The Philippine Australian Football League (PAFL) has been the proud heart and soul of Australian Rules Football in the Philippines for over twenty years.
Born from a profound love of the game and a desire to build a community far from home, our league has grown from a handful of dedicated expatriates into a vibrant, diverse sporting family. We have always been about more than just what happens on the field; we are about bringing people together, sharing a laugh, and creating a home away from home.
As the sporting landscape in Asia grows, we are stepping into an exciting new era. We are proud to announce our official transition and rebranding into AFL Philippines. This evolution follows the signing of a formal affiliation agreement with the AFL in Australia, marking a monumental structural upgrade for Australian Rules Football in the country.
Honoring Our Foundation
As we take this monumental step forward, we want to explicitly acknowledge and honor every single player, life member, volunteer, and supporter who has been a part of the PAFL since its very conception.
This evolution is not a erasure of our history, but a tribute to it. The thousands of cold beers shared, the hard-fought matches on less-than-perfect grass, and the unbreakable camaraderie built over the last two decades are the exact foundations that made this upgrade possible.
Every individual who ever laced up a boot, blew a whistle, or cheered from the sidelines under the PAFL banner has a permanent stake in this milestone.
Our Journey & Regional Affiliation
For many years, footy clubs across Asia operated in isolation, approaching the AFL individually with limited success. Everything changed when we collectively looked at the bigger picture and united under the banner of AFL Asia.
By establishing a formal, unified framework, much like the highly successful affiliation programs utilized by the USAFL in the United States and AFL Europe, we have opened the doors to a strategic partnership with our head office in Melbourne.
This official partnership moves us onto the regional stage alongside major organizations like AFL China, AFL Japan, and AFL Indonesia.
Most importantly, this affiliation unlocks direct access to crucial resources and development grants from the AFL head office, giving us the structural backing needed to take the game to the next level.
A New National Structure
The transition to AFL Philippines establishes a clear, overarching national governing body for the sport across the entire archipelago. By separating top-tier governance from day-to-day league operations, we have built a framework designed for true scalability:
- The Overarching Body (AFL Philippines): Serves as the official governing entity for Australian Rules Football within the country, handling international ties, securing partnerships, and standardizing the game’s growth.
- The National Team (The Philippine Eagles): Our beloved national men’s team sits directly under AFL Philippines, an alignment that provides formal pathways toward receiving official localized sports funding.
- The Domestic League (PAFL): The historic PAFL brand isn’t disappearing. Instead, it takes its rightful place to the side as our premier domestic competition league.
- Grassroots Scaling: Freeing PAFL from governing duties allows us to expand footy outside of Manila. Under the AFL Philippines umbrella, if regional players down in areas like El Nido or Clark want to establish localized leagues, they have the regulatory freedom and structural blueprint to break away and do so independently.
Embracing the Local Community
While our structure has received a massive upgrade, the underlying values of our club remain firmly rooted in our heritage. Footy in the Philippines is transitioning away from being an exclusively expat-driven pastime into a highly diverse community that caters to everyone.
We firmly believe that local Filipino and Filipina athletes are the absolute future of our club. Our goal is to break down any lingering stigma that you have to be Australian to play this game. At the end of the day, Aussie Rules is simply an incredible, fast-paced, 360-degree sport—and it is open to anyone with the enthusiasm to run around and learn.
Whether you are a seasoned player looking to lace up the boots, a retired expat keen to help with coaching or umpiring, or a social member wanting to join us down at the handlebar to watch a match, there is a place for you in our community.
The rebirth of our league is here, and it is stronger, more inclusive, and better resourced than ever before.
Sulong, AFL Philippines!