Australia is a wild place with wild animals such as crocodiles and snakes. It is very unique. But the country also enjoys its share of interesting sports. Noteworthy, some of the sports on this list are unique to the land from down under.
Looking at the seven most popular sports in Australia will be an interesting time while exploring their unique history. Notably, some of these sports have interesting origin stories.
7. Soccer (Football)
Football came to Australia in the 19th Century and has been one of the more riveting sports in the country.
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There are over 14,000 organized football clubs in Australia.
Everyone loves football. Not surprisingly, it is popular in Australia. The sport first made its way to Australia in the 19th century. Since then, the sport has slowly evolved and become a hit in Australia.
There are over 14,000 organized football clubs across the nation. Likewise, the national team made it to the Group of 16 during the FIFA World Cup. It galvanized the nation and made football one of the most popular sports in Australia.
6. Cycling
The origin of cycling in Australia goes back to the 1860s.
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There are more than 450 cycling clubs scattered across Australia.
People love to ride their bikes. Notably, Australia has a good appreciation for the bicycle. There were over 3 million cyclists riding recreationally in 2019. Now, it keeps growing and people love riding as well as watching the sport. Cycling has been around since the 1860s. Also, it is one of the most popular sports in Australia.
5. Cricket
The sport of cricket goes back to 1803, when an organized match occurred.
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There are over 1.5 million registered cricket players in Australia, and it is the most popular summer sport.
Cricket is a sport that has inspired other sports, such as baseball. Its history with Australia goes back over 200 years. The Cricket Australia Annual Report revealed that over 2.4 million people attended live games during the recent season. Therefore, the sport is gaining steam and continues to grow. It is becoming one of the most popular sports in Australia.
4. Swimming
Frederick Lane was the first official swimmer and made history during the 1900 Summer Olympics.
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The record for most attendants during a swimming match was 17,595 on September 16, 2000.
Swimming is one of the most popular sports in Australia. It has been around for over 100 years. Also, people will watch a swimming meet. They certainly did on September 16, 2000.
Frederick Lane was the first swimmer to compete on behalf of the country. He made history when he represented Australia during the 1900 Olympics.
3. Netball
The first reports of netball in Australia happened in 1897.
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There are over 360,000 registered netball players in Australia.
The origin of netball actually started from a misunderstanding of the rules of basketball. Regardless, it is a popular sport in Australia. It also started in Australia almost right after basketball was invented. Similar to basketball, you need to put a ball into a net. The only difference is that there is no backboard. Thus, it makes it more difficult to make the shot. But it is still amazingly popular.
2. Rugby
The origin of rugby in Australia dates back to the 18th century and has been a beloved sport since then.
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There are approximately 770 rugby clubs in Australia.
Many people mistakenly believe rugby is the most popular sport in Australia. Yes, the people love it. But it’s not the most popular sport. Regardless, there are still over 770 clubs in the country, with people forming leagues all over the place.
It was also one of the earlier sports in the country. Significantly, it dates back to the 18th century. People will come out to watch a rugby match. There are so many strategies and rules to behold. Overall, it is one of the most popular sports in Australia.
1. Australian Rules Football
Australian football is similar to American football as the goal is to tackle an opponent before they can cross the goal line.
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The first recorded game of Australian Rules Football happened in 1859.
Australian rules football has been around the country since the 1850s. Coincidentally, American football started right after. But there is almost no correlation between the two sports, other than the fact that people played both games in England.
Australian rules football usually takes place on an oval field, in contrast with the rectangular field that the NFL, NCAA, and high school football leagues use. Australian rules football has a bigger field. Likewise, they also employ 18 players on each side, rather than 11 like American football. Australian rules football also has 20-minute quarters rather than 15.
There are over 25,000 active clubs in Australia. Additionally, there are several leagues across the territories. The love for Australian rules football highlights why it is the most popular sport in the land from down under.
Summary of The 7 Most Popular Sports in Australia and How Long They Have Been Played
| Rank | Sports | Notable Facts |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Australian Rules Football | The first recorded game of Australian Rules Football happened in 1859. |
| 2. | Rugby | There are approximately 770 rugby clubs in Australia. |
| 3. | Netball | There are over 360,000 registered netball players in Australia. |
| 4. | Swimming | The record for most attendants during a swimming match was 17,595 on September 16, 2000. |
| 5. | Cricket | There are over 1.5 million registered cricket players in Australia, and it is the most popular summer sport. |
| 6. | Cycling | There are more than 450 cycling clubs scattered across Australia. |
| 7. | Football (Soccer) | There are over 14,000 organized football clubs in Australia. |
The photo featured at the top of this post is © Cameron-Spencer/ via Getty Images
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