The AFL's traditional Multicultural Round will be reformatted in season 2018, with the change allowing clubs to celebrate Australia’s cultural diversity throughout the entire year.

For the last seven years, the Toyota AFL Multicultural Round has traditionally been held in the second half of the Premiership Season with nine clubs hosting themed matches across the course of one round.

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan said the change from celebrating Australia’s cultural diversity in just one men’s round to across the entire year showcases the league’s commitment in ensuring inclusion lives within all levels of Australian Football.

“Our game has played an important role in highlighting multiculturalism across the country through a dedicated round for the past seven years, however with the inclusion of the NAB AFL Women’s competition this year and with clubs increasingly passionate about promoting a variety of community messages, now is the right time to evolve the celebration of inclusion to extend throughout the year,” Mr McLachlan said.

“In our annual fixturing process, with only nine clubs able to host matches in Multicultural Round, it became evident that the time was right to implement a broader approach.

“Now we can work with clubs and industry partners to promote a variety of community-related messages throughout the season.

“The celebration of cultural diversity within Australian Football doesn’t need one round to prove its existence – it lives within community and grassroots football, in both the elite men’s and women’s competitions and is highlighted by the multicultural male and female player ambassadors,” he said.

For the 2017 season, there were 118 players in the men’s competition with multicultural backgrounds, 14 per cent overall, and 21 having been born overseas. The inaugural NAB AFL Women’s competition saw 17 players with multicultural backgrounds.

“Our game provides a harmonious and safe platform for all to feel included in Australian society and to have various cultures and linguistics celebrated.

“It was highlighted by recent National Female Diversity Championships where over 100 players from different cultures came together to play Australian Football.”

The AFL’s Diversity department alongside the state and territory bodies run year-long programs to support participation in Australian Football from players, umpires, coaches through to volunteers.

“The change reflects our upmost commitment to ensuring the game is inclusive for all, with equality and diversity at the forefront, and that we support everyone to live, work and play free from discrimination,” Mr McLachlan said.

The AFL’s Multicultural Programs include Community Ambassadors, the Multicultural Schools Program, All Nations Cup, World Team, Medleys, the Bachar Houli Programs, Diversity Coaching and Umpiring Academies and AFL Multicultural Player Ambassadors.

The objectives of these programs are to provide opportunities and pathways for diverse communities to be engaged in all areas of AFL Football.