In truth, the goings on of the past few days represent a re-opening of a wound first inflicted last July on the playing fields of Frankfurt. It was there, at the Quidditch World Cup, that the Dropbears of Australia ended the unbeaten international dominance of the USA.

It was unrelenting, wands-in-your-face stuff from the plucky Australians, who dropped from the clouds like their mythical namesake to stun the Americans, who didn't "expecto" anything of the sort and lost 150-130 in the grand final. For the triumphant Dropbears, suddenly the toast of the international game, it was all too "Weasely".

"We put in a lot of effort. We were training more than any other country. We had some dedicated athletes," says Nicholas Hirst, a spokesman for Quidditch Australia, who will also be involved in a major tournament at Spencer Park in Brisbane over the weekend.

"They invented the real-world version of the sport. And we were the first ones to beat them."

Just quickly, before we go on, Quidditch is a real sport, based on the fictional one central to the Harry Potter novels. Australia's best players were at Spencer Park on Saturday and Sunday as Victoria, NSW and Queensland met for the time-honoured State Shield (now in its second year). Victoria claimed 2017 honours with a 100-40 win over NSW in the grand final.

Find some footage on the internet. It's completely mad, which is partly the point, says Hirst, who believes the overlapping chaos of a match makes it so endearing to those surrendering to its manic charms.

Since the sport first came to life on American university campuses in 2005, a 200-page rule book has evolved. For the rookie observer, it's probably quicker to explain the root historical causes of the First World War, so here's Hirst with the bare bones: "It's a game of chaos. That's what makes Quidditch so good. It's a mental game as well as a physical game. There's essentially three sports happening at once. You've got the Quaffle players, which is the volleyball and the Chasers and the Keepers use it to get through the hoops.

"You can score from in front and behind and it's 10 points per goal. You have the Beaters ... they throw dodge balls. Any player that gets hit by an opposing team has to dismount from their broom, run back to their hoop and then re-enter play. It's like a reset mechanism that creates a lot of diverse strategies.

"Then you have the Snitch, who is independent. Each team has a Seeker and they have to try and get the tag off the back of the Snitch, a bit like league tag. The Snitch comes on after 18 minutes. It's a very physical game for them ... they can push away the Seekers, although they can't grab the Snitch."

The sport would look like a combination of rugby, dodgeball and tag if it wasn't for the brooms. Players must gallop around on a broom, which are now subject to strict size and shape protocols. Gone are the days of picking up one with wire bristles from Bunnings and ensuring nobody came within 10 metres.

Yes, the brooms are a link to the game of the books, says Hirst. But they also ensure Quidditch becomes a one-handed game, adding to the skills and tactics of all the players.

"We see it the same way that basketball makes you dribble a ball ... it makes it more challenging and makes it a one-handed game. There's that balancing act. It's from the books but it also has practical purposes.

"They have to be a certain length, made of a certain material. You used to be able to bring any broom you like but now it's more professional."

Victoria and NSW are the premier Quidditch states, although Queensland is a team on the rise and if rugby league trends are to be followed, should be on the verge of a long era of Quidditch domination.

Playing over the weekend will be squads of 21 players, made up from more than 900 across the nation. Many are based at universities, although community clubs are increasingly springing up across the cities and centres.

ANU Owls vs South Australia Bunyips competing in the Australian Quidditch championships at the AIS. ANU's James Mortonson. Photo Elesa Kurtz Photo: Elesa Kurtz

"Quidditch started up in 2011 out here. The official body started in 2013. The sport itself started in America in 2005, so it took some time to get across. But since it has it's managed to grow fairly rapidly across Australia," Hirst says.

Jocks will ask: Is this merely a sport for geeks? Well, there is some truth to the perception. But more and more, those from other, more recognised sports are trying it, then staying. The pace, roughness and skills required routinely shock those looking down their nose.

"It's definitely got a heavy skew towards that [Harry Potter] demographic. It brings that geek and sporting world together. We have people that play soccer and rugby and love it. Then we have people that haven't really played sport at all. It's got a great community and atmosphere.

"There's also a maximum of four of any gender on the field at once. It's very inclusive."