NAB unveils latest Mini Legends campaign with Bachar Houli, Tayla Harris, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti
Five footy stars are the latest downsized and depicted as NAB’s Mini Legends. Find out if your favourite player is one of them. SEE THE PICTURES
VIC News
Don't miss out on the headlines from VIC News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Being Bachar Houli is all in the beard.
The Tigers defender is among the latest footy stars to be downsized in the NAB Mini Legends campaign — to be launched today.
He told the Herald Sun that replicating his famous facial whiskers on Jake, 8, would have been a tough task.
“I was pumped to see how the young fella was going to look and they did an amazing job,” Houli said.
“The beard was probably the toughest part. I was checking him out and I couldn’t fault it.
“It was like looking at my future son, if I have one, but I’m tipping he probably wouldn’t have the beard at that age.”
Houli is the youngster’s favourite player, despite him backing the Bombers.
The pair spent more than three hours together after Houli surprised his ‘mini’ during a photo shoot.
“The look on his face was priceless,” he said.
“He was full of questions, full of energy and was keen to have a kick.”
The fourth instalment of the popular campaign also features eight-year-old Alyssa as Carlton’s Tayla Harris, Grace, 8, as Cats forward Richelle Cranston and Koby, 6, as Port Adelaide’s Justin Westhoff.
Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti’s second cousin, eight-year-old Albert, was recruited to play the Bombers cult-hero.
Big-kicking Harris emerged as the fan-favourite after a call out for ‘minis’ earlier this year.
NAB’s Suzana Ristevski said the latest campaign reflected Australia’s passion for grassroots footy.
“NAB Mini Legends always reminds me of the excitement I used to see on my kids’ faces each Saturday morning at Auskick when they were little,” she said.
“I’m particularly impressed that women are so well represented in this year’s line-up — I hope this year’s recruits inspire a whole new generation of players.”
MINI SPORTS STARS TAP INTO FOOTY FEVER
MINI AFL STARS ARE MAKING THEIR MARK
LITTLE DUSTY JOINS MINI-LEGEND CAMPAIGN
The AFL’s commercial general manager Kylie Rogers said Auskick helped develop the skills of future footy stars, both on and off the field.
“Grassroots football is at the core of many communities around Australia, with over 260,000 junior and youth clubs across the country,” she said.
“The new NAB Mini Legends campaign is a real story of progress and highlights the enthusiasm Australian children have for the game, connecting them with their idols from both the AFL and NAB AFLW.”
The Mini Legends TV ad will premiere on Friday.