FRANKIE Cheng, the barber from Kerang and face of the 2015 Toyota AFL Multicultural Round, will lead Melbourne’s Big Dragon (Dai Loong) out onto the MCG prior to the start of the game against North Melbourne.
Frankie’s teammates from Wandella in Victoria’s Golden Rivers Football League will make the journey to Melbourne to show their support and to acknowledge his Chinese heritage by walking with him and the dragon from Chinatown to the MCG.
Former co-captain Jack Trengove and first year player Christian Petracca will be at the Chinese Museum at Cohen Place at 11am to send Frankie and his teammates off. Everyone is encouraged to celebrate Melbourne’s diversity by joining the dragon as it snakes through the streets and gardens of Melbourne before reaching the home of football.
The dragon parade is part of the Club’s efforts to recognise and support Melbourne’s Chinese communities’ contribution to this city and our great game. As part of Multicultural Round, and in partnership with the AFL, the Club is offering:
- Free ticket offer to Melbourne’s Chinese communities (registrations close at 5pm on 6/8/15) at www.melbournefc.com.au/dragon
- Chinese Mandarin commentary of Melbourne Vs North Melbourne available on AFL app
- WatchAFL (the AFL’s official global streaming service) for people outside Australia offering free access for Round 19 at http://watchafl.afl.com.au register from 5/8/15
- Chinese themed match day with in-stadium LED & pre-game entertainment
The Melbourne Football club has been a pioneer in developing the AFL’s China connections, as the first club to play an AFL exhibition match in China as part of the 2010 Shanghai World Expo. Melbourne has supported and hosted the Chinese AFL National team in 2008 and 2011 during their International Cup competitions in Melbourne, including a two-week pre-season scholarship for two players.
Melbourne is also the first Club to secure a Chinese sponsor in the AFL, when China Southern Airlines became a major partner in 2014 and has formed an official association with the Chinese social media app WeChat to better connect with Chinese in Australia. Melbourne Football Club acknowledges and celebrates the contribution the Chinese communities have made to this city’s development and diversity and hope that they will support and cheer for the team that shares the name of the world’s most liveable city.
Fankie Cheng meets Melbourne players Dom Tyson and Max Gawn (Photo: Matt Goodrope)
