The AFL is pleased to unveil the 2020 AFL Multicultural Ambassadors and multicultural themed matches for the 2020 Toyota AFL Premiership season.
Nineteen footballers from community, state league and elite level football have been named as AFL Multicultural Ambassadors including eight AFL players, three NAB AFL Women's players, two state league players, four community footballers and one representative each from the Victorian Wheelchair Football League and Victorian Blind Football League.
Over the course of the year, the AFL Multicultural Ambassadors will collectively dedicate over 1000 hours of support across a variety of AFL Diversity programs and key projects as well as work closely with diverse communities to engage with people from multicultural backgrounds to connect with the game of Australian Football.
For the first time, the AFL will welcome a record number of multicultural themed games throughout the 2020 Toyota AFL Premiership season to celebrate diversity.
Eleven dedicated multicultural games will be conducted by AFL Clubs across the country including Essendon's annual Embracing India match, GIANTS Welcome Game and a joint Harmony Game between the Western Bulldogs and North Melbourne Football Clubs.
In addition, all multicultural themed matches will be broadcast live in one of seven different languages including Mandarin, Arabic, Hindi, Dinka, Italian, Greek and Spanish to ensure people from diverse communities are able to connect with the sport.
Speaking at the official launch held at the Melbourne Museum today, AFL General Manager for Inclusion and Social Policy, Tanya Hosch said that the new crop of AFL Multicultural Ambassadors will play an important role in making the game of Australian Football more inclusive for all.
"Australian football is a game for everyone, and the Multicultural Ambassador program is just one way the AFL is working towards understanding, learning from, engaging with, and welcoming people of all cultures to our game.
"In season 2019, 13 per cent of all AFL and AFLW players were from multicultural backgrounds, but we need to grow the size of the cultural diversity in our game, so our Multicultural Ambassadors will play an important role in engaging with future generations of diverse talent to ensure this number is more reflective of our community," Ms Hosch said.
"Sport is a great vehicle in breaking down barriers and bringing communities together, so we're excited to have not one, but 11 dedicated multicultural games which promotes inclusiveness and embraces diversity."
In season 2019, multicultural participation in community football across the country was 87,000 while multicultural participation in NAB AFL Auskick made up 21 per cent of total participation in the NAB AFL Auskick program.
2020 AFL Multicultural Ambassador and GWS Giants captain Stephen Coniglio said that being part of the ambassador program was a great opportunity to increase the representation of multicultural communities in the elite game.
"Growing up with an Italian and British heritage, I understand the importance of embracing diversity and the sense of belonging that comes with being involved in sport.
"Diversifying our game is one of the most important things we can do to strengthen it for future generations, and I know myself and the rest of the Multicultural Ambassadors are looking forward to working with multicultural communities and getting involved with a host of AFL Diversity programs this year," Coniglio said.
"You cannot be what you cannot see, so being part of the 2020 Multicultural Ambassador program is a great opportunity for us to be positive role models for the next generation of AFL and AFL Women's talent and encourage people from all backgrounds to get involved in our great game."
2020 AFL MULTICULTURAL AMBASSADORS
AFL/ AFLW players:
Aliir Aliir (Sydney Swans), Akec Chuot (Richmond), Bachar Houli (Richmond), Darcy Vescio (Carlton), Dyson Heppell (Essendon), Haneen Zreika (GWS Giants), Lin Jong (Western Bulldogs), Marty Frederick (Port Adelaide), Nic Naitanui (West Coast Eagles), Stephen Coniglio (GWS Giants), Touk Miller (Gold Coast Suns)
State League players:
Bior Malual (Werribee, VFL), Goy Lok (Sandringham, VFL)
Community Football players:
Angela Roan (Melbourne University, VAFA), Michael Tang (Wallan, Riddell District Football League), Brad Xavier (Keilor, Essendon District Football League), Tom Jok (St Kevin's, VAFA)
Victorian Wheelchair Football League:
Judeland Antony (St Kilda)
Victorian Blind Football League:
Ned Brewer- Maiga (Hawthorn)
2020 AFL MULTICULTURAL MATCHES:
RD 2: Saturday, March 28, Melbourne vs GWS Giants, Welcome Game
RD 5: Saturday, April 18, Collingwood vs Port Adelaide Made by Many - Multicultural Rd
RD 8: Saturday, May 9 St Kilda vs Carlton, Multicultural Round
RD 11: Sunday, May 31, Essendon v Gold Coast SUNS Everyone Matters - Multicultural Rd
RD 14: Sunday, June 21, Richmond vs West Coast Eagles, Many Cultures - Multicultural Round
RD 17: Saturday, July 11, GWS Giants vs Essendon, GWS Giants Welcome Game
RD 19: Friday, July 24 Port Adelaide vs Hawthorn, Power Intercultural Program Multicultural Rd
RD 20: Sunday, August 2, Gold Coast SUNS vs Fremantle, Gold Coast SUNS Multicultural Celebration Round
RD 21: Saturday, August 8, Brisbane Lions vs West Coast Eagles Lead the Pride - Multicultural Round
RD 21: Sunday, August 9, Western Bulldogs vs North Melbourne, Harmony Game - Multicultural Round
RD 22: Saturday, August 15, Essendon vs Sydney, Embracing India game
