The following overview from the AFL gives some of the highlights of this coming weekend’s 2016 Toyota AFL Multicultural Round. Using and enhancing many of the initiatives from last year’s highly successful round, the AFL is planning to showcase the multicultural heritage and future of the game like never before. The following article from the www.afl.com.au website lists some of the more exciting aspects of the round.

THE AFL's annual Multicultural Round celebrates the game's diversity and promotes inclusiveness, with the theme of 'Many Cultures, One Game'. Here's a look at what the AFL and some of the clubs are doing this weekend.

The following article by Nathan Schmook at www.afl.com.au looks at another AFL initiative in line with next weekend’s Multicultural Round. With the appointment of coaches from a diverse collection of multicultural backgrounds it is hoped that an even higher profile for Australian Rules football be raised within multicultural communities as well as bringing a wide range of skill sets to clubs at the highest level, filtering down to grass roots levels of the game.

The AFL Multicultural Round commences on Thursday 7th July and encompasses AFL matches through to Sunday 10th. For details on events for the 2016 Toyota AFL Multicultural Round, go to their website at: http://www.afl.com.au/multiculturalround

THE AFL is taking on the next frontier in football diversity by launching a program to place six multicultural coaches within clubs for the rest of the season. 

Every week in football there are the thrashings when a mismatch of teams occurs. Often it is top of the table versus cellar dweller (though it can be any team versus any other on any given day) and usually comes about when one team is undermanned or overwhelmed. An occasional hiding can be cast aside and used as motivation to change. More regular thrashings can lead to a variety of confidence related issues which can send a club into the doldrums for lengthy periods.

Often people speak of mercy rules (especially in junior grades) and prefer that these kind of results “are never spoken of again lest they be bad for football.” Maybe that is true and valid.

By the Nunawading Lions in suburban Melbourne have endured a season that could well have been played inside Dante’s Inferno, such has been the hellish nature of 2016 scorelines. Yet this club is leading the way in resilience in a way that very few clubs have done before.

The following story by Matt Thompson is from the www.afl.com.au website detailing the new head of diversity for the AFL replacing Jason Mifsud who left the position earlier this year.

THE AFL has appointed a second woman to its executive ranks, in a week when social issues, particularly attitudes towards women, have been at the forefront of the football conversation.

Tanya Hosch becomes the League's general manager of inclusion and social policy, a position revamped following the departure of long-time diversity advisor Jason Mifsud.

The AFL started its search to replace Mifsud more than four months ago. 

Round 13 kicks off in Melbourne on Friday night with North Melbourne hosting Hawthorn at Etihad Stadium. 

If you want to know when you can see the footy on TV in your part of the world, check out the full schedule below.

As always schedules are subject to change at the discretion of the local broadcaster so please check local guides for updates.

At a function today, AFL Chairman Mike Fitzpatrick announced the initial eight women’s teams to take part in the national competition for 2017. As well as the Melbourne and Western Bulldogs, both teams having had teams playing on a regular basis, Adelaide, Brisbane, Carlton, Collingwood, Fremantle and Greater Western Sydney were granted licences to compete next year.

Geelong, St Kilda, Richmond, North Melbourne and West Coast were the unlucky clubs to miss out on inaugural selection, but have received provisional licences to clear their path for entry into an expanded league for women from 2018.

The Gold Coast Suns, Port Adelaide, Essendon, Sydney and Hawthorn did not pursue a licence for next year but will consider their options for women’s teams further down the track as the new competition unfolds.

Footy returns to Melbourne on Friday night with Round 12 kicking off at Etihad Stadium. The struggling Bombers host the Hawks in what is always a clash full of feeling between these two clubs.

If you want to know when you can see the footy on TV in your part of the world, check out the schedule below. As always schedules are subject to change at the discretion of the local broadcaster so please check local guides for updates.

WATCHAFL.AFL.COM.AU this weekend are offering free streaming of all Round 12 matches - conditions apply and not available in Australia.

Round 11 gets underway Friday night with North Melbourne hosting Richmond at Blundstone Arena in Hobart. 

If you want to know when you can see the footy on TV in your part of the world, check out the schedule below. As always schedules are subject to change at the discretion of the local broadcaster so please check local guides for updates.

The Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round gets underway Friday night with the Sydney Swans hosting an unbeaten North Melbourne at the SCG. 

If you want to know when you can see the footy on TV in your part of the world, check out the schedule below. As always schedules are subject to change at the discretion of the local broadcaster so please check local guides for updates.

If you are interested in the US TV ratings then checkout this great piece written by Brian Barrish revealing the ratings numbers for FS1 and FS2 coverage.

Round 9 gets underway Friday night with Hawthorn hosting the Sydney Swans at the MCG. 

If you want to know when you can see the footy on TV in your part of the world, check out the schedule below. As always schedules are subject to change at the discretion of the local broadcaster so please check local guides for updates.

For those in the US looking to watch American Mason Cox in his fifth AFL match with Collingwood it will be broadcast on Fox Soccer Plus Friday night 23:30 ET or you can watch via subscription service WATCHAFL.AFL.COM.AU.