View source for Canada national Australian rules football team

{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2018}}
{{more citations needed|date=November 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2014}}
{{Infobox national AFL team
| name = Canada
| badge = Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg
| union = [[AFL Canada]]
| sponsorname = 
| nickname = ''The Northwind''
| rank = {{decrease}} 11th
| rank date = October 2022<ref>{{cite web | url=https://worldfootynews.com/article.php/2022102316562220 | title=World Footy News World Rankings post 2022 European Championships - World Footy News }}</ref>
| emblem = 
| captain = 
| coach =
| from = 
| caps = 
| top scorer = 
| most tries =  
| pattern_la1 = 
| pattern_b1 = 
| pattern_ra1 = 
| leftarm1 = 
| body1 = 
| rightarm1 = 
| shorts1 = 
| socks1 = 
| pattern_la2 = 
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| first game = [[United States of America national Australian rules football team|United States]] {{flagicon|USA}} 75 – 55{{flagicon|Canada}} '''Canada'''<br />(1999)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldfootynews.com/staticpages/index.php/World_Rankings_Matches |title = Men's World Rankings Matches - World Footy News}}</ref>
| bigwin = 
| bigloss = 
| ic apps = 6 ''(first in [[2002 Australian Football International Cup|2002]])''
| ic best = 5th ([[2014 Australian Football International Cup|2014]])
}}

The '''Canada national Australian rules football team''' represents Canada in [[Australian rules football]]. The men's side is known as the '''Northwind''' ({{langx|fr|Vent du Nord}}) while the women's side is known as the '''Northern Lights'''. 
The national team is selected by [[AFL Canada]] the governing body for [[Australian rules football in Canada]].

Northwind players are selected from the best Canadian-born players from the club teams across Canada.

The team plays in international tournaments, including the [[Australian Football International Cup]] and the [[49th Parallel Cup]].

==Identity==
The Northwind's [[Guernsey (clothing)|guernsey]] has the [[Maple leaf]], the [[floral emblem]] of Canada, in the [[national colours of Canada|national colours]] of red and white.

==History==
[[File:Canadian Cadets Australian Football Team from Sydney Mail 14 August 1912 pg 7.png|thumb|Canadian Cadets Australian Football Team in August 1912]]
The first team to represent Canada in the sport was a junior team aged 18 to 20 known as the "Canadian Cadets" to play a series of internationals against teams from the United States and Australia in 1912.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article160342040 |title=In the World of Sport. |newspaper=[[The Sydney Mail|Sydney Mail]] |issue=5 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=1 May 1912 |access-date=1 October 2021 |page=28 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article209166623 |title=Local and General. |newspaper=[[The Narrogin Observer And Williams District Representative]] |volume=7 |issue=373 |location=Western Australia |date=1 June 1912 |access-date=1 October 2021 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article228855409 |title=News of the World by Our Independent Cable Service. |newspaper=[[The Sun (Sydney)|The Sun]] |issue=560 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=16 April 1912 |access-date=1 October 2021 |page=1 (Final Extra) |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> While the tour itself was unsuccessful and controversial, the team won around half of their matches on their Australian tour.

A senior team formed in 1993 to compete against the [[British Australian Rules Football League]], which it defeated and remained undefeated in successive contests in 1994 and 1995. In its first [[49th Parallel Cup
]] match against the USA Revolution in 1999 it was defeated, after which the match became an annual event. In these early competitions, Australian players residing in Canada were eligible for representation.

The first All-Canadian team was to compete in the 2001 Atlantic Alliance Cup in London. The team lost all of its matches against Great Britain, Denmark, the US and Ireland.

Canada competed in the [[2002 Australian Football International Cup]], finishing 9th. In the [[2005 Australian Football International Cup]] it improved its result, finishing 7th.

At the 2007	49th Parallel Cup at [[Thunderbird Stadium]], [[Vancouver]] Canada posted its first win against the United States.

Canada once again improved at the [[2008 Australian Football International Cup]] finishing 6th.

<gallery>
Image:Scott fleming goal canada 2008.jpg|Canada's Scott Fleming kicks a long range goal against Sweden in the 2008 International Cup
Image:Canada manny matata kicking.jpg|Northwind's All-International ruckman Manny Matata kicking a drop punt
File:Australian_Football_2008_International_Cup.jpg|Canadian player evades a Nauruan opponent
</gallery>

Its first Women's 49th Parallel Cup win against the United States came in 2009.

In the [[2011 Australian Football International Cup]] the [[Northwind (Australian rules football team)|Northwind]] finished 10th.

