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.
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 midweek at Randalls Island (keep an eye on this page to see exactly when the Randalls Island sessions are scheduled!).
For games, we play matches here in NYC, as well as interstate and even internationally! For season 2024, our schedule will take us to Philadelphia, Washington DC, Minnesota, Austin TX, California, and Montreal - as well as right here at home in NYC. 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 interested! How can I join?
We'd love to have you on the team! Send us a message (through Meetup, Instagram, or the New York Magpies website) or just turn up to a training session!
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Midweek training at Randalls IslandRandall’s Island Field #61, New York, NY
Come have a kick with the New York Magpies! Get a taste of Australian Football in a fun and supportive environment.
We hold midweek training sessions at Randalls Island most weeks. This is in addition to our main training sessions, which are at Brooklyn Bridge Park every Monday at 6pm. Some players come to both training sessions each week, some players come to one or the other. Whatever works for your schedule!
Midweek training at Randalls tends to be less structured than Monday training. It is a great chance to work on skills, discuss and practice team structures, and run around on a larger field than we have on Mondays.
Wear athletic clothing that you are comfortable running and jumping in. Many players wear cleats, however normal running shoes are fine too! Bring a water bottle. And if you happen to already own a football, bring it along too!
If you have never been to Randalls Island before, it can be a little daunting to figure out how to get there. Most of our players use the pedestrian footbridge from Manhattan to get onto the island. (It's the "Ward's Island Bridge" on Google Maps). To access the bridge, go to E 102nd St in East Harlem, and walk all the way east (ie all the way towards the East River). You'll see the bridge over the river! The playing fields that we use are all located on the south end of Randalls Island. You can use Google Maps to find the exact field, or there is also a map here. If it's your first time and you're worried about getting lost, send us a message! We can arrange for you to meet some members of the team and walk to the field together.
Our permit is for Field 61 for this training session. Field 61 is over the far east side of the Island - the opposite side to the pedestrian footbridge from Manhattan. Right near the Hell Gate Bridge (the one that looks like the Sydney Harbour Bridge!)
Midweek training sessions at Randalls vary in the day they are held, the time, and the exact field! So check the Event description here on Meetup. For existing players who are registered on the Stack TeamApp, the date, time, and field allocation for each training session is listed in the schedule.
- Midweek training at Randalls IslandRandall’s Island Athletic Field #75, New York, NY
Come have a kick with the New York Magpies! Get a taste of Australian Football in a fun and supportive environment.
We hold midweek training sessions at Randalls Island most weeks. This is in addition to our main training sessions, which are at Brooklyn Bridge Park every Monday at 6pm. Some players come to both training sessions each week, some players come to one or the other. Whatever works for your schedule!
Midweek training at Randalls tends to be less structured than Monday training. It is a great chance to work on skills, discuss and practice team structures, and run around on a larger field than we have on Mondays.
Wear athletic clothing that you are comfortable running and jumping in. Many players wear cleats, however normal running shoes are fine too! Bring a water bottle. And if you happen to already own a football, bring it along too!
If you have never been to Randalls Island before, it can be a little daunting to figure out how to get there. Most of our players use the pedestrian footbridge from Manhattan to get onto the island. (It's the "Ward's Island Bridge" on Google Maps). To access the bridge, go to E 102nd St in East Harlem, and walk all the way east (ie all the way towards the East River). You'll see the bridge over the river! The playing fields that we use are all located on the south end of Randalls Island. You can use Google Maps to find the exact field, or there is also a map here. If it's your first time and you're worried about getting lost, send us a message! We can arrange for you to meet some members of the team and walk to the field together.
Our permit is for Field 75 for this training session. Field 75 is one of the large fields with lights; very close to (underneath!) the RFK Bridge.
Midweek training sessions at Randalls vary in the day they are held, the time, and the exact field! So check the Event description here on Meetup. For existing players who are registered on the Stack TeamApp, the date, time, and field allocation for each training session is listed in the schedule.
