World Footy News

The AFL Players’ Association has established its inaugural Multicultural Players’ Advisory Board to better understand the needs and issues affecting the current 122 players with multicultural backgrounds.

Made up of players from each state, the Board had its first official meeting last week and has since appointed Collingwood’s Mason Cox (USA) to lead the group as Chair.

Rounding out the Board is:

·         Western Bulldogs’ Lin Jong (East Timor and Taiwan)

·         Fremantle’s Zac Clarke (USA)

·         Greater Western Sydney’s Stephen Coniglio (Italy and England)

·         Port Adelaide’s Alipate Carlile (Fiji)

·         Brisbane Lions’ Pearce Hanley (Ireland)

Click here for an exclusive story with Multicultural Players’ Advisory Board Chair, Mason Cox.

Dedicated to supporting players with multicultural backgrounds, and especially those from non-traditional AFL backgrounds, the Board will meet on a quarterly basis to discuss and take action on a range of issues they see as specifically affecting multicultural players.

Discussion points from the inaugural meeting included; improving the transition in and out of the AFL system and creating best practice guidelines to increase industry awareness of different cultural traditions.

Click here to view the AFL Players’ Association’s interactive multicultural map.  

Passionate about ensuring that all AFL players are on a level playing field, Mason Cox is excited to bring his firsthand experience to his role of Chair.

“Having only moved here from the United States at the end of 2014, I’ve experienced adjustments that players with multicultural backgrounds may encounter in order to assimilate into the AFL,” he said.

“We had such great discussion in our first Board meeting – having the boys from such varied backgrounds really brought a lot of different issues to the table.  Through the Multicultural Players’ Advisory Board, we hope to help improve recognition of cultural heritage and minimise any negative impact it may have on a players’ career.”

AFL Players’ Association CEO Paul Marsh mirrored Cox’s comments in stating that it’s important that the AFL industry as a whole, takes a proactive approach to supporting players from multicultural backgrounds.

“With the AFL industry recruiting more and more players from outside Australia as the game’s profile grows, it’s important that we have the correct structures in place to ensure these players feel welcome and supported upon joining an AFL club,” he said.

“By hearing the concerns and issues that players from multicultural backgrounds have faced, the AFL Players’ Association will be better placed to do this.”

In line with the AFL’s Multicultural Round, the AFL Players’ Association has launched its first interactive multicultural map – click here to access it.