Inter-match AFL at the MCG
October 3, 2022 by Jack Chrapot
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The AFL received a much-needed boost on the day after last week’s grand final with the playing of the third annual Jolson-Houli Unity Cup matches on the hallowed turf of the MCG.
Three sets of brothers preparing for the main game at the G!
Less than 24 hours after Cats’ skipper Joel Selwood raised the AFL’s 2022 Premiership Cup, two sets of teams made up of Jewish and Muslim players representing the Henry Jolson Pathways Program, Maccabi and the AJAX Football Club and the Bachar Houli Academy faced off against each other in a demonstration of mutual respect, harmony, and unity through sport.
Spectators of both faiths mingled in friendship in the stands. The message on the big screens was a warm “Welcome, Salaam, Shalom”, followed by a rendition of Sheva’s classic “Od Yavo Shalom Aleinu (peace will be upon us)” by original band member Amir Paiss while players of both sides stood arm in arm in a big circle in the centre of the world-famous stadium.
The outcome of the two games, both played in excellent spirit and highlighted by some exciting displays of skill and sportsmanship, was that honours for the day were shared. The Jolson Under 15 team won their match while the Houli Under 18 squad were too strong in their game.
While the matches played involved only two of the country’s many minority communities, their importance was brought home by disturbing revelations a few days earlier from the external review commissioned by the Hawthorn Football Club into its treatment of young First Nations players.
There is a connection between that news and the bringing together of members of two otherwise diverse communities through sport.
The organisers of these games believe they can build social ties, educate and promote mutual understanding and trust and assist young people to face challenges such as the growing levels of Islamophobia, antisemitism and other forms of discrimination both here and around the world.
These are issues that impact all minorities including our First Nations People who are very much part of this program. A joint squad comprising 11 players from each of the older teams that participated in the matches will be selected to take on an elite team of Indigenous Players early in the 2023 season. Games against a multicultural team and girls games are also on the drawing board for the future.
The Jolson teams were comprised mainly of AJAX Football Club members but at the higher age levels (17 and 18) some outstanding young Jewish footballers were invited to participate. AFL Draft prospect Harry Sheezel who played in the Australian Championship winning Vic Metro team during grand final week was a panelist at a stakeholder’s function before the main game.
