The AFL launched the 2017 Toyota AFL Multicultural Round at Lachlan’s Old Government House in Parramatta.
AFL General Manager of Inclusion and Social Policy was joined at the launch by Gurpreet Grewal, the subject of the third film in a film series with Australia Post celebrating the cultural diversity within the game, Australia Post AFL Multicultural Player Ambassador and Sydney Swan Aliir Aliir, GWS GIANTS player Tendai Mzungu, GWS GIANTS inaugural AFLW player Mai Nguyen and members of the AFL NSW/ACT Multicultural programs at the launch.
Ms Hosch explained that the round was an important reminder to AFL fans and the wider Australian community about embracing the cultural diversity within our migrant nation.
“We see more than ever that the community level and grassroots football is starting to reflect the cultural diversity within our country, and the work we do through our Multicultural Programs – with our community inclusion partner Australia Post – needs to be credited,” Ms Hosch said.
“Whilst it will take time, we are firm in our commitment to have the elite game being truly representative of the cultural landscape of Australia.
“The Next Generation Academies are a tangible approach of this commitment and will no doubt provide further opportunity and success to players of all backgrounds in the years to come.
“As we celebrate the sixth Toyota AFL Multicultural Round, we currently have 117 players in the men’s competition with multicultural backgrounds, 14 per cent overall, and 21 of them having been born overseas. Whilst 17 of this year’s AFLW players have multicultural backgrounds.
“Our iconic game provides a harmonious and safe platform for all to feel included in Australian society and to have various cultures and linguistics celebrated,” she said.
Highlights of the 2017 Toyota AFL Multicultural Round
- Sherrin match ball with the word ‘Welcome’ in six languages (Mandarin, Hindi, Spanish, Greek, Italian, and Arabic)
- Bilingual 50m arc marking in six languages
- #ManyCulturesOneGame written on the field in place of afl.com.au
- Umpires to wear orange wristbands and orange goal flags to represent harmony
- Multicultural Round theme LED signage around venues
- Video stories to be played on the big screens around all venues
- There will be pre-game entertainment and a number of clubs will have special on-field jumpers celebrating the diversity of cultures within Australian Football
- Thousands of new fans and communities will experience live AFL action for the first time through the AFL MyPassport program which has been supported by Australia Post
- Match attendees of the Australia Post AFL MyPassport program and ethnic media outlets will receive information about Australian Football in different languages
- The AFL and the AFL Coaches Association will again host the Alex Jesaulenko AFL Coaching Internship. This program will see ten clubs – Brisbane, Carlton, Essendon, Gold Coast SUNS, GWS GIANTS, Hawthorn, Melbourne, Richmond, Sydney Swans, and West Coast Eagles – appoint coaches with multicultural backgrounds to their football departments for the remainder of the 2017 Toyota AFL Premiership Season.
- The Collingwood v Adelaide game is being called in Mandarin and will be streamed live on 3ZZZ Community Radio.
Program of matches below (all local times) and match day activations:
Friday July 28
- Hawthorn v Sydney Swans at the MCG, 7.50pm
Saturday July 29
- North Melbourne v Melbourne at Blundstone Arena, 1.45pm
- GWS Giants v Fremantle at Spotless Stadium, 2.10pm
- Port Adelaide v St Kilda at Adelaide Oval, 4.05pm; Curtain Raiser – Grand Final Multicultural Power Cup, 2.05pm
- Gold Coast Suns v Richmond at Metricon Stadium, 7.25pm; Curtain Raiser (NEAFL) – Gold Coast Suns v GWS Giants, 3.45pm
- Carlton v Geelong Cats at Etihad Stadium, 7.25pm
Sunday July 30
- Western Bulldogs v Essendon at Etihad Stadium, 1.10pm
- West Coast v Brisbane Lions at Domain Stadium, 2.40pm
- Collingwood v Adelaide Crows at the MCG, 3.20pm; Curtain Raiser – Herald Sun Shield Girls Grand Final, 12.45pm
AFL Multicultural Festival presented by Australia Post
As part of the Toyota AFL Multicultural Round, the GWS GIANTS with the support of Multicultural NSW and AFL NSW/ACT will be hosting the 2017 AFL Multicultural Festival presented by Australia Post on Saturday July 29 at Cathy Freeman Park, Sydney Olympic Park. There will be loads of FREE family friendly entertainment, workshops, AFL clinics, food stalls and rides. The Festival runs from 12pm to 6pm plus, the GIANTS will be taking on Fremantle in the 2017 Toyota AFL Multicultural Round just next door at Spotless Stadium from 2:10pm. For more information visit www.gwsgiants.com.au/multicultural
Australia Post spokesperson, Michelle Skehan, said Australia Post’s ongoing commitment to celebrating diversity is a vision they share with the AFL.
“We have a diverse workforce with over 36,000 people from more than 140 nations. In fact, our people speak more than 64 different languages. As an organisation, we are passionate about inclusion and cultural diversity.
“AFL is a fantastic way to bring people together, build understanding of diverse groups, and remove social barriers. We’re proud to be the official Community Inclusion Partner of the AFL and to share our common goal of creating a more inclusive Australia for all,” Ms Skehan said.
