Youngsters took part in football games for the first time down at Kialla Recreation Reserve.
The next generation of football stars have been honing their talents at the Mulitcultural AFL Nines event in Kialla, with many youngsters taking to the field for the first time.
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The program was officially launched by AFL Victoria to help bring the sport to new participants across the state, while celebrating cultural cohesion and diversity via a fast-paced non-contact format.
Donning their boots and guernseys for the event as it descended on Kialla Recreation Reserve on August 5, players required no prior experience of the game before forming part of teams of nine.
Speaking as the program made its way to the Goulburn Valley in alignment with the Shepparton English Language School, the AFL’s participation coordinator, Kevin Monaghan, looked forward to bringing the game to a new audience.
The target age-range of the participants is Secondary College students from the ages of 13 through to 18, with a mixed split of male and female players.
As part of the program, he has helped to introduce youngsters to footy from a diverse range of cultural backgrounds, as the participants are taught the key fundamentals of the game in an inclusive and accessible environment.
Neema Erick and Adela Nyakahimbi enjoyed the session down in Kialla.
“We’ve roughly got about 60 to 65 participants registered to the program and the idea is to introduce everyone around our region to the sport,” he said.
“The best part about these programs is that, nearly 100 per cent of the kids haven’t touched a footy before.
“So to be able to activate a four-week program, where they learn the fundamental skills of AFL - marking, kicking and handling - it means we are then able to play a game with them!
“To put it in context, the majority of the kids who participate in this program have only come to Australia either this year or the year before.
Adela Nyakahimbi takes part in the AFL Nines Program down at Kialla.
“So there’s kids from countries like Afghanistan, the Phillipines, Thailand, China, Turkey and Russia who have taken part.
“It’s been a really good to see them get to take part in footy for the first time - it’s been very humbling and overwhelming.
“We’re really proud of this program and to be able to give these kids the chance to play the game.”
In addition, the All Girls Auskick & Superkick Program is in the diary at Kialla Recreation Reserve this August, with this event helping to introduce girls to fundamental footy skills.
Age groups are split up between 4-7 and then from 8-12, to ensure the children are able to play with the majority of their friends, while developing their skills.
“These programs give an opportunity for the girls to participate in footy and provide a pathway for them where they are able to play footy and continue to play it afterwards as well,” he said.
“The purpose is to set that foundation for All-Girls football in our region - if we can continue to do that, we’ll be able to see the pathway from where they’ve started right through to the Goulburn Murray Women & Girls League from the bottom up.”
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