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A Great Britain player manages to get a kick away despite being tackled by a Nauruan opponent during the 2008 Australian Football International Cup

The Great Britain national Australian rules football team is known as the British Bulldogs. The team is made up of the best British born players selected from the clubs of AFL Britain affiliated competitions in both England, Wales and Scotland. Generally professional AFL players (such as in Brad Moran and Will Thursfield) are ineligible due to either learning the game in Australia or not being released by their respective clubs.

The Bulldogs are currently searching for a new coach after former coach Charlie Kielty resigned in June 2009. Charlie took over from Matt Connell after the 2005 exhibition match at the Oval.

[edit] Identity

The Bulldogs wear the colours of the union jack, with the emblem of the bulldog (a national icon of toughness and associations with Winston Churchill).

[edit] History

The Bulldogs have participated in the Australian Football International Cup held in Melbourne finishing 6th in both 2002 and 2005 as well as the Atlantic Alliance Cup in 2001.

In October 2005, the Bulldogs played against Ireland in a curtain raiser at the West Coast Eagles vs Fremantle exhibition match at the Oval in London.

In October 2006, the Great Britain vs Ireland fixture was repeated before the Geelong Football Club vs Port Adelaide Power match. Although defeated once more by an opposition primarily composed of seasoned gaelic football player, the development of the squad continues and there are many encouraging signs of improvement in the British game.

2007 saw the team travel to Ireland to take on the Irish side, traditionally seen as the strongest nation outside of Australia,^{[citation needed]} on their home turf. The victory saw them dubbed as the unofficial European Champions.

In 2008 the highly improved team were considered by some to be a chance for the finals of the International Cup, however their defeat at the hands of Nauru (who they had beaten by a goal in 2005) put them out of contention.

[edit] Notable Players

Great Britain's Best and Fairest player at the 2001 Atlantic Alliance cup was Tyrone Hallam. The Bulldog's Best and Fairest player at the 2005 International Cup was Vincent Carey. The squad is captained by Johnathan Boyle, a regular player for the West London Wildcats.