160 students from Glen Waverley Secondary College visit the AIA Vitality Centre as part of Collingwood’s support of the Unity Cup Program.

The Unity Cup Program is run by AFL Victoria and is aimed at boosting the participation of multicultural children aged 13-17 years old in Australian Rules Football (AFL).

Delivered across 6 weeks, various schools in the region create teams which then play in a Unity Cup Day on Sunday the 23rd April.

The Collingwood Football Club has proudly supported Glen Waverley Secondary College in their Unity Cup efforts for 6 years by assisting in weekly training sessions and the development of footy literacy and skills in the lead up to the big dance.

Student volunteers from the Collingwood Magpie Sport and Business Program help to facilitate these training sessions each week alongside representatives from the Club.

With 19 Multicultural Magpie Teams and 267 registered students, Glen Waverley Secondary College and Collingwood maintain the highest participation in the program of any Club.

This week, 160 students from these teams got to experience an excursion at the nest which included a tour of the facility, footy drills and activities, and various giveaways.

Students also got the opportunity to interact with Collingwood players; Reef McInnes, Nathan Murphy, Eliza James, Jordyn Allen and Alana Porter as they signed autographs and answered any burning questions during a player Q&A. 

The excursion concluded with an address from the Collingwood Football Club CEO, Craig Kelly and the presentation of both an AFL and ALFW guernsey signed by all players. 

The Club will continue to support the Multicultural Magpies and the Unity Cup Program and drive its commitment to creating a safe and inclusive environment that empowers young kids from all walks of life to connect and feel a sense of belonging.