AFL’s multicultural round marked with Sherrin footballs bearing different languages

AUSTRALIA’S multiculturalism will be celebrated by the AFL this weekend, with teams to use special footballs adorned with several languages as a welcome message.

Multicultural Round ambassadors Dyson Heppell and Darcy Vescio check out the special balls. Picture: David Crosling

SPECIAL footballs adorned with several languages will be used to celebrate Multicultural Round in the AFL this weekend.

Each Sherrin used in round 19 will be stamped with the word “welcome” in six languages — Italian, Greek, Hindi, Arabic, Chinese and Spanish.

Essendon captain Dyson Heppell and Carlton AFLW star Darcy Vescio were today among the first to get their hands on the special balls for a Herald Sun photo shoot.

Multicultural ambassador Heppell said the round would recognise the contributions different communities have made to Australian rules.

“It really highlights the power the game has in uniting all backgrounds,” he said

Vescio, whose mum is Chinese and dad is Italian, said it was important the AFL pushed an inclusive message.

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“It’s just an awesome opportunity to celebrate the cultures in the game and the potential cultures that might enter the game,’’ she said.

“There are many multicultural players in the game as well and it’s great to push them to the front.’’

Bilingual messaging featuring six different languages will also be painted on the 50m arc for Multicultural Round.

Umpires will wear orange wristbands and use orange goal flags to represent harmony.

Video stories will be played on big screens at all venues.

And the Collingwood-Adelaide match will be called in Mandarin and streamed live on community radio.

The AFL estimates multicultural players make up 15 per cent of player lists across 18 clubs and 7.8 per cent across the eight AFLW teams.