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AFL Multicultural Round

Tuesday, August 4, 2015 - 3:03 PM by Bella Ndayikeze

Australian Football has the extraordinary power to bring people together regardless of background. Everything’s possible when we unite through the love of the game.

This Toyota AFL Multicultural Round, we celebrate the many wonderful cultures who all share a common passion for footy and that no matter who you are or where you come from, AFL is a sport that embraces everyone willing to get involved and have a good time.

We highlight the contribution multicultural communities have made to the game’s history and welcome new communities to embrace Australia’s game in the future.

Many Cultures, One Game. 

The AFL and the West Coast Eagles recognise the diversity that exists within the AFL competition and wider Australian community by understanding and respecting the extraordinary power that Australian football has in bringing people together regardless of their background.

In 2014, Round 18 of the AFL season saw West Coast Eagles take on Richmond Tigers on a wintery Friday night in Perth.

The game featured two high profile multicultural players in Fijian ruckman, Nic Naitanui and Lebanese Muslim, Bachar Houli, both of whom are very actively engaged within the Australia Post AFL Multicultural Program as ambassadors.

Match-day entertainment included the Chung Wah orchestra providing some musical ambiance in Fan Zone pre-game, while the curtain-raiser featured a contest between a Multicultural All-Stars Academy and the Maali Colts.

AFL Multicultural Programs partner Australia Post provided 200 free tickets to participants within the Western Australian Football Commission and West Coast Eagles multicultural community programs as part of their ‘My Passport to Australian Football’ initiative.

Some of the organisations that benefited from this initiative included Association for Services to Torture and Trauma Survivors (ASeTTS), Coalition for Asylum Seekers, Refugees and Detainees (CARAD), Life Without Barriers and Chung Wah Association.

Many West Coast Eagles players wore orange bootlaces – orange being the colour that is associated with harmony – for the contest.

AFL Multicultural Round will take place on August 8 for the West Coast Eagles when the club take on Hawthorn at Domain Stadium, This fantastic day will showcase the Nic Naitnui Academy which is made of very talented young boys who will play the curtain raiser prior to the main event at 2:00 kick off v Maali Colts at Domain Stadium.

Stay tuned for more details.