Picture above Buddy Franklin and Adam Goodes with NACCHO executive at the launch in Sydney

The National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO)  has today announced the partnership with the Australian Football League (AFL) to support the Indigenous All-Stars International Rules team.

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NACCHO Chair, Justin Mohamed, said he was excited by NACCHO’s ongoing involvement with the AFL.

NACCHO Chair Justin Mohamed and board member John Singer with Buddy Mick and Adam

“Working with the AFL gives us another channel to spread the health messages into Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities all across the country,” Mr Mohamed said.

“Aboriginal people are great followers of AFL and love to support their Aboriginal players.

Background

The 2013 Indigenous AFL Players represent 48 of these language or cultural groups. The map below (CLICK VIEW SITE ) demonstrates the diversity of our current Indigenous players.

Explore the map by clicking on the footballs or shaded areas to discover the language and/or cultural groups of these players.

VIEW THE SITE HERE

Below is a list of the 79 Indigenous players currently on AFL playing lists.

“AFL and Aboriginal community controlled health both have at their core a local, grass roots, community focus. Combining football with a good health message makes a lot of sense.

“Aboriginal health organisations who are run by Aboriginal people within their own communities are having the greatest impact in closing the disgraceful life expectancy gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians and improving the lives of our people.

“We are hopeful that by partnering with the AFL more Aboriginal men and women will be encouraged to think about their health and seek out their local Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation for a check up.”

Jason Mifsud, AFL’s Head of Diversity welcomed NACCHO’s involvement with the Indigenous All Stars International Rules team.

“The AFL are thrilled to be associated with an organisation whose members are doing such great work in improving the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the country,” Mr Mifsud said.

“We know that many of the AFL’s Aboriginal players are heroes within their communities and are advocates for good health and fitness.

“Through this partnership, the AFL welcomes the opportunity to help NACCHO spread the word in Aboriginal communities about the importance of good health and regular check ups.”

Media contact: Colin Cowell 0401 331 251, Olivia Greentree 0439 411 774

OFFICIAL AFL media release

MEDIA RELEASE FROM THE AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE

The AFL today announced the names of the players eligible for selection in the Indigenous Australian Rules team which will play in the 2013 International Rules Series.

Supported by Coles and the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO), the Indigenous Australian Rules will play Test matches in Cavan and Dublin in Ireland in October.

Head Coach Michael O’Loughlin made the squad announcement at a special event held at the National Centre for Indigenous Excellence in Sydney.

Representing the AFL Indigenous playing group, Hawthorn forward Lance Franklin and Sydney Swans forward Adam Goodes were in attendance.

AFL General Manager of Football Operations Mark Evans said this year’s International Rules Series is a significant and historic event in Australia’s Game.

“The series is a fantastic opportunity for the Indigenous All-Stars to come together as a team and to represent Australia for the first time ever in the International Rules against Ireland.

The Indigenous Australian Rules team will be made up of a very exciting list, which will showcase our Indigenous talent and prove to be a very competitive side to come up against.

“The final squad of 22 players which will travel to Ireland will be released following the Toyota AFL Grand Final Series.”

The current squad is:

Tony Armstrong (Sydney Swans), Harley Bennell
(Gold Coast), Eddie Betts (Carlton), Shaun Burgoyne
(Hawthorn), Allen Christensen (Geelong), Aaron Davey
(Melbourne), Alwyn Davey (Essendon), Courtenay Dempsey
(Essendon), Shane Edwards (Richmond), Lance
Franklin  (Hawthorn), Adam Goodes (Sydney), Curtly Hampton
(Greater Western Sydney), Bradley Hill (Hawthorn), Josh Hill
(West Coast), Stephen Hill (Fremantle), Leroy Jetta
(Essendon), Lewis Jetta (Sydney Swans), Michael
Johnson  (Fremantle), Andrew Krakouer (Collingwood), Nathan
Lovett-Murray (Essendon), Brandon Matera (Gold Coast), Ash
McGrath (Brisbane), Steven Motlop (Geelong), Danyle Pearce
(Fremantle), Patrick Ryder (Essendon), Mathew Stokes (Geelong),
Lindsay Thomas (North Melbourne), Travis Varcoe
(Geelong),  Andrew Walker (Carlton), Michael Walters (Fremantle),
Sharrod Wellingham (West Coast), Daniel Wells (North
Melbourne), Chris Yarran (Carlton).

Michael O’Loughlin will be supported by a senior coaching panel to be made up of Rodney Eade, Tadhg Kennelly and Andrew McLeod.

In the most recent series in Ireland in 2010 Australia secured a 2-0 victory under former coach Mick Malthouse, before losing 2-0 in Australia in 2011.

Partners

Coles is the official partner of the AFL Indigenous program which aims to deliver football, health, education, leadership and employment opportunities for Indigenous male and females.

The partnership extends to the elite level to include the Indigenous All-Stars, celebrating cultural identity in Australia’s game and strengthening Indigenous development in Australia.

The National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation represents the 150 health services across Australia that are run by Aboriginal people for Aboriginal people.

Below is a list of the 79 Indigenous players currently on AFL playing lists.

Adelaide Cameron  Ellis-Yolmen Graham  Johncock Jared  Petrenko Richard Tambling

Brisbane Ashley  McGrath Sam Sheldon

Carlton Eddie  Betts Jeffrey Garlett Andrew Walker Chris  Yarran

Collingwood Andrew Krakouer Kirk Ugle Peter  Yagmoor

Essendon Alwyn  Davey Courtney Dempsey Leroy  Jetta Anthony Long Nathan Lovett-Murray Patrick Ryder

Fremantle Jonathon Griffin Antoni Grover Stephen Hill Michael Johnson Jordon King-Wilson Michael Walters

Geelong Allen Christensen Joel Hamling Steven Motlop Mathew Stokes Travis  Varcoe Bradley Hartman

Gold Coast Harley Bennell Jarrod Harbrow Brandon Matera Steven  May Liam Patrick

Greater Western Sydney Rhys  Cooyou Shaun Edwards Curtly Hampton Gerald Ugle Nathan  Wilson

Hawthorn Shaun Burgoyne Amos Frank Lance Franklin Bradley Hill Cyril Rioli Derrick Wanganeen Jed Anderson

Melbourne Jamie Bennell Aaron Davey Neville Jetta Kelvin Lawerence Dom Barry

North Melbourne Cruize Garlett Lindsay Thomas Daniel Wells

Port Adelaide Brendon Ah Chee Danyle Pearce Chad Wingard Jake Neade

Richmond Shane  Edwards Gibson Turner

St Kilda Raphael Clarke Terry Milera Nicholas Winmar

Sydney Tony Armstrong Adam Goodes Lewis Jetta

West Coast Joshua Hill Murray  Newman Callum Papertalk Koby  Stevens Gerrick Weedon Brad Dick Sharrod Wellingham

Western Bulldogs Liam Jones Koby Stevens Brett Goodes

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