What we’re about
Play Australian Football in NYC!! The New York Magpies are an inclusive, welcoming, and fun Aussie Rules team here in the city, and we are always looking for new players.
Season 2025 is already underway, however it is not too late to join!
In addition to our regular Monday training and local Saturday matches that are posted here as events on Meetup, our other upcoming matches include:
- June 7 in Philadelphia
- July 12 in Montreal (Canada). This is a really fun women's tournament where we will play 2-3 matches.
- August 2 in Washington DC
- August 16 in Boston
- September 6 in Washington DC. Another women's tournament! We will play 2 matches.
- October 18-19 in Tucson AZ. This is our National Championships - the culmination of our season! We will play 4-5 matches over Saturday and Sunday.
New players are welcome and encouraged to participate in matches and tournaments! Even if you have never played before.
For more detailed information about the club, including our schedule, check out our season guide.
What is Australian Football??
Australian Rules Football, or AFL (Australian Football League), is one of the most popular sports in Australia. It is a fast-paced, exciting sport that incorporates elements of soccer, rugby, Gaelic football, basketball, and more. Players get to run; jump; kick, catch, and bounce the ball; and tackle. Check out this video to see more about this incredible sport!
When and where do the Magpies play?
Our season runs from March to October. We train every Monday evening at Brooklyn Bridge Park; and sometimes we also run special weekend skills and fitness sessions at Columbus Park on the Lower East Side (keep an eye on this page to see exactly when the extra sessions are scheduled!).
For games, we play matches here in NYC, as well as interstate and even internationally!
Most of our local matches here in NYC will take place in April and May.
The season culminates in the National Championships in October - a 2-day tournament featuring teams from all over the United States. This year, Nationals will be held in Tucson AZ.
Throughout July, August, and September, our schedule will also take us to Philadelphia, Washington DC, Boston, and Montreal. Don't worry though - it's not compulsory to attend EVERY match! We know that New Yorkers lead busy lives. Even if you can't commit to every match, training session, and road trip, we would still love to have you on the team.
Is footy just for women, or can men join too?
The New York Magpies have a Mens team, and a Womens team. We are an inclusive and diverse footy club, and players are welcome to play for whichever team best aligns with their gender identity. The Mens and Womens teams strongly value and respect one another, and we do a lot of training and social activities together.
Do I need to have footy experience to join the team?
No! Beginners are always welcome. Australian Football is a really fun sport to learn!
Do I need to be Australian??
No! The New York Magpies welcome a mix of Aussies, Americans, and everything in-between.
Would I need any special clothing or equipment to join the team?
Not really. For training, you should wear athletic clothing that you're comfortable running and jumping in, and bring along a water bottle. Most players wear "football boots" (cleats) but it's fine to play in runners, too. If you're joining us for games, you will need your own mouthguard, and black shorts+socks.
I'm maybe more interested in the social side of things than the footy side of things.....
Fantastic! We have a robust social and events roster as well. ;-) We are proud to partner with Old Mates Australian pub (in the Seaport district of Manhattan) which is a great spot to enjoy good food, good drink, and good sports on the big screen (AFL, cricket, etc). The footy club is a great way to meet a bunch of awesome new friends.
I'm interested! How can I join?
We'd love to have you on the team! Send us a message (through Meetup or Instagram) or just turn up to a training session!