2017 Australia Post AFL Multicultural Ambassadors information:
Each year, current AFL and AFLW players are chosen to be Australia Post AFL Multicultural Ambassadors and play an important role in promoting diversity andinclusion within Australian Football and the broader community.
- Darcy Vescio (Carlton – Chinese and Italian) will support the AFL’s female multicultural talent strategy through development programs and will also make key appearances at multicultural events, including the Toyota AFL Multicultural Round.
- Sabrina Frederick-Traub (Brisbane Lions – English) will support the AFL’s female multicultural talent strategy through development programs and will also make key appearances at multicultural events, including the Toyota AFL Multicultural Round.
- Helen Roden (Collingwood – Fijian) will support the AFL’s female multicultural talent strategy through development programs and will also make key appearances at multicultural events, including the Toyota AFL Multicultural Round.
- Akec Makur Chuot (Fremantle – South Sudanese) will support the AFL’s female multicultural talent strategy through development programs and will also make key appearances at multicultural events, including the Toyota AFL Multicultural Round.
- Nic Naitanui(West Coast – Fijian) works one day per week at the WAFC supporting the ongoing development of the West Australian multicultural strategy and the Naitanui Talent Academy.
- Bachar Houli(Richmond – Lebanese) works one day per week at the AFL developing the Bachar Houli Islamic Schools Program in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia, the Bachar Houli Academy nationally and the AFL’s annual Ramadan dinners. He will work on consolidating and expanding these programs further in 2017.
- Adam Saad(Gold Coast SUNS – Lebanese) will work on developing theBachar Houli Islamic Schools Program in Queensland, mentor participants at the National Bachar Houli Academy and provide support to the AFL Queensland Ramadan dinner. He will also support the AFL’s World Team at the NAB Under-16 National Championships as well as helping drive the Queensland multicultural strategy through key appearances at multicultural events, including the Toyota AFL Multicultural Round.
- Tom Nicholls(Gold Coast SUNS – Fijian) will support the Queensland multicultural strategy through key appearances at multicultural events, including the Toyota AFL Multicultural Round. Tom will also support the AFL’s World Team at the NAB Under-16 National Championships.
- David Zaharakis(Essendon – Greek) will continue working on AFL Victoria’s talent programs, mentoring young multicultural footballers and will attend key multicultural events.
- Jimmy Toumpas(Port Adelaide – Greek) will facilitate cultural education sessions with community leagues and community football clubs as well as assist with multicultural talent programs in South Australia.
- Stephen Coniglio(GWS GIANTS – Italian) will work with the New South Wales Multicultural Talent Academy, help drive the Toyota AFL Multicultural Round, as well as a talent mentor to multicultural participants in the talent pathway.
- Aliir Aliir(Sydney – Sudanese) will support the New South Wales multicultural strategy through key appearances at multicultural events, including the Toyota AFL Multicultural Round.
- Lin Jong(Western Bulldogs – Taiwanese and East Timorese) will work on participation programs in the Western suburbs of Melbourne including an umpiring academy focusing on the Asian community and will facilitate cultural education sessions with community football clubs.
- Jason Johannisen (Western Bulldogs – South African) will support the Victorian multicultural strategy through key appearances at multicultural events, including the Toyota AFL Multicultural Round.
- Dayne Zorko (Brisbane Lions – Yugoslavian)will support the ongoing development of the Queensland multicultural strategy to help unite diverse communities through Australian Football and will assist in programs including the Queensland All Nations Cup.
- Dyson Heppell (Essendon – Australian)will support the Victorian multicultural strategy through key appearances at multicultural events, including the Toyota AFL Multicultural Round.
- Christian Salem (Melbourne – Lebanese)will support the Victorian multicultural strategy through key appearances at multicultural events, including the Toyota AFL Multicultural Round.
- Majak Daw (North Melbourne – Sudanese) will support the AFL multicultural strategy through key appearances at multicultural events, including the Toyota AFL Multicultural Round.
- Jake Kolodjashnij (Geelong – Ukrainian) will support the AFL multicultural strategy through key appearances at multicultural events, including the Toyota AFL Multicultural Round.
AFL and Australia Post Film Series
A three-part short film series was produced by independent filmmaker Amie Batalibasi as a joint project between the AFL and Australia Post, the AFL’s official community inclusion partner, to highlight the cultural diversity within Australian Football from grassroots to the elite game.
The first film, released in July 2016, explored young Melbourne footballer Asma Kassem and her Yemeni family’s connection to Australian Football, which started at North Melbourne’s The Huddle Program.
Brisbane Lions Reuben William was the subject of the second film released in November 2016 to coincide with the NAB AFL Draft looking into his South Sudanese heritage before migrating to Australia.
The third film released today at the 2017 Toyota AFL Multicultural Round Launch tells the story of GWS fan and foundation member Gurpreet Grewal which explores his journey from India to Adelaide to eventually settling in Western Sydney.
To view Gurpreet and the other two films, please visit AFL.com.au or AFL social media channels.
