A Game for Everyone: Nima’s Journey Through AFL

Off the back of our wildly successful W2AFL program this past weekend, we had the pleasure of premiering a very special video involving Nima who is the National Cultural Diversity Engagement & Participation Manager at the AFL.

Nima has been a valued partner with The Huddle across multiple programs, helping us connect with new and diverse communities, introducing them to the game we love — but more importantly, he brings a depth of lived experience and storytelling that resonates deeply with our participants.

We first met Nima during our Game Changers program, where he joined as a panellist, as well as jumping in to support our participants as they developed their ideas for our pitch night. It was clear from his first visit that he had an amazing ability to connect meaningfully with our participants — sharing some of the challenges he faced following a non-traditional career path and the realities of navigating employment alongside the strengths you can gain from it.

As the National Cultural Diversity Engagement & Participation Manager at the AFL, Nima’s work aligns beautifully with what we aim to do at our W2AFL program and the wider Huddle, creating inclusive, welcoming pathways for all. So, we sat down with him to talk about his journey — how he fell in love with AFL, the challenges he’s overcome following a non-traditional career pathway, and how those experiences have shaped the work he’s doing today to make the game accessible for all communities.

🎥 In this video, Nima shares personal reflections on his journey falling in love with the sport of AFL and the broader efforts across the AFL to ensure it truly is a sport for everyone.

Stay tuned for more from Nima because this is a story worth hearing.