is an honour, even if the sport is still largely unknown in China. Hoffman said the players would be put through specific drills in the lead up to the tournament in Australia to ensure they're in peak condition when they take to the field as the China Reds.

The team, however, is facing the same challenges as teams in Australia, and sports of all codes around the world: finding sponsorship. The Chinese men's team at the time of writing was yet to find a sponsor for the trip, but there had been some encouraging signs. With the booming economy, one could only hope that the chance of international exposure may lure potential pundits out of the woodwork.

With the growing popularity of AFL among expats, Chinese players and women, the sport is certainly pointing in the right direction. The AFL community is always on the look out for more players, and they're only too happy to help players develop the necessary skills to fall in love with the sport.