to win first Aust. Rules flag". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 11 August 1969. p. 24. Retrieved 9 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  30. ^ "Koboni thrash PIR to win Rules flag". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 24 August 1970. p. 26. Retrieved 9 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  31. ^ "Aviat win Rules flag KOBONI'S LAST FLING BLASTED". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 6 September 1971. p. 26. Retrieved 9 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  32. ^ "Moresby sport in pictures Premiers: Magani, Aviat". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 7 September 1971. p. 22. Retrieved 9 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  33. ^ "1972 rules flag won by Koboni". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 4 September 1972. p. 23. Retrieved 9 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  34. ^ "Moresby win rules final against Aviat". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 3 September 1973. p. 26. Retrieved 9 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  35. ^ "Grand final action". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 10 September 1973. p. 27. Retrieved 9 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  36. ^ "Koboni fly for 4th rules title". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 10 September 1973. p. 26. Retrieved 9 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  37. ^ "Defence's first flag". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 1 September 1975. p. 15. Retrieved 13 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  38. ^ "Brawl at Aussie rules final". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 26 August 1974. p. 20. Retrieved 9 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  39. ^ "Action at the rules grand final". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 1 September 1975. p. 8. Retrieved 9 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  40. ^ "Au kicks Koboni to victory in PM rules". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 20 September 1976. p. 27. Retrieved 13 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  41. ^ "KOBONI ARE UNDISPUTED CHAMPIONS". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 18 September 1978. p. 35. Retrieved 9 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  42. ^ "Brown key to Wests victory". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 11 September 1979. p. 32. Retrieved 9 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  43. ^ "Koboni takes Cup". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 29 September 1980. p. 23. Retrieved 9 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  44. ^ PNG 2006 - Port Moresby Grand Final wrap and other stories by Brett Northey for World Footy News. 6 November 2006
  45. ^ Club Premiers 2008 by Brett Northey for World Footy News 1 January 2009
  46. ^ Club Premiers 2009 by Brett Northey for World Footy News 5 January 2010
  47. ^ Bomana Cats claw Dockers to lift POM AFL crown from The National 18 October 2011
  48. ^ AFL Port Moresby BSP premiership decided for 2012 by Michael Christiansen for World Footy News 23 October 2012
  49. ^ AFL’s day of reckoning from The PNG National. 12 September 2013
  50. ^ Grand Finals and more in PNG by Michael Christiansen for World Footy News 24 September 2014
  51. ^ PNG update including Grand Final day in Lae by Michael Christiansen for World Footy news 10 October 2015
  52. ^ Kokofas run riot over Cats on Grand Final day by Charles Lapumi for Loop 29 November 2016
  53. ^ After holding off a late comeback from Koboni by DONALD NANGOI 9 October 2017
  54. ^ Dockers make it two from three by Troy Taule for Loop PNG 9 October 2017
  55. ^ Koboni new champs of AFL, dethrone Dockers from PNG Post Courier 28 August 2018
  56. ^ Port Moresby AFL conclude 2019 season from PNG Buzz 8 October 2019
  57. ^ West Eagles retain crown by Robinson Leka for The National 30 November 2020
  58. ^ Koboni claim POM AFL premiership by DONALD NANGOI 14 November 2022
  59. ^ Spectator Violence Mars AFL Grand Final Loop Sports 10 October 2023
  60. ^ POM AFL decides against a grand final Rematch Emmanuel Maipe 13 October 2023
  61. ^ A significant Grand final for POM AFL by Fidelis Wasari for The Post Courier 18 August 2024
  62. ^ Gerehu are AFL queens from The National 30 September 2015
  63. ^ After holding off a late comeback from Koboni by DONALD NANGOI for the Post Courier 9 October 2017
  64. ^ Grant stars in POM AFL Grand Final from PNG Post Courier 22 August 2023
  65. ^ "Advertising". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 5 September 1975. p. 20. Retrieved 8 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  66. ^ Loan firm throws lifeline to AFL PNG from The National 21 April 2014
  67. ^ Premiers start AFL season on high note from The National 27 July 2021
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