Bringing Australian Rules Football to Indonesia

The Jakarta Bintangs Australian Rules Football Club, with the support of the Australian Government, has launched a new program to develop the sport of “Aussie Rules” among Indonesian youth in Jakarta.

“The Australian Government is proud to support this initiative, which will provide a sporting outlet for Indonesian youth and promote our unique game in Indonesia,” said Australian Ambassador to Indonesia and Patron of the Jakarta Bintangs Bill Farmer.

“Learning about this very popular part of Australian culture cannot help but strengthen the extensive people-to-people links that exist between our two countries,” he said.

Former Western Australian State AFL player Chris Bandy is here with the AusAID Australian Youth Ambassador Program to lead a group of Indonesian coaches to set up regular training sessions and games in about 100 schools, involving over 10,000 children and teachers in East and South Jakarta.

“I am looking forward to teaching local kids about our great game,” Bandy who is alumnus of Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta said.

“I really think Indonesian children will love playing Australian Footy - it’s fast, skillful and a great team sport,” he said.

The Indonesian trainers include Boy Sabar who has been a regular member of the Jakarta Bintangs team for a number of years.

“One of the things I really like is the physical nature of the game and the different skills you use, like catching, handballing and kicking,” Boy said.

The Australia-Indonesia Institute, an Australian Government initiative, is providing a grant which will be used to provide training materials, equipment and wages for the Indonesian trainers, helping to ensure the Bintangs can develop a network of local coaches to manage the long-term development of the game.

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