The AFL is pleased to announce a second series of the Thomas & Friends collaboration has been launched today, featuring a special guest appearance by the Brisbane Lions’s Sabrina Frederick-Traub.
This year, three episodes have been produced and centre around Thomas the Tank Engine returning to Australia to help find the missing AFL Premiership Cup alongside his friend, Shane the Train voiced by Richmond great Matthew Richardson.
During his search, Thomas reunites with his friend Tracy the Tram who is now working in Adelaide and voiced again by Brisbane Lions AFL Women’s star and AFL Queensland Programs Coordinator Sabrina Frederick-Traub.
Series one, released in 2017, was an international first collaboration between the two brands.
Sabrina Frederick-Traub said: “I think Tracy has a bigger following than me now. My Mum’s book club friends made Tracy the Tram t-shirts for them to wear which is kind of cute. I’m super pleased that Tracy’s tram number is now 14, my playing number!”
AFL General Manager Digital, Growth and Audience Darren Birch said the first season of Thomas & Friends’ Australian Football adventure garnered large viewer numbers.
“We’re excited to release the second series of our collaboration with Thomas & Friends as the first saw over one million views of the four episodes. The partnership opened the AFL up to a whole new audience in Australia as well as internationally through the Mattel network,” Mr Birch said.
Marketing Director of Mattel ANZ, Chedney Rodgers said: “It has been a pleasure for Thomas & Friends to partner with the AFL for the second year running. Together, the brands share mutual values of teamwork, respect and discovery which we appreciate are of great importance to parents as well.”
The first series of Thomas & Friends’ AFL Adventure can still be seen on the AFL Kids channel on YouTube.
