The AFL today announced Israel Folau and Sydney Swan, Kieran Jack as ambassadors for the game at Blacktown Olympic Park, home of the GWS GIANTS, in front of more than 300 young AFL footballers.

The two talented sportsmen will help promote AFL to tens of thousands of children, teenagers, adults, parents and community groups throughout New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. The players will visit schools, junior football clubs and will be involved in community, multicultural and the two club Academy programs to help position AFL as a sporting option for people of all ages and skill levels.

David Matthews, General Manager National and International Development said that today’s announcement was an exciting step in the AFL’s push to promote the code in NSW and the ACT.

“Today’s announcement is significant for the AFL in terms of our approach to growing the game in Sydney and across the state and territory,” Matthews said.

“Israel is a young man who hasn’t come from a traditional AFL background but has decided to take up the sport in his twenties, which presents a different set of learnings and experiences to share with the community.

“Kieren is the perfect example of a young player who first experienced AFL at primary school and has since followed the AFL pathway in NSW. Kieren is now recognised as one of the game’s most dominant midfielders, winning the Sydney Swans best and fairest award in 2010.

"Both young men are great examples to the young people in their communities. “We believe that having these two young men share their journey will widen the reach of the NSW/ACT sporting public to grow the participation and fan base, particularly for junior participation recruitment campaigns providing kids with another sporting option,” Matthews said.

Folau was excited about his new role in the AFL and the opportunity that it presents him to share his experience of learning the game of AFL in the community that he was born in and went to school in.

“As a player that is learning the game I look forward to being able to talk to the community and kids who are taking up football and sharing my day to day experiences,” Folau said.

“For me it has been an interesting learning curve, entering a new sport like this does throw up its challenges, but I am really enjoying my time in the AFL and I want to share my journey with others.

“Taking on this commitment is not just about learning a new sport but also broadening my own life experiences.”