New South Wales will wear the colours of the GIANTS at the 2014 AFL National Inclusion Carnival in Melbourne.

The NSW team will wear orange and charcoal as they take on teams from around Australia. The competition involves 15 games across three days, culminating in the finals on Sunday.

The NSW GIANTS will also have the chance to play at the home of football, the MCG, at half time of the match between Melbourne and the North Melbourne.

NSW is set to tackle teams from South Australia, Queensland, Tasmania, VIC Country and VIC Metro, and will be coached by GIANTS community engagement staff Ali Faraj and Emad Elkheir.

Greg Brown, the Director of Sports 4 All, a not for profit organisation that helps people with intellectual disabilities get involved in sports such as AFL, said the event that began in 2013 has continued to grow.

“We decided there was a need for a competition for athletes with disabilities, so we approached the AFL and they were very supportive of the idea,” he said.

“This year the AFL have come right on board and provided funding and support to run a national competition. Our aim is for next year that WA and the Northern Territory will come in to make a full national competition.

“The GIANTS have really got behind the carnival and the players get a real kick out of wearing the GIANTS colours.”

The NSW team has prepared for the tournament at the GIANTS’ training facility at Sydney Olympic Park.

“Last year we got to train with the GIANTS at Arden Street when they were down there (Melbourne), and then we got invited into the rooms before they played Collingwood at the MCG, which was a great honour for the boys,” Brown said.

The trip also includes time conducting school football clinics and a tour of Melbourne’s sites to promote the carnival.

“The other big part of the competition is that on top of playing games, the NSW GIANTS team will get along to special schools in Melbourne and do some coaching clinics and show what is possible for people with disabilities," Brown said.
 
“It’s a big part of the program, to open it up to all people so that everyone can be a part of the game."