AFL Toyota Premiership 2011

Australian football is a relatively new sport on the subcontinent, with the game only recently gaining a foothold.

But the foundation was laid in November, 2000, when former Melbourne player and Victorian politician Brian Dixon, secretary General of the Asiana Sport for All Association, approached the promoter of India’s traditional game, Kabaddi.

Two-and-a-half years later, Dixon finally convinced the Indians that footy had a future there and the Minister of Sports, Government of West Bengal, Kolkata University and the YMCA jumped on board.

India fielded its first national side to compete in the 2008 International Cup. Most players had been playing the game for less than 12 months.