Australian rules football: A brief history

Australian rules football has now only been recognised as a truly national competition.

After a decade and a half of fighting off the V.F.L (Victorian Football League)

stigma, the A.F.L would be delighted with the last 6 years results.

Let me explain:

Australian rules football was developed by 2 enterprising young men back in

the Mid 1800`s who needed to find a way of keeping the cricketers fitness levels

up during winter.

They came up with what we know today as “Aussie Rules”.

Played only in the State of Victoria initially,in 1897, the Victorian Football League

or V.F.L was born. This competition was the elite of footballers from Melbourne and

surrounding districts.

It was a thriving competition attracting crowds in excess of 60,000 to each of the

6 games played on a Saturday afternoon in suburban Melbourne.

The game spread to the other states of Australia but never had the profile that it

had in Victoria. Elite players from interstate came to Victoria to pit their ability

against the best in the nation.

Interstate carnivals began in the 1950`s but it soon became evident that Victoria

was clearly dominant sometimes winning games by extraordinary amounts.

By the 1970`s this format was changed to allow players to represent the State they

initially came from. This allowed all the elite players from other states that were

playing V.F.L to “Go Home” and represent their own State.

This had a dramatic effect on the Interstate competition and bought renewed interest

from the other States.

The governing body of football decided to relocate one of the V.F.L teams to

Sydney in New South Wales.Hence the South Melbourne Football Club moved

north in 1982.By the late 80`s the V.F.L could see the interest level soaring

from other States and put the wheels in motion to include teams from Interstate,

namely:

West Coast Eagles in Western Australia

Adelaide Crows in South Australia

Brisbane Bears(later Lions) in Queensland.

(Port Adelaide S.A and Fremantle W.A were later inclulsions)

By 2000 the game had gone truly national with a 16 team competition from 5 States.

With West Coast winning 2 premierships (`92 & `94 ) and Adelaide winning 2 (`97,`98)

the revered Premiership Cup had left the borders of Victoria for the first time since

1897.

The V.F.L had changed its name to the A.F.L (Australian Football League) and everyone

grasped the concept except maybe for die hard traditional Victorians.

Of the past 7 Grand Finals played, including 2006 last week, 6 have been won by what

Victorians call “Interstate Clubs”. The last 3 being contested by non Victorian clubs.

Our game has changed, of that there is no doubt. And for the better too.

Just don`t tell too many Victorians that.

Places to visit in Australia – Part 10

This is a report that I had to do for school, and I am very proud of the information I gatherd.

Queensland, (including, Brisbane and Gold Coast):

Australia is known world wide for its nature and different animals. Australia has 7 of the world’s most poisoned snakes, spiders and sharks. The nature and the many activities that Australia has to offer attract millions of tourists to the country every year.

One of the states that attract many tourists is Queensland, with all its different sights, activities and entertainment, there are many different attractions to find in this state, such as; long sand beaches, Rainforests, The Great Barrier Reef, entertainment parks, shopping and much more.

Two cities in Queensland that attracts many tourists from around the world are, Brisbane and Gold Coast.

Brisbane:

Brisbane is the capital city of Queensland and have about 1,5 million people living around the city.

Brisbane has everything that makes an Australian big city, a modern city centre, a river that runs through the city and well planned and built roads.

Brisbane is also known for more reasonable prices and a more relaxed life style, compared to other cities around Australia.

Brisbane has the same variations of entertainment, restaurant choices and shopping possibilities as any major city around the globe.

The city of Brisbane has “exploded” during the last few years, new restaurants and cafes have replaced empty shops, and the arrival of the Treasury casino have changed a sleeping city into a “Bris-Vegas”.

Activities and Entertainment

City Tour, Brisbane River and Kangaroo Point:

While participating in this tour, the history of Brisbane will be told.

This tour provides an overview of the city and surrounding suburbs.

The schedule for the tour is: Kangaroo point cliffs, Historical Newstead House, South Bank Parklands.

Included in the tour is morning tea with an overview of Brisbane River.

Fraser Island:

Information and history, Fraser Island:

The year was 1836, a ship; Stirling Castle was shipwrecked, onboard was James Fraser (the captain) and his wife Elizabeth. They landed on Fraser Island, James Fraser’s life tragically ended on the Island, his wife also known as Eliza survived with help from the Aborigines.

Fraser Island (World Heritage) area is 123 km long and 25 km wide, this makes the island the world’s largest sand island.

Sand:

There is a saying: all sand on Australia’s

Brisbane Hotels: Giving You the Most Arresting Comforts

Peppered over the adjacent regions of the Brisbane River, you have the base of the Brisbane City that appears to be furbished by the much striking Brisbane Hotels. Everything allied to these hotels can be said to be effective enough to set you on the real luxury mode. And you can’t just restrict this luxury to what seems to be apparent in its interiors. This is because in Australia, Brisbane Hotels can be found around the enticing spots such as the Brisbane Forest Park or the South Bank Parklands. So, you can look forward to the exquisite natural décor portraying the rich flora and fauna. Or else you can visit South Bank Parklands and make the move of delving into the in-built markets as well as the amazing Streets Beach.

Coexisting with the sundry attractions that unmistakably catch your eye, there are the amenities, quite explicitly serving your needs, which almost all the 5-star hotels in Brisbane show off in a way that just can’t be ignored by the guests that lodge in them. One of such hotels is the Brisbane Marriott Hotel, whose lush facilities are in every way more than justifiable when they are put side by side to your expectation bending. You can hover inside the Queen Street Mall or ramble over the much-frequented path of the Alice Street or regale yourself with all that can be seen in the Botanical Gardens. Another five star estate for guests is the Sofitel Hotel that can blow your mind by its assured provisions including its restaurant, bar, pleasing room interiors accompanied by anytime TV entertainment and many other things. From this hotel, you can make your way towards the Convention Centre or the discrete city wonders that you can encounter whenever you like.

In the four star assortment, you can find hotels like Citigate King George Square or the Novotel that exude some of the most current designs that look all the more ambrosial when they are joined by the conference spaces, spa facilities and a volley of attractions. Yes, there are attractions in the form of Treasury Casino, CBD, Central Station and others, which readily call you so as to make you all the more acquainted with Brisbane. Moreover, the nearness of these Brisbane Hotels to the airport comprises one of those characteristics, which certainly add on to the preferences of the guests for these hotels.

However, if comfortable residences are not enough to excite you and the symphony of Brisbane tickles your fancy, then you must turn your heels towards The Queensland Performing Arts Complex where you can easily find your ears ringing. For those who like witnessing the peculiar things, the amazing Queensland Museum can be a great option to peek into. Therefore, don’t forget to gaze at all of them and also take a note of them just like you take a note of the hotels in Brisbane.