The Sydney Swans have announced plans to host a game-changing China-themed match at the SCG later this month.
The Round 15 match against the West Coast Eagles aims to celebrate Chinese traditions and foster AFL inclusion within the Chinese-Australian community, with 2,500 tickets awarded to Universities Australia for distribution.
These tickets should allow international students who may not have yet experienced an AFL match to witness the excitement first hand.
The move comes after Port Adelaide moved three home games to pre-Covid China before the pandemic put a halt to those games.
Distinguished guests, including prominent Chinese and Australian government officials as well as influential business figures, are expected.
AFL CEO-elect Andrew Dillon, Australian Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen and NSW Premier Chris Minns will be on hand for a pre-match lunch, festivities and the game himself.
Chinese Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian will be one of the dignitaries attending lunch, pre-match events and the match itself between Sydney and the West Coast.
AFL fans will be treated to a range of traditional Chinese celebrations, including a dragon dance on the SCG
Port Adelaide played three annual AFL games for competitive points in China before Covid ended it
They will be joined by Chinese Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian, Consul General in Sydney Zhou Limin and Chinese-Australian business and commercial figures.
As part of the pre-game festivities, a traditional dragon dance performance will take place on the pitch, coinciding with the start of the Dragon Boat Festival on June 22.
The draw will be conducted by the Chinese Ambassador to Australia and the AFL will also use the event to throw the book Celestial Footy: The History of Australian Chinese Heritage Rules written by Patrick Skene.
The book delves into the lesser-known history of Chinese involvement in Australian rules football, dating back to the Ballarat gold fields.
Swans Chairman Andrew Pridham expressed the club’s keen desire to introduce the sport to Sydney residents of Chinese descent, taking into account the large and growing Chinese population.
The recently released 2021 census results shed light on Sydney’s cultural diversity, with 11.6% of the city’s population identifying Chinese ancestry.
The Swans hope to promote cultural exchange and strengthen the bond between the Chinese-Australian community and Australian rules football.
“It’s a significant part of the population,” Pridham said.
“We already have a very strong following among people of Chinese descent, which you will see in the crowd.”
“We want to do everything we can to bring the game to as many people of Chinese descent as possible and welcome them into the club, and give them the opportunity to be part of the Australian Indigenous game.”
The Swans already participate in the annual Marn Grook Game which honors and celebrates the rich heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Sydney hosts an annual Mark Grook celebration each year when Carlton comes to town, where Indigenous players and traditions are honored
Performers dance at the Marn Grook ceremony ahead of the AFL Round 11 match between Sydney Swans and Carlton Blues this year
The Sydney Swans hold an annual Pride Game against St Kilda Saints to raise awareness and promote inclusion of the LGBTQ+ community
The game of Marn Grook originated with the Djawurrung and Jardwadjali clans of the Western District of Victoria and was traditionally played during corroborees.
It is widely believed that this ancient game was one of the inspirations for the development of Australian rules football, transforming it into the sport we recognize today.
Additionally, the Swans take part in the annual Pride Game alongside St Kilda, demonstrating their commitment to promoting inclusivity and supporting the LGBTQ+ community.
“Having relevant themed games that support sections of the community is central to our community engagement strategy,” Pridham said.
‘It’s the first. As always happens with these things, they get bigger over time. As a club, we want to grow and make it a very recognizable game for us.
Pridham added that the game aimed to bridge the gap between Chinese Australians feeling disengaged from the wider community.
“It started because a few people thought we should do something to say that the Chinese are a fundamental part of the Australian community and Australian culture,” Colless said.
“The challenge was to find something that was quintessentially Australian and see if there was a Chinese connection. There you go, Australian rules football is the closest thing to it.
“I think it’s going to create a platform that will get good coverage in different ways across the Chinese-Australian communities – and that’s up to the AFL and the Swans to take advantage of.”
‘Little acorns grow great oak trees.’
