The AFL has launched a fresh invasion into traditional rugby league territory by announcing the creation of two AFL School Villages and a $560,000 investment focused on growing the game in culturally diverse communities in New South Wales.
The first AFL School Villages will be in Hurstville in Sydney’s south, and Parramatta in the greater west, both culturally and linguistically diverse communities and heartland NRL regions serviced by the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and Parramatta Eels respectively.
The pilot program will see five primary schools identified to participate within each community, with the AFL recruiting and providing a qualified physical education teacher to support student physical literacy and professionally develop teachers.
As part of the Hurstville village model, there will be a three-year commitment to the creation of a Future Stars Program that will identify up-and-coming players, particularly those of Chinese heritage, who will participate in specialised coaching with AFL and Sydney Swans Development Coaches within the Swans Academy.
AFL Executive General Manager Game Development Rob Auld said the investment in the School Village Model is part of the AFL Game Development 10-year vision of ‘footy in every home’ and is aimed at driving greater engagement and increasing participation and fans of the game in these culturally diverse areas.
“We know Hurstville has a high Chinese Australian population and this initiative aims to build relationships, increase engagement and participation of footy in this community. Research and evidence also suggest that Australian children’s physical development is declining, which impacts overall health and wellbeing,” said Auld.
“We expect to see an uplift in physical skills and fitness; attitudes toward physical activity and the social benefits of being active with others (and) greater opportunities for local talented athletes, particularly those with Chinese heritage, to progress through the AFL pathway.”
The contribution of Chinese Australians in Australian Rules football started on Ballarat’s gold fields and is the focus of a new book by Patrick Skene, Celestial Footy, celebrating pioneers such as Wally Koochew and Les Kew Ming and modern-day champions Les Fong, Lin Jong, Darcy Vesciom and AFLW star Sophie Li.
The project also shines a light on bush footy legends Billy Wong and Clarence Lepp from regional Victoria and West Australian and Top End stars Les Fong, Keifer Yu, Neale Fong, John Tye and Joe Sarib, famous footballers with Chinese heritage.
“When I first set out to write Celestial Footy I had no idea of the sheer number of Chinese-Australians that have played the game in the last 140 years,” Skene said. “I uncovered an extraordinary tradition, a hidden chapter of Australian history filled with characters. They are stories of resilience and overcoming obstacles to play the game but also stories of mateship, bravery, excellence, civic pride and having a go.”