==Notable players==
Stefan Leyhane, Northwind's Captain (2003–2009) was also the only Canadian recipient of the 2002 International All Star Team.

Northwind's best and fairest player (from the 2005 International Cup) was Paul Loughnane.

Northwind's best and fairest player from the 2008 International Cup was Aaron "Azza" Falcioni.

Northwind had two players named to the 2008 World Team: Emanuel Matata at Ruckman, and Scott Fleming at Forward.

Northwind had one player named to the 2011 World Team: Steve Rutledge.

Northwind had two players named to the 2014 World Team: Nathan Strom and Neil Casey.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-08-22/canadians-irish-head-ic14-world-teams |title = Ireland, Canada dominate International Cup 2014 World Teams| date=22 August 2014 }}</ref>

Northwind had one player named to the 2017 World Team: Eric Klein

==Australian Football International Cup Results==
The [[Northwind (Australian rules football team)|Northwind]] have competed at the [[Australian Football International Cup]] since their first appearance in 2002. The International Cup is a competition where players that are citizens of the countries who are competing are the only players allowed to play (no expatriate Australians are permitted to play, with teams composed solely of amateurs who must be nationals of the country they represent).

In the [[2002 Australian Football International Cup]] the Canada Northwind finished 9th of 11 teams.<br />
Round 1: Ireland 7.14 (56) def. Canada 4.7 (31) - [[Trevor Barker Beach Oval]], Sandringham, Melbourne<br />
Round 2: '''Canada 4.11 (38) def. South Africa 1.5 (11)'''  <br />
Round 3: New Zealand 10.8 (68) def. Canada 2.6 (18) <br />
Round 4: USA 8.4 (52) def. Canada 1.1 (7) <br />
Round 5: Samoa 9.15 (69) def. Canada 0.5 (5) <br />
9th/10th Place Playoff: '''Canada 6.5 (41) def. Japan 5.2 (32)''' <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20040818011915889 |title = International Cup 2002 in Review - World Footy News}}</ref><br />
<br />
In the [[2005 Australian Football International Cup]] the [[Northwind (Australian rules football team)|Northwind]] finished 7th of 10 teams.<br />
Round 1: Ireland 4.7 (31) def. Canada 3.5 (23)<br />
Round 2: Papua New Guinea 5.11 (41) def. Canada 4.3 (27)<br />
Round 3: Samoa 7.4 (46) def. Canada 6.6 (42)<br />
Round 4: Great Britain 3.7 (25) def. 3.5 Canada (23)  <br />
Qualifying Final: '''Canada def. Spain ''' (Spain forfeited).<br />
7th/8th Place Playoff: '''Canada 4.5 (29) def. South Africa 2.6 (18)''' <ref>{{cite web |url=https://worldfootynews.com/article.php/20040818011915889 |title = International Cup 2002 in Review - World Footy News}}</ref><br />
<br />
In the [[2008 Australian Football International Cup]] the [[Northwind (Australian rules football team)|Northwind]] finished 6th of 16 teams:<br />
Round 1: '''Canada Northwind 18.22 (130) def. Finland Icebreakers 0.0 (0)''' - [[Western Oval]]<br />
Round 2: '''Canada Northwind 16.12 (108) def. Sweden Elks 1.1 (7)''' - Ransford Oval<br />
Round 3: Ireland Warriors 4.6 (30) def. Canada Northwind 2.2 (14) - Reid Oval<br />
Finals Round 1: '''Canada Northwind 7.7 (49) def. Japan Samurais 0.3 (3)''' - Walter Oval <br />
5th/6th Place Playoff: Nauru Chiefs 12.8 (80) def. Canada Northwind 7.7 (49) - Ransford Oval <ref>{{cite web |url=https://worldfootynews.com/staticpages/index.php/20080806024752846 |title = 2008 Australian Football International Cup - Results - World Footy News}}</ref><br /> 
<br />
In the [[2011 Australian Football International Cup]] the [[Northwind (Australian rules football team)|Northwind]] finished 10th of 18 teams<br />
Group 6 - Match 1: Canada 2.0 (12) def. by United States 2.3 (15) - Blacktown International Sportspark 2 <br />
Group 6 - Match 2: '''Canada 3.6 (24) def.  Peres Team for Peace 0.0 (0)''' - Blacktown International Sportspark 2 <br />
Division 1 - Group 1 - Match 1: Canada 2.3 (15) def. by Great Britain 6.8 (44) - Blacktown International Sportspark 2 <br />
Division 1 - Group 1 - Match 3:  Canada 3.2 (20) def. by New Zealand 5.9 (39) - Blacktown International Sportspark 1 <br />
Division 1 Semi-Finals: '''Canada 13.8 (86) def.  Japan 2.1 (13)''' - McAllister Oval <br />
9th/10th Place Playoff: Canada 6.4 (40) def. by Tonga 6.10 (46) - Ransford Oval <ref>{{cite web |url=https://worldfootynews.com/staticpages/index.php/IC11_Scores_and_Ladders_Links |title = 2011 AFL International Cup - Scores and Ladders links - World Footy News}}</ref><br />
<br />
In the [[2014 Australian Football International Cup]] the [[Northwind (Australian rules football team)|Northwind]] finished 5th of 18 teams. <br />
Pool C - Round 1: '''Canada 19.5 (119) def. China 0.1 (1)''' - McAlister Oval<br />
Pool C - Round 2: Canada 2.8 (20) def. by USA 8.3 (51) - Ransford Oval<br />
Pool C - Round 3: '''Canada 20.10 (130) def. Sweden 0.0 (0) ''' - Ben Kavanagh Reserve<br />
Division 1 Semi Finals: ''' Canada 9.15 (69) def. France 2.3 (15)''' - Ransford Oval<br />
Division 1 Championship (5th/6th Place Playoff): '''Canada 9.7 (61) def. Tonga 7.6 (48)''' - McAlister Oval <ref>{{cite web |url=https://worldfootynews.com/staticpages/index.php/IC14_Results_and_Ladders |title = 2014 AFL International Cup - Results and Ladders links - World Footy News}}</ref>

