More than 200 new arrivals to Australia pitted their skills against some of AFL football’s best last week to get a hang of our sport and our lingo.
The aim of the inaugural AMES Cup Game On initiative at Whitten Oval was to introduce migrants and refugees to AFL football, make friends and community connections and practise English in a social setting.
Nine teams of fledgling footballers from across Melbourne took to the field mentored by former and current AFL stars from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds including former Richmond, Port Adelaide, and Melbourne player David Roden, Ahmed Saad from St Kilda and Lin Jong of the Western Bulldogs.
AMES spokesperson Laurie Nowell said the event was a great learning experience for all.
“It was a really important event in that we’ve never done anything on that scale before and it was a great success,” he said.
“People really enjoyed it … they said it was a lot of fun and the newcomers were able to form new friendships, use the language skills they’d been learning and also learn about Australia’s sporting obsession.”
Game On was borne of a partnership between the Western Bulldogs and the AFL in celebration of sport, multiculturalism and friendship.
“The AFL and the Western Bulldogs see the importance of engaging with emerging communities and this was also a great opportunity to attract new players to the game,” Mr Nowell said.
