The Greek-Australian Aussie Rules Football team – the Hawthorn Spartans – mingled with Americans, Asians, Germans, New Zealanders, Australians, English and many thousands of Greeks at the Antipodes Festival’s Glendi street celebrations last weekend.
More than 30 players attended the Spartans’ display stall and provided a great advertisement for Australian Rules Football by explaining the game to international tourists and facilitating giveaways to people of all ages – caps, stickers, showbags and mini-footballs proved to be a huge success with the highlight being the handball target which attracted a multitude of kids and adults testing their footy handball skills. Even the Federal Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott complete with media entourage got into a handball session, lending his support to the Hawthorn Spartans.
Club spokesman George Demetriou assisted by Con Terzoglou and Andrew Toumbakis was pleased with the club’s first venture into the Glendi. The AFL’s National Multicultural Manager, Ali Fahour provided the resource material while Steve O’Donahue the NAB Auskick Manager contributed the footys.
Phiv Demetriou the AFL’s Victorian Development Manager co-ordinated the effort with the Neos Kosmos’ promotion providing the Club and it’s major sponsors, M2K Communications, the Bank of Cyprus Australia and Southern Ocean Seafoods, great exposure.
