Introduce some AFL ambassadors
Reflecting Australia’s changing population, AFL becomes more multicultural because many new immigrants love the sport and feel their connection with football and the new land. As of 2016, 15% of AFL professional athletes on the official list of 18 Australian Rugby League Clubs come from multicultural backgrounds.
Athletes playing Australian footballs are often the inspiration and role model for their community. Meet some of AFL’s 2016 Multicultural Ambassadors, a sport created by an Australian Aboriginal from the 19th century.
1. Aliir Aliir
Aliir Aliir spent six difficult years in his life in a refugee camp in Kenya before being emigrated to Australia.
Come to AFL at the age of 14, and then play for the Sydney Swans team from 2013 to the present.
2. Bachar Houli
Bachar Houli was born in Australia to a Lebanese immigrant family. At 14, he decided to become a professional rugby player.
He is playing in the Richmond flag.
3. Lin Jong
This Western Bulldogs player was also born in Australia in an immigrant family with an interesting combination, mother from Taiwan and father from East Timor.
Lin started playing late, at 15 years old.
4. Stephen Coniglio
GWS Giants’ original Italian player is also a dedicated instructor for young players from multicultural backgrounds in AFL’s talent search program.
In 2012, Stephen was nominated for the AFL Rising Star award.
5. Jimmy Toumpas
Although his real name is Dimitri, almost everyone calls him Jimmy. As the captain of the South Australian state team in the National AFL U 18 Championship 2012, AFL National U 18 Championships, he contributed to the win of the team.
Jimmy is playing under the colors of Port Adelaide.
AFL will have a successful generation of young Aboriginal players with training at the Port Adelaide Aboriginal Youth Football Academy. The ambition of this program is to foster a generation of talented Aboriginal players, not only successful on the football field but also successful in life.