South Sudanese combine coming to Dandenong as NextGen Unite partners with AFL to promote participation

South Sudanese numbers are growing in the AFL, and an initiative is striving to boost them further. And they include academy talents tied to AFL clubs.

South Sudanese talents from western Victoria compete at the first South Sudanese combine. Picture: Riley Lockett/AFL Photos

Western Bulldogs academy member Hok Marial got the chance to be a part of an exciting initiative that is helping grow the game in the South Sudanese community.

The Dogs Next Generation Academy product took part in the first South Sudanese combine in Werribee last month, a partnership between NextGen Unite – which aims to empower and break down barriers in the South Sudanese community – and the AFL.

South Sudanese teenagers from across the western region of Victoria were put through their paces in a variety of tests and drills, and now another combine will be held in Dandenong on Wednesday night.

With 11 African players now on AFL lists, NextGen Unite chief executive Mamuch Chuol, the cousin of Hawthorn excitement machine Changkuoth Jiath, is striving to increase that figure.

He lauded the way that Jiath and other players have given back to their community.

Hok Marial (left) with Changkuoth Jiath at the first South Sudanese combine. Picture: Riley Lockett/AFL Photos

“It makes it so much easier when you have guys like Majak Daw, ‘CJ’, Mabior (Chol), Mac Andrews young star, Leek Aleer. All these differentyoung players that are just played exceptionally well and really creating a pathway for these young people to come through.

They understand the challenges that a lot of members in our community face. They understand the dedication and the sacrifices that they have to make ultimately to get to that professional level, and I think they’ve done a superb job of doing that.

“It’s significant, but we’re just not seeing enough South Sudanese kids going into the game. We’re losing a lot of them to basketball and to soccer but I think the work that the boys in the AFL are doing right now they are really leading as role models to showcase that they can also play football and try and play at an elite levels.

“We just want to continue to grow this partnership and see where it can take us. I think over the years as we grow, I think we’re going to start to see a huge increase in the interest of multicultural young people playing football and ultimately, that’s what our goal is.”

Marial, whose parents fled war-torn South Sudan, was nearly lost to basketball but regained his passion for football.

The 15-year-old has starred for St Albans in the Essendon District Football League, kicking 32 goals in under-16s 11 games and also getting exposure at under-19 level.

He feels inspired watching Gold Coast sensation Mac Andrew and also receives guidance from Sudanese trailblazer Majak Daw.

Hok Marial gets a handball away. Picture: Riley Lockett/AFL Photos

“I played a couple years in Auskick and just really didn’t really find love for AFL at first sight, so I started playing basketball and then I got really good at basketball but I kind of fell out of love with basketball,” Marial said.

“And then found footy really interesting, my uncle used to play, he was in Western Jets and stuff so I was watching him train and stuff, I fell in love with footy again. Then started playing at Taylors Lakes and then St Albans and got my chance to train with the Next Gen Academy at Bulldogs.

“Mac Andrew, probably my favourite player to this day. I love the way he goes about it – agility, I’ve got traits like him. And yeah, just really look up to him and I try find ways to be more like him.”

Through NextGen Unite, Chuol hopes to alleviate the barriers that many South Sudanese young Australia.

“Definitely lack of access, a lot of us come from communities where we have one parent households and our parents might have church on Sunday. A lot of kids missed out today because their mum is at church, or they have lack of transportation,” Chuol said.

“We know that that’s a big one, young people having to catch public transport to get here. Just some of those underlying issues as to why there’s not a lot of young people playing and getting involved in the sport.”