South Eastern Women’s Football (SEWF) clubs Eastern Devils and St Kilda Sharks will create history on Saturday by taking part in the first ever senior women’s match in the Yarra Valley Pride Cup.
First held in 2014, the Pride Cup celebrates diversity and inclusion in sport for the lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual and intersex (LGBTI) communities by tackling homophobia in Australian Rules Football.
Pride Cup founder Jason Ball said the initiative had exploded throughout the state and at all levels of the AFL since the concept became a reality five years ago.
“We invited the St Kilda Football Club as well as the CEO’s and Presidents of other community football leagues around the state to come and experience the Pride Cup first-hand by attending our pre-match luncheon as well as the game itself,” a proud Ball said.
“That planted the seed that has resulted in the now annual AFL Pride Game between St Kilda and Sydney as well as the up to eight ‘Pride Cups’ that will be held across Victoria this year - from Hamilton to Gippsland.”
The Devils and Sharks will kickstart a huge double-header of Pride Cup action, hitting the Yarra Glen Recreation Reserve at 2pm before Yarra Glen take on Alexandra in the senior men’s competition.
Special guests on the day will include former Olympic swimmer Daniel Kowalski, Olympic snowboarder Belle Brockhoff, winner of Australia's Got Talent Bonnie Anderson and transgender footballer and LGBTI advocate Hannah Mouncey.
Admission is $10 for adults and free for children under 16, with $1 from every ticket sold being donated to Minus18, Australia's support network for LGBTI youth.
Activities on the day will include:
- Food trucks and community stalls
- Face painting for kids
- Proud2Play sports clinic for kids
- Yarra Valley Water longest kick competition
- Former and current St Kilda Football Club players
- Trophy presentations by Dolly Diamond and Abril Latrine
The action will continue in the clubrooms after both games, from 6:30pm, with post-game drinks and entertainment featuring drag performer Abril Latrine.
Last Modified on 26/04/2018 16:55