MELBOURNE will unveil an Indigenous mascot named ‘Flash’ before its match against Port Adelaide at the MCG on Saturday.
Flash is named in after former Melbourne star and 2009 best and fairest winner Aaron Davey.
Flash joins other Melbourne mascots ‘Checker’ (named after four-time Melbourne premiership coach Frank ‘Checker’ Hughes) and female mascot ‘Daisy’ (named after Melbourne women’s captain Daisy Pearce). The club also has junior Melbourne mascots ‘Chuck’ and ‘Cheeky’.
Davey said he was rapt to have a mascot named in his honour.
“I’m humbled. It’s a massive thing for me and especially now for my kids to have an Indigenous mascot named [after me] – I’m pretty honoured to be honest,” he told melbournefc.com.au.
“It’s great for kids to have an Indigenous mascot and someone they can look up to and it’s been great to have it launched this week, along with the club’s RAP (Reconciliation Action Plan).
“It’s been an exciting week for the football club and it’ll be awesome to have the mascot up in the Northern Territory when Melbourne plays up there.”
Indigenous project officer Matthew Whelan was the person behind the Flash idea, drawing inspiration from the Daisy mascot, which was unveiled during the inaugural AFL Women’s season earlier this year.
Whelan, who played 150 matches for Melbourne from 2000-09, said it was important to acknowledge the role of Indigenous players in the game, particularly at Melbourne, and a mascot was simply another initiative.
“With the RAP launch, the club thought it would be good to have an Indigenous mascot to recognise diversity and inclusion,” he told melbournefc.com.au.
“Flash honours Aaron Davey, who was the first Indigenous player to win a best and fairest for the Melbourne Football Club and he has played the most games for Melbourne by an Indigenous player.
“Flash is also important for the work we do in the community, especially in the Northern Territory. It’ll be great to see kids being able to interact with Flash.”
Other activities to be held at the Melbourne v Port Adelaide match this Saturday at the MCG
- Melbourne to wear its Indigenous guernsey on the MCG for the first time
- Live Welcome to Country performed by Wurundjeri Elder Aunty Joy
- Past Players and their kids have been invited to participate in the Guard of Honour
- Jeff Farmer to be our special guest kicker for Hogan’s Heroes Activation
- Club mascot, Flash to be in attendance for photo opportunities with kids
- Highlights video of Melbourne’s current and past Indigenous players to be broadcast on the big screen during pre-game
- Melbourne TV content from Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) launch to be broadcast on big screen during quarter breaks
- Casey Demons players to wear Indigenous guernsey against Essendon at Casey Fields on Saturday night
