ADOPT AN INTERNATIONAL TEAM

The 2014 Australian Rules International Cup arrives in Melbourne this August and this is your club’s chance to adopt a team.
The AFL International Cup is a key event in the AFL’s International Strategic Plan and helps drive participation and talent outcomes for International AFL affiliates, along with other developing countries. The International Cup concept grew organically from the passion of committed individuals from both Australia and abroad. Running every 3 years the Cup has grown into regular and inspiring event on the AFL Calendar. 
The key feature is no expatriate Australians are eligible to play. Teams comprise solely of amateurs who must be nationals of the country they represent, with all countries/participants bearing the expense of the trip to Australia. 
In 2014 the event will run from the 9th to 23rd August and is being played exclusively in Victoria. It is anticipated that this will be the biggest International Cup to date with over 25 men’s and women’s teams competing. 
In order to truly make this the most successful IC to date the AFL are calling on community football clubs to engage more formally with our international guests. In the past some clubs have been fantastic in welcoming international teams; however in 2014 the aim is to take this further. 
VAFA clubs have an opportunity to host an international team at your club’s training session on Thursday 14th of August. Some clubs will also have the chance to host an International Cup game as a curtain raiser to your seniors’ game on Saturday 16th August. 
The VAFA encourage as many clubs as possible to embrace the event and play host to an international team. Clubs will have an opportunity to leverage and promote, engage with the visiting teams and utilise the AFL Media department for added exposure and any club that hosts a team will go into a draw to win tickets to the International Cup 2014 Gala Function at Crown casino on the 22nd of August 
More information about how you can apply to be a host club is available in the documents below. 
Applications to be a host club close on Friday 14th February.