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BANFF – As Australian rules football grows in Alberta, one thing remains clear: Banff is at the top of the food chain.
The Banff Bears footy team won the inaugural Alberta 9s Indoor AFL Championship last Saturday (April 12) at the Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre.
In the finals of the mixed six-team tourney, the undefeated Bears knocked aside the Edmonton Wombats 44-26.
“Taking the win today felt really good,” Banff player Douglas Cropper said. “It’s just another victory for the boys and girls of Banff.”
Tilly Lupis, who scored three goals in the finals, dropped a “Banff pride” following the victory.
“It is pretty hectic [on the indoor field], everything moves so much faster, but everyone is in good spirits and everyone is just having fun so it’s not like anything is too serious,” said Lupis.
The fast-paced finals were played in three seven-minute periods. Footy is like a mixture of soccer and rugby, which players score by kicking a ball through goal posts, with goals being worth six points. A ball booted outside of the posts, hitting a post, or tipped by an opposing player, is worth one point.
In the first period, the Bears started on fire, quickly scoring the game’s first 18 points. They led 20-6 after one. The Bears were able to maintain their lead after two, holding a 27-13 advantage, however, intensity picked up in the final seven minutes.
The Wombats made it a game, cutting the Bears’ lead to 11 with a goal and some one-pointers. The Bears didn’t break, though, and countered with a goal and one-point plays. The local team eventually blew open the game, nearly doubling up on points.
“Everyone was really into it today, which is great to see,” said Cropper.
The other teams playing Saturday were the Banff Bisons, Calgary Kangaroos, Calgary Kookaburras, and Calgary Cowboys. Throughout the tournament, players were suiting up for other teams to get in more playing time.
Last season, Banff teams, the Bisons (men) and Bilbies (women) were crowned the Battle of Alberta champions during the outdoor 10s match-ups in the mountain resort town. It was back-to-back wins for the Bisons.
Continuing with the day-long tradition, the 2025 Battle of Alberta takes place May 24 at Sundance Park, formerly known as the Banff rec grounds.
“I’ve had the trophy of Battle of Alberta on my mantelpiece since last year and hopefully it stays there,” Lupis said, with a laugh.
The Bow Valley is well-known for its Aussie population. Though Australia’s most popular sport is still gaining ground in Alberta, the local players said it was great to see more Canadians on the field.
“Our [Banff] teams are mostly 99 per cent Aussie,” said Lupis, “but it’s cool to see the other teams like Calgary has a bunch of Canadians and it’s cool to see them get into the sport. It feels like it’s growing.”
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