During Grand Final week in 2011, the AFL ran a competition for fans overseas to submit details of their Grand Final party, including photos to help supporters connect for the big game.

Nearly 200 entries were received and the winner was from the tropical setting of Vanuatu where more than 100 expats and locals turned up to watch the big game.

They win a 2011 AFL Premiers Lithograph signed by Cameron Ling and Chris Scott.

Below is their story of the day.

Around 100 people turned up to Moorings Hotel in Port Vila on Saturday 1st October to witness a cracker of a grand final between Geelong & Collingwood.

The event was also a fundraising event for the Vanuatu national U/16 squad who are preparing for the Oceania AFL carnival in December this year.

Faces were painted and traditional Island kai kai (food) was sold before the football action stole the focus.

Everyone reported that the day was a huge success and all are looking forward to turning their focus to the local Vanuatu Grand Final in November and the U/16 carnival in December.

AFL in Vanuatu is in its infancy but thanks to the recent introduction of Australia Network TV throughout the Vanuatu Islands, which features live AFL games every Friday & Saturday evenings, the game is growing an intense following amongst the islanders.

“We are finding that the Ni-Vanuatu people are tremendously suited to the modern fast-paced AFL game and the local league is developing very rapidly. It is only a matter of time before top level clubs turn their attention to Vanuatu as a serious pool of talent for recruiting for their senior sides” said Justin Johnson, AFL Vanuatu’s inaugural  president.