Dozens of AMES students will take centre stage at Etihad Stadium on Sunday as part of the AFL’s Multicultural Round.

The students are playing in special 9-a-side games, designed to introduce new arrivals to Australia to footy.

The games will take place at half-time during the Western Bulldogs-Essendon match on Sunday.

With the AFL match starting at 4.40pm, the half-time games will begin at 5.45pm.

The event follows on from the success of the Western Bulldogs’ annual CALDplay Football Carnival last month at the Whitten Oval in Footscray.

The half-time games are the culmination of a six-week introductory football program in which the participants were taught football skills and met people from other emerging communities.

AMES teacher Matthew Rodger said the students were looking forward to playing on the Etihad arena.

“They have all shown great commitment and have been turning up for training. Some of them are even playing in a game organised by the Western Bulldogs on Friday afternoons,” he said.

“It is a great way for them to learn a bit about Australia; and it is good to see the students developing friendships,” Matthew said.

For more information on the event, contact Margot Hennessy on: (03) 8558 8800.