The 2008 AFL International Cup was the most successful Australian Football tournament of its kind ever with over 700 international players and officials, representing 16 countries (plus multicultural challenge teams, Asia, Africa and Tonga). The teams raised over $2.5 million to make the trek down under to compete in this year’s cup and experience the raw emotion and beauty of the greatest game in the world.

There were five new teams introduced to the event - India, China, Finland, Sweden and the Peace Team made up of combined Palestinian and Israeli players. Right from the outset there was a feeling of warmth and friendship that permeated throughout the tournament. The official welcome function took place at the MCG, where AFL legend coach and 150 year ambassador, Kevin Sheedy spoke of our great game and how “This is the sort of carnival that builds bridges, not just throughout Australia, but right throughout the world!".

The countries played five games in ten days and although the early rounds were somewhat one-sided, the final rounds produced the closest games of the tournament with Finland, Sweden, The Peace Team and China recording their first wins ever and South Africa stealing a thrilling one-point victory against Ireland with an after the siren goal to Simphiwe Mbahlo.

The Grand Final of the 2008 AFL International Cup between Papua New Guinea and New Zealand was held at the MCG as a curtain raiser to the Qualifying Final between Hawthorn and Western Bulldogs and produced the highest quality football of the tournament. New Zealand led by 16 points at half time however Papua New Guinea never gave up and hit the front in the last quarter and were 2 points in front when the final siren went. 17 year old Amua Pirika then kicked a magnificent banana goal from the boundary after the siren (his 4^th for the game) which lifted the MCG crowd to their feet and gave the Papuans an 8 point victory after being runners-up in 2002 and 2005.

The 2008 AFL International Cup was a huge success and all 16 countries take home many special memories from the tournament. Many friendships have been made and bridges formed between Australia and the rest of the world. To quote Kevin Sheedy, “The smaller the world gets the more I see other games such as soccer, rugby and American Football, the more I am convinced that we have the greatest game on the planet and we should be sharing it with the rest of the world”

Ireland’s Centre Half-Back, Mike Finn won the Best & Fairest award and Canada’s Scott Fleming and New Zealand’s Richard Bradley won the goalkicking award.