GIANTS captain Stephen Coniglio and AFLW star Haneen Zreika have been announced as AFL Multicultural Ambassadors for 2020.
Coniglio continues in the role he was first appointed to in 2014 while Zreika has been named as an ambassador for the first time and is one of just three AFLW Multicultural Ambassadors.
Coniglio is of Italian heritage with his Italian father and English mother migrating to Australia in the 1960s.
The 26-year-old is passionate about helping the community and was awarded the 2019 Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award for his outstanding commitment to multicultural youth in western Sydney.
“Growing up with an Italian and British heritage, I understand the importance of embracing diversity and the sense of belonging that comes with being involved in sport," Coniglio said.
“Diversifying our game is one of the most important things we can do to strengthen it for future generations, and I know myself and the rest of the Multicultural Ambassadors are looking forward to working with multicultural communities and getting involved with a host of AFL Diversity programs this year.
“You cannot be what you cannot see, so being part of the 2020 Multicultural Ambassador program is a great opportunity for us to be positive role models for the next generation of AFL and AFL Women’s talent and encourage people from all backgrounds to get involved in our great game.”
Zreika is of Lebanese heritage and was not only the first Lebanese woman to play AFLW but also the first Muslim woman to play in the competition when she debuted in round one, 2019.
Having grown up in Western Sydney, Zreika is passionate about encouraging women of all backgrounds to play Australian Rules Football and hopes to inspire another generation of Muslim women to take up the sport.
Coniglio and Zreika join 17 other ambassadors who come from the AFL, AFLW, state leagues, community leagues, the Victorian Wheelchair Football League and the AFL Blind competition.
The AFL will celebrate the cultural diversity within the game through 11 dedicated multicultural themed matches throughout the 2020 Toyota AFL Premiership season.
The GIANTS will play Melbourne at the MCG in the Demons’ Welcome Game in round two before hosting Essendon in round 17 for the Many Cultures – Multicultural Round at GIANTS Stadium.
