Coming Together to Celebrate
There is no doubt that footy has a powerful ability to bring Australians together, connecting people from a range of cultural and language groups through their united passion and joy for the game.
In regional communities, it helps to instil valuable team building skills and lay the foundations for a positive society. At a national level, it plays an important role in addressing inequality, improving relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and acknowledging the undeniable impact Indigenous Australians have had on our great game.
Without them, Aussie Rules would simply not be the same - in fact, the game and its origins are firmly anchored with Australia's First Peoples. On 7 August 1858, the first game of Aussie Rules Football was played between Melbourne Grammar School and Scotch College, near the current site of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The game bore a striking resemblance to the local, traditional Koorie game ‘Marngrook’, which involves punt kicking, catching, and celebrating those who mark the ball.
Over 150 years later, in recognition of National Reconciliation Week 2021, the AFL Players' Association launched its updated Indigenous Map, which highlights the cultural diversity of the AFL and AFLW with the league's 103 male and female Indigenous players represented across 77 language groups.
Today’s footy continues to embrace the spirit of coming together, with activities such as the Western Bulldogs’ Nallei-Jerring (join and unite) Koori Youth Leadership Project, supporting young Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people, by providing an exciting range of cultural, sport and life experiences which foster aspiration and skill development.
But alongside the clubs, its the players that are the most powerful inspirational stars for our society. AFL champ Adam Goodes is just one of many role models - through his active commitment to sport and community programs, including working with troubled youth, he is changing mindsets, and changing lives.
WAITOC – the Western Australian Indigenous Tourism Operators Council, is celebrating the AFL’s first Grand Finals in WA with this stunning artwork and story from a young artist:
“The symbols around the bottom, that wrap above the eagle are the kids growing up, wanting to become footballers...with passion and hope to be an Eagles player. The feet are the players/kids running around the football, but I put it on the football, designed like a ribbon that was wrapped around it. The hands portray the strength of the footballers and are also representative of the position of when we learn to kick. The colours inside are the eagles and represent the players. That's how I felt”. Kayla