Shorts Rule When Aussie footy is on the box in USA

Shorts rule when Aussie footy is on the box in USA

By LES MUIR, Wagga Wagga Daily Advertiser

AMERICAN women like watching Australian football on cable TV because the players wear such short shorts. That’s the opinion of an expatriate Wagga woman living in California.
Leigh Swansborough left Wagga in 1988 and is now a self-employed massage therapist and personal trainer working in famous Orange Country.

She is also at the forefront of a remarkable movement aimed at getting American women away from in front of the television and out playing Australian football.  While her mother Gloria lives and works in Wagga, Leigh is doing her best to drum up interest in Aussie Rules half a world away. Speaking from California this week, Leigh said Americans did not know exactly what to make of Australia’s national game.

“The reaction to Aussie Rules football is rather mixed,” she said.
“Most people in this country aren’t exactly sure what the game is, and most often footy is mistaken for rugby union.
“Mainstream (USA) doesn’t know the difference between rugby league, union and AFL.
“People do recall men in white lab coats when it comes to AFL but that’s it.”
Leigh admits American women give the sport a closer examination than many men.
“American women who are introduced to the sport find the game very exciting,” she said. “They consider it the ultimate game of Hot Potato.  I’ve been told by many ladies the game has a lot more sex appeal than gridiron. All the ladies love the shorts. Aussie Rules can be seen on cable-direct TV.  You usually pay $12 per month for Fox Sports World channel which not only shows AFL, but NRL, cricket and soccer.  In Los Angeles quite a few pubs have grand final parties as does New York and other major cities.”

Swansborough says American men are usually introduced to the game by an Aussie friend.
“Or by an American friend who plays on a team,” she said.  “The enthusiasm for the game is amazing. Aussie Rules, however, is still a tough sell to the Americans player wise.”

The Yanks actually think Australian football is too rugged, according to Swansborough.
“We don’t really have full contact sports without padding and helmets here,” she said. “A lot of Americans consider rugby and Aussie Rules very rough.  Despite those reservations, Americans were warming to the sport, Swansborough said. “The future for Aussie Rules is looking good for the USA,” she said. “A lot of Aussies and Americans are working hard behind the scenes to make this sport grow.

“Quite a few American players are going over to Australia to play with local clubs for a season or two to gain more experience and knowledge about the game. “My boyfriend Martin has the same plan for 2005, he is dying to play for a local club in Wagga.”

Already clubs in Victoria invite American players to come to Australia and play. “A few scholarships are offered to give Americans a chance to play in OZ,” Swansborough said. “Every year an American player gets to spend three weeks training with Essendon.”