Update 23 July 2pm: Due to inclement weather, the ACT Government has closed all sportsgrounds until Monday 25 July and all AFL Canberra games will be cancelled.
23 July 5.50am: The Eastlake and Ainslie AFL football clubs will set aside their long-standing rivalry for the inaugural Pride Game this weekend.
Celebrating and supporting the LGBTQIA+ community, the initiative comes after a push from the Eastlake senior women’s players with the Demons set to run out on the weekend in their brand-new pride jerseys.
“We’re really proud of the jersey and it’s actually been designed by some members of our women’s program,” says Eastlake senior women’s captain Catherine Brown.
“For those of us who may be LGBTQI it means a little bit more, it is a bit of a ‘pinch me’ moment.
“To know that we’ve reached that point in our community where there is that level of acceptance, and to know that that extends within your own footy club is really important.”
Eastlake’s general manager of football Shaun Young echoed this sentiment – “it says a lot about our playing group” – and hopes in future the Pride Game could become a Pride Round involving all AFL Canberra clubs.
“It’s a massive honour to be part of the celebration on the weekend and the pride round from a holistic club perspective … our main motto is one club, one team, one family,” he says.
“I think that it’d be great if we did it as a code and particularly a competition such as AFL Canberra, it would be great if everyone could fully embrace it.”
All senior teams from both clubs will be a part of this weekend’s Pride Games, with the Ainslie Tricolours to sport rainbow socks for the occasion.
“Community organisations like sporting clubs can play really powerful roles in the community,” says Ainslie first grade captain Matt Teasdale.
“I hope next year this is a round-wide thing and I hope more leagues try and do similar initiatives.”
Watch the Demons and the Tricolours at Football Park, Phillip on Saturday 24 July with games from 9.30am. The Pride Game is sponsored by Colliers International.
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