You don’t have to be an Aussie to love AFL
NORTH Cairns Tiger Charnelle Willis is the epitome of multiculturalism in Aussie rules.
The Canadian grew up playing rugby but was quickly convinced to kick the Sherrin with a few expatriate Aussies and just a few years later was training with the first pro- fessional female footballers.
Around Australia this weekend, all leagues will mark AFL Multicultural Round, which gives everyone the opportunity to celebrate the diverse cultures that make up our game.
Willis is in her first season at Watsons Oval after playing with UTS Shamrocks in Sydney last season, where she trained with a few GWS Giants players who went on to play in the first season of AFLW.
“A few friends invited me out for a kick and I ended up falling in love with it,” she said.
“I like the speed of the game and that size does not matter in Aussie rules, I am a smaller player but I can still compete.
“Aussies have started all the individual teams in Canada but heaps of locals are playing now, too.”
Willis is one of many AFL Cairns players with diverse backgrounds, including brothers Matthew and Lucas Mitchell, who are of Philippine descent, while Papua New Guinea’s Willie Aisi and Daryl O’Toole, from Ireland, are regulars at ovals around the Far North.
AFL Multicultural Round promotes that the game is for everyone.