Australia is a nation built on rich sporting traditions. The Rugby Union team often performs well on the international circuit, the cricket team has dominated world cricket for specific periods, and the AFL has its spot. These are all established sports in the country, so what about some new sports?
Building a sport can be tough, in many ways the growth needs to be organic, while you need fans who genuinely care, commercial opportunities like advertising or even extending the game through things like allowing betting on offshore sportsbooks, plus it helps if everyone can just pick up and play at home too. So which sports are growing?
Socceroos and Matildas lead charge for football popularity
The Socceroos were in the doldrums of world football, in a systemic half-life of outclassing the Oceania confederation but not being prepared to take on the rest of the world. However, they’ve changed all that. The men’s football team are now readily competing in the FIFA World Cup, notably qualifying from the group stage of the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
Their female counterparts aren’t that bad, either. The Matildas boast an exceptional roster of world-class players who represent top-tier football. Steph Catley, Sam Kerr, and Hayley Raso are just a selection of the current crop. The team put on a fine display in the 2023 World Cup, reaching the semi-final on home soil.
Given the two national teams’ performance, more Australians are taking notice and watching them play. Some might even use the wealth of soccer markets to bet to heighten the drama further.
The national association now needs to convert the popularity of the national teams into the A-League, as both the men’s and women’s league divisions can struggle to attract spectators and viewers.
NBL improvement helps interest
Basketball is very much an American pastime. However, that doesn’t stop other nations from investing in the sport with infrastructure and the means to excel at it. The National Basketball League, or NBL, is steadily proving its worth in the broader basketball world.
Proof that the NBL is developing is validated by NBA franchises signing up Australian youth players. Josh Giddey only spent one season with the Adelaide 36ers (his debut season) before the Oklahoma City Thunder snapped him up. Patty Mills, Dante Exum, and Josh Green were all born in Australia, but they are now plowing their trade in the US.
However, the locals also want to see quality in their league; now, it is common for NBA players to turn up in the NBL. Derrick Walton, Jaylen Adams, and Tacko Fall play in the Australian league after experiencing the highest level of basketball in the NBA. With these superstars now in their league, some may be wagering on them to score multiple free throws in sports pursuits.
Suncorp Super Netball attracts more people than ever.
In 2024, multiple sources stated that Suncorp Super Netball became Australia’s most-attended women’s sport. The consistent average crowd of around 6,000 people tallied up the spectator figures. However, over 9,900 turned up to the Grand Final to watch the Adelaide Thunderbirds defeat the Melbourne Vixens, which helped validate the investment made by the league organizers.
It also helps that Australia is very good at Netball. The team won the 2023 World Cup, making them the most decorated nation in the sport, with 12 titles to their name already. Betting on Australia to win will not only be profitable but enjoyable!
Surfing – a sport or just a coastal pastime?
Sometimes, focusing on a sport can help its appeal. Surfing had that focus in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (held in 2021, mainly behind closed doors). Owen Wright was one of the four surfers sent on the Australian team and the only one to bring home a medal as he won the bronze medal on the coast of Chiba, giving a spotlight to the sport – in turn, getting more excellent media coverage to the World Surf League and other competitions.
This interest in the sport paid off. Three years later, in the 2024 Olympics, Jack Robinson, another Australian surfer, brought home a medal—this time a silver-coloured one, showing the nation’s growth within the sport.
Professional wrestling led by Australian champions
Sports entertainment is also on the rise in Australia. The prominence of two Aussie wrestlers attracts sports spectators to tune into promotions like WWE and AEW. Rhea Ripley has been the face of the women’s division in WWE for a few years. Her gothic and muscular appeal attracts many eyes, and that’s for sure.
Her spouse, Buddy Matthews, is signed to a rival brand, AEW, and enjoys a decent level of success, having worked with multiple legends in the industry, including Edge and Christian. Australians are clambering to see these two compete in the ring, and the WWE is profiting from having hosted two super-card events there in the last decade.