==2005 International Cup squad==

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
! Player || Club
|-
| Brown, Rohan || [[Toronto Downtown Dingos]]
|-
| Buczkowski, Chris || Toronto Downtown Dingos
|-
| Burkin, Jeff || [[Red Deer Magpies]]
|-
| Butcher, Mike || Toronto Downtown Dingos
|-
| Cunning, Chris (VC) || Toronto Downtown Dingos
|-
| Dimacakos, Anastasios || [[Toronto Eagles (Australian rules football)|Toronto Eagles]]
|-
| Dimacakos, George || Toronto Eagles
|-
| Duffy, Kevin || [[Lakeshore Rebels]]
|-
| Duffy, Sean || Lakeshore Rebels
|-
| Enright, Austin ||  Victoria Lions
|-
| Falcioni, Aaron || Toronto Eagles
|-
| Holmes, Clayton || [[Etobicoke Kangaroos]]
|-
| Kidd, Matt || Red Deer Magpies
|-
| Lagan, Adrian || [[Calgary Kangaroos]]
|-
| Leyhane, Stefan (C) || [[Broadview Hawks]]
|-
| Logel, Greg || [[Guelph Gargoyles]]
|-
| Loughnane, Paul || [[Mississauga Demons]]
|-
| McElwain, Rob || [[Windsor Mariners]]
|-
| McLean, Kevin || Broadview Hawks
|-
| Minaker, Kevin || Toronto Eagles
|-
| Mintz, Richard || Broadview Hawks
|-
| Moussadji, Yoni || Toronto Downtown Dingos
|-
| Muller, Phil || Etobicoke Kangaroos
|-
| Nisker, Andrew || Toronto Downtown Dingos
|-
| Parks, Jason || [[Arizona Hawks]]
|-
| Paterson, Adam || Etobicoke Kangaroos
|-
| Robinson, Jason (DVC) || Etobicoke Kangaroos
|-
| Siddiqui, Adam || Lakeshore Rebels
|-
| Simnett, Dale || Mississauga Demons
|-
| Smith, Darrell || Red Deer Magpies
|-
| Tumak, Ken || Windsor Mariners
|-
| Tumber, Dave || Etobicoke Kangaroos
|-
| Van Gelder Mark || Toronto Eagles
|-
| Wells, David || Toronto Downtown Dingos
|-
| White, Chris || Victoria Lions
|}

==See also==
*[[AFL Canada]]
*[[Australian Rules Football in Canada]]
*[[Australian Football International Cup]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20051226000101/http://www.aflcanada.com/northwind/about_northwind.php AFL Canada – Northwind]

{{Aussie Rules in Canada}}
{{Australian Football International Cup}}
{{National sports teams of Canada}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Northwind (Australian rules football team)}}
[[Category:Australian rules football in Canada]]
[[Category:National Australian rules football teams|Canada]]
[[Category:Men's national sports teams of Canada|Australian rules football]]