Introduction Originally invented as a game to keep cricket players fit during the offseason, Australian Rules football was created by Tom Willis in 1858 in Melbourne. During this time, Melbourne was experiencing an economic boom because of the gold rush. Willis, Australian-born but English-educated, was an avid rugby and cricket player and captain of his team. Essential to the creation of Australian Rules football, a game between Scotch College, Church of England Grammar (later Melbourne Gramm