Two Greek Australian AFL players have been named as AFL Multicultural Ambassadors.
Melbourne’s Jimmy Toumpas and Collingwood’s Patrick Karnezis will join the ranks of 10 ethnically diverse players, hoping to bring the AFL game to more multicultural communities. This year the two Greeks join three other new recruits to the ambassadors, Essendon captain and 2012 Brownlow Medallist Jobe Watson, GWS Giants’ Stephen Coniglio and the Western Bulldogs’ Lin Jong.
AFL Chief Executive Officer Andrew Demetriou said the newly-appointed ambassadors had shown leadership in their communities and would focus on encouraging participation and inclusion in Australian Rules Football.
“Australia’s only indigenous game is proud to welcome all people to our sport and the Australia Post AFL Multicultural Ambassadors are leaders for our wider player group, our clubs and all fans to continue attracting new people to the AFL to be part of Australia’s most popular sport,” Mr Demetriou said.
Continuing on as ambassadors will be Alipate Carlile, Karmichael Hunt, Majak Daw, Bachar Houli, Nic Naitanui.
Throughout the year, the Australia Post AFL Multicultural Ambassadors will work with local groups towards raising cultural awareness and uniting individuals and communities across the country.
The Multicultural Ambassadors will play a leading role in the AFL Multicultural Round to be held this year in round 18 of the Toyota AFL Premiership Season.
Currently only 15 per cent of players in the AFL are from a culturally and linguistically diverse background.