Last Monday, former 256 game Carlton player, captain, coach and Hall of Fame member, Alex Jesaulenko was named captain of the Multicultural Team of Champions at the launch of the 2012 AFL Multicultural Round.
AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou heads a selection panel that includes Australia Post managing director and chief executive Ahmed Fahour, Collingwood premiership-winning coach Mick Malthouse, Seven Network commentator Dennis Cometti, AFL national talent manager Kevin Sheehan and AFL historian Col Hutchison.
Jesaulenko, born in Austria to a Ukrainian father and Russian mother, was assigned the honour of leading a 22-man side consisting of players either born overseas or with a parent born overseas. Collingwood great Jock McHale, born in New South Wales to an Irish father and who passed away in 1953, was selected as coach.
Sergio and Stephen Silvagni (Italian), Sam Kekovich (Serbian), the Rocca brothers (Italian), Nic Naitanui (Fijian), Jim Stynes (Irish), Nick Riewoldt (German), Anthony Koutoufides (Greek) and Peter Daicos (Macedonian) are all in contention for a spot in the final 22.
The initial 50 man squad, which consists of players involved in VFL/AFL between 1896 and 2012, is set to be reduced from 50 to 22 at a special function supported by Australia Post in August.
The Multicultural Round kicked-off last night when finals contenders Hawthorn and Carlton met at the MCG, the AFL’s general manager of national and international development Andrew Dillon said the annual celebration of cultural diversity had firmly embedded itself as an important part of the AFL fixture.
Orange, the international colour of harmony, will be featured with goal umpires using orange flags, while players of multicultural heritage will be tossing the coin, the half-time NAB AFL Auskick will involve the participation of children from multicultural backgrounds.