AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon will travel to India this weekend as the league looks to build a stronger presence in one of the world’s largest and fastest growing sporting markets.
The week-long visit forms part of the AFL’s longer-term international strategy, with India increasingly viewed as a place of real opportunity for the code. During the trip, Dillon will meet sports commissioners and business leaders before heading to Ranchi for the AFL India National Championships.
Australian rules football has been developing quietly in India for more than a decade. What began in 2008 with around 150 players has grown into a nationwide program involving more than 20,000 participants across 11 states. This year’s national championships are expected to feature about 250 male players alongside more than 45 women, reflecting steady growth in both scale and participation.
The championships in Ranchi are a focal point of the visit, offering a snapshot of how the sport has taken root far from its traditional heartlands. They also underline how organised competition has become central to sustaining interest and building pathways for players and officials.
Beyond participation numbers, the AFL sees broader value in its Indian engagement. Sport is viewed as a shared language that can support cultural exchange and diplomacy between Australia and India, particularly as ties between the two countries deepen across education, business and migration.
The Indian diaspora in Australia is another area of focus, with the league identifying it as an important audience. As connections between communities continue to evolve, Australian rules football is being positioned as one way to bring those worlds closer together.
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