GIANTS foundation member Gurpreet Grewal is the subject of the third and final short film in a series celebrating cultural diversity in Australian Football.
Gurpreet’s story, produced by independent filmmaker Amie Batalibasi, explores the GIANTS fan’s journey from India to Adelaide to eventually settling in Western Sydney.
The film series, supported by the AFL and Australia Post, began with a piece about young Melbourne footballer Asma Kassem released in July 2016.
The first film explored Asma and her Yemeni family’s connection to Australian Football, which started at North Melbourne’s The Huddle Program.
Brisbane Lions Reuben William was the subject of the second film released in November to coincide with the NAB AFL Draft looking into his South Sudanese heritage before migrating to Australia.
Released on Tuesday in conjunction with the launch of the 2017 Toyota AFL Multicultural Round at Lachlan’s Old Government House in Parramatta, the third film’s subject Gurpreet spoke to his love of Australian Football.
“On a Saturday afternoon, we would just watch the AFL and I became a fanatical fan, it was a great way to connect with Australian culture and the Australian people,” Mr Grewal said.
“Growing up we didn’t go to the AFL often, and I said to my parents when I grew up I’d take my wife, my kids, it’d become my life.
“Being of the Sikh faith, I like to match my turban to the colour of my footy team when I go watch, so every GIANTS game I’m wearing the orange turban, it’s my way of showing that my religion and footy match perfectly,” he said.
AFL General Manager Inclusion and Social Policy Tanya Hosch said the three short films with Australia Post highlighted the increasing participation across the game.
“The final film done in conjunction with Australia Post focuses on the fan’s story, which allows the series to perfectly summarise inclusion from grassroots to the elite game after we watched with keen interest a footballer’s story and a junior participant’s story,” Ms Hosch said.
“These films are about people who love Australian Football, and were specifically chosen to highlight the cultural diversity across our iconic game.
“The subject of the third and final film, Gurpreet, talks about falling in love with Australian Football first with the Adelaide Crows and now with the GIANTS.
“Gurpreet is an example of a fan who feels he can be himself when he comes to our game. He and his family articulate how AFL is inclusive across culture, religion and linguistics through their shared experience,” she said.
The three-part series has been produced as a joint project between the AFL and Australia Post, the AFL’s official community inclusion partner, to highlight the cultural diversity within Australian Football from grassroots to the elite game.
The GIANTS take on Fremantle at Spotless Stadium on Saturday, July 29 with the first bounce at 2:10pm. The AFL Multicultural Festival runs from 12pm-6pm and is FREE, click here to buy your tickets to the game.
