Why the Sydney Swans will host a China-themed AFL match this month against West Coast Eagles

The Sydney Swans have announced plans to host a groundbreaking China-themed match at the SCG later this month.

The round 15 match against the West Coast Eagles aims to celebrate Chinese traditions and promote AFL inclusivity among the Chinese-Australian community, with 2,500 tickets allocated to Universities Australia for distribution.

These tickets are expected to offer international students who may not have experienced an AFL game before the chance to see the excitement firsthand.

The move comes after Port Adelaide moved three home games to China prior to Covid before the pandemic ended those games.

Distinguished guests are expected, including prominent Chinese and Australian government officials and influential business people.

AFL CEO-elect Andrew Dillon, Australia’s Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen and NSW Premier Chris Minns will be on hand for a pre-game lunch, festivities and the game itself.

AFL fans are treated to a series of traditional Chinese celebrations, including a dragon dance at the SCG

Port Adelaide played three annual AFL games for league points in China before Covid put an end to that

They will be joined by China’s Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian, Consul General in Sydney Zhou Limin and senior Sino-Australian business and trade figures.

As part of the pre-game festivities, a traditional dragon dance performance will be held on the field to coincide with the start of the Dragon Boat Festival on June 22.

The toss will be conducted by the Chinese Ambassador to Australia and the AFL will also use the event launch the book Celestial Footy: The Story of Chinese Heritage Aussie Rules written by Patrick Skene.

The book delves into the lesser-known history of Chinese involvement in Australian rules football, stretching back to the goldfields of Ballarat.

Swans chairman Andrew Pridham expressed the club’s strong desire to promote the sport to Sydney residents of Chinese descent, taking into account the sizeable and ever-growing Chinese population.

The recently released results of the 2021 census shed light on Sydney’s cultural diversity, with a significant 11.6 per cent 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 portion of the population,” Pridham said.

“We already have a very strong following of people of Chinese descent, and it shows in the audience.

“We want to do everything we can to show the game to as many Chinese heritage people as possible and welcome them to the club, and give them the chance to be a part of the Australian Indigenous game.”

The Swans already participate in the annual Marn Grook game that honors and celebrates the rich heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Sydney hosts a Mark Grook party every year when Carlton comes to town, honoring Indigenous players and traditions

Performers dance at the Marn Grook ceremony for this year’s Round 11 AFL match between Sydney Swans and Carlton Blues

The Sydney Swans host an annual Pride Game against the St Kilda Saints to raise awareness and promote inclusion for the LGBTQ+ community

The game of Marn Grook originated from the Djawurrung and Jardwadjali clans in Victoria’s Western District 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 and shaped it into the sport we know today.

In addition, the Swans participate in the annual Pride Game alongside St Kilda, demonstrating their commitment to promoting inclusion and supporting the LGBTQ+ community.

“Having relevantly themed games that support parts of the community is at the heart of our community engagement strategy,” said Pridham.

‘This is the first. As always happens with these things, they gain strength over time. As a club we would like to grow and make it a very recognizable match for us.’

Pridham added that the game was intended to bridge the gap between Chinese Australians who feel disengaged from the wider community.

“It started because a few people thought we should do something to say that Chinese people 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. See, Australian rules football is the closest.

“I think it’s going to create a platform that will get a fair amount of coverage across the Chinese-Australian communities in a variety of ways – and it’s up to the AFL and Swans to take advantage of that.

“From small acorns grow great oaks.”