AFL - Australian Football League

Mary Dunn has been named as the 2024 AFLW Indigenous Round Honouree for her devotion to the development of women's football in the Tiwi Islands. Mary is an Anjilunga Lorulla woman from Pirlangimpi (on Melville Island), who has been pivotal in the development of football in the Tiwi Islands, including holding the positions of Chairperson and President of the Tiwi Bombers Football Club, and often umpiring and officiating matches. Mary is the fifth person to be named as Honouree for the dedicated round, following fellow honourees Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin AO (2021), Alicia Janz (Season 6, 2022), Aunty Pam Pedersen (Season 7, 2022) and Ebony Abbott-McCormack (2023). Find out more: https://lnkd.in/dT8Az5Hn #AFLW #SpiritStrongGameOn Mary Dunn presenting the Mary Dunn Cup to the 2023 Tiwi Islands Football League Women's Premiers Muluwurri Magpies (December 2023). Picture: Patch Clapp/AFLNT Media

Our AFLW Indigenous Round will be held across Week nine and Week 10 of the 2024 NAB AFLW Premiership Season and recognise the significant contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls to Australian football and the broader community. ‘Spirit Strong, Game On’ is the theme for the dedicated round, which recognises the resilience and strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The theme honours Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' traditions, cultures and enduring spirit, as well as their ongoing impact and legacy in Australian Rules Football and society. Six AFLW Clubs will swap their name for traditional in-language names and all 18 Clubs will wear specially designed Indigenous Round guernseys, while umpires at all matches across Weeks nine and 10 will wear uniforms designed by Noongar Wandandi Boodja man and current umpire, Joshua James. Find out more here: https://lnkd.in/dppe2fFq Learn about our 2024 AFLW Indigenous Round Honouree: https://lnkd.in/dT8Az5Hn #SeeyouattheW #SpiritStrongGameOn

The AFL is pleased to confirm that a 2025 Toyota AFL Indigenous All Stars Match will be played against the Fremantle Football Club at Optus Stadium in Perth on Saturday 15 February.   Premier Partner of the AFL, Toyota Motor Corporation Australia, has expanded its support of the game, by partnering with the AFL’s National Indigenous and Multicultural Academies as well as coming on board as the naming rights partner of the 2025 Toyota Indigenous All Stars match.   AFL Executive General Manager of Social Policy and Inclusion Tanya Hosch shared, “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players have a remarkable history in our game and the All Stars team builds on this legacy that I am thrilled to see will return to the field in 2025.” Find out more: https://lnkd.in/gxqR4Pdw

A great new initiative from the Tasmania Football Club 👏

In recognition of World Mental Health Day, we’re proud to acknowledge and celebrate all those involved in delivering Movember Ahead of the Game – a mental health literacy and resilience program for young people, their families and their footy communities. Proudly presented by Coles Group, since its inception in June last year, we’ve partnered with 24 community organisations to deliver 900 workshops at more than 150 local clubs across Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory – creating a positive impact on more than 17,000 workshop participants including parents and coaches. With the program’s national implementation now complete, Ahead of the Game is the largest rollout of a mental fitness program in sport globally. The firsthand feedback from participants demonstrates the significant impact we’ve achieved, and our team are already working with new community clubs ahead of an even bigger 2025. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/gupAk5qC #mentalfitness #communityfootball

The AFL's commitment to being a more inclusive sport will be celebrated this week though our annual NAB AFLW Pride Round. Held in week seven of the NAB AFLW competition between Tuesday 8 and Sunday 13 October, this year marks the fifth occasion the League will hold a dedicated round that celebrates and supports diversity and inclusion of LGBTQI communities in Australian Football, acknowledging their contributions to the strength and growing success of the League. As part of this year's Pride Round, a rainbow will feature on the iconic Sherrin for the second consecutive year, while all 18 AFLW clubs will wear specially designed Pride guernseys. The AFL’s Executive General Manager Inclusion and Social Policy Tanya Hosch shared that Pride Round is a powerful platform for inclusion. "AFLW Pride Round is a time for everyone – players, fans, and allies – to come together and embrace the diversity that strengthens our game." Find out more: https://lnkd.in/g4KvHW7X #SeeYouBeYou #AFLWPrideRound2024

With Grand Final week fast approaching, we're pleased to share that Footy Festival will take over Yarra Park, Melbourne next week from Wednesday 25 to Saturday 28 September. Entry is free and features entertainment for all ages including player appearances, AFL Play Zone, giveaways, and Melbourne’s best food trucks. For the first time, you can also experience Footy Festival at night. Enjoy live music and amazing food from signature Melbourne restaurants including Easey’s, Hella Good & Pinchy’s at The Lawn by Bunnings. This year there will be a cool new addition – the Schweppes Ice Rink where you can enjoy a forty minute ice skating session while listening to tunes from our resident DJ. Register here: https://lnkd.in/gs5TK9N9 Find out more about Footy Festival⁠: https://lnkd.in/gxU2eXjM #AFL #footy

The Western Districts Saints in South Australia completed an incredible unbeaten season by winning the Kangaroo Island Football League premiership, in the same year the club unveiled all-new facilities after the local area and community was devastated by bushfires in 2020.   A number of different stakeholder groups came together to help. The AFL's investment in the project was nearly $1.5 million, which included a contribution made through the AFL Community Relief Fund. The total project investment from all stakeholder groups was nearly $4.5 million. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/gHG63dwt #communityfootball | SANFL

At the AFL, we’re committed to supporting and empowering women to lead with confidence, authenticity and courage through our Women in Leadership Program. Every year, we select the best and brightest female leaders across our 18 AFL Clubs and the AFL to participate – helping them to connect, grow and elevate their careers and leadership skills. A special shoutout to the incredible Andi Pert, our long-term partner and facilitator, who continues to unlock powerful leadership insights and help women tap into their true potential. The connections formed by our 2024 cohort are inspiring. #WomenInLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #WomenInSport 

Nearly 100 clubs and community umpire associations across Australia have successfully applied to share in a total of $250,000 to go towards junior and youth girls football uniforms.   The funding is provided through the Junior and Youth Girls Uniform Grant Program launched earlier this year by the AFL, and proudly supported by Fanatics, a global digital sports platform. View the full list here: https://lnkd.in/g88kPiYT #communityfootball #womenandgirlsinfootball