BOW VALLEY – Bison have returned to Banff National Park – and they’re carrying an Australian football with them.
As the first normal summer since 2019 is set to return in a big way, the Banff Bisons men’s team seeks players ahead of the Australian football, also known as footy or Aussie rules, season in Western Canada.
“A background [in the sport] would be helpful, but, of course, anyone is welcome,” said Mitch McLeod, player and co-organizer of the club.
“Come game day, we’re certainly out there to win, so it would be awesome if we could get some talented athletes involved.”
McLeod and Callum Walker, two newly arrived Aussies to the Bow Valley, revived the snakebitten team by the fangs of COVID-19.
The Bisons fell apart during the pandemic with many members and organizers leaving the country in a mass exodus.
“When I arrived in Banff in the first week of December [2021], there wasn’t many Aussies in town, at all, which was a little strange because Banff has been such a hub for Aussies in the past,” said McLeod. “In the last two or so months, there’s been quite an influx of Australians coming back, which is awesome, and I’ve certainly noticed a difference.”
Founded in 2016, the local club joined AFL Canada as the then Bow Valley Bisons. The contact game is Australia’s biggest sport and plays like a mix between rugby, basketball, and soccer.
The goal of Aussie rules is for the team to make its way downfield and score by kicking an oval ball through two goal posts.
“It’s all over Alberta, too, so that’s quite cool,” said McLeod. “It’s a social event. We want to go out and win, but we won’t take it too seriously. We’ll be looking for a bit of fun and hopefully build some relationships and have some fun after the games.”
The tournaments schedule starts May 14, as the Bisons march to the Fernie Cup.
Following that are Bow Valley 10s on May 28; Kelowna Cup on June 11; Stampede Cup on July 9; Lacombe Cup on Aug. 6; and the Capital Cup on Sept. 10
For those interested, contact McLeod by email at [email protected], or through Instagram at banff_bisons.
