SANFL rolls out new ‘Welcome to Australian Rules Football’ program in 10 South Australian multicultural schools

THESE smiling faces represent the next generation of South Australian footballers who are getting their start thanks to a new SANFL program.

GAME ON: Pinnacle College students Mohammed, 10, Aaya, 6, Fyzan, 7, and Zeenat, 9, with their teacher Michael Triantafilakis and North Adelaide player Jason Rivett, are taking part in the SANFL Welcome to Australian Rules Football program. Picture: Tom Huntley

THEIR love of footy transcends colour, race and religion – but these school kids might never have had a kick if it wasn’t for a new SANFL program.

The “Welcome to Australian Rules Football” program, piloted last year, is being launched at 10 South Australian multicultural schools, with scope to roll it out to more than 40. It has received an overwhelming response at Pinnacle College in Gilles Plains, where the numbers nearly quadrupled expectations.

“We were hoping for 20 students to come out and we ended up getting about 75,” said physical education teacher, Michael Triantafilakis.

“We had a bag of balls sitting in the shed that had never been used before – now they’re out at recess, lunch and on weekends.”

Mr Triantafilakis said the five-week program helped introduce their students, many of Middle Eastern descent, and their parents to aspects of Aussie culture.

“A lot of the parents are not really familiar with the game so it is important for this generation to learn about it,” he said. “We want them to have a chance to play footy … and basically give them the opportunity to feel involved.”

SANFL junior game development manager Ben Hopkins said multicultural participation across SA was up 15 per cent from 2017. He said the new program was developed to give children too old for Auskick a pathway into the sport.

“Generally, Auskick is for five to seven-year-olds, however, many of the children at these multicultural schools are aged seven and older but may have only arrived in Australia in the past few years,” he said.

Pinnacle College student Zeenat Ali, whose parents are from Afghanistan and Pakistan, said she “loved” the program. “I didn’t really like it (footy) before but once I started playing it I got more interested,” the 10-year-old said.