South African-born Jason Johannisen, never dreamed he'd be an AFL player when he arrived in Australia as a seven-year-old.
Johannisen was born in Johannesburg and migrated to Perth with his family in 2000.
He played rugby union for the Southern Lions before being convinced by his cousin to fill in for his Aussie rules team, the Willeton Blues.
On Saturday night, thousands of other children from the multicultural communities of the inner and western suburbs of Melbourne will gather to celebrate Australia’s cultural diversity in the inaugural AFL Harmony Game.
Johannisen said he hopes the match will inspire other migrants to embrace the game that made him feel at home in the Australian community.
“To come across to Australia and not really feel in place, football brought me into a friendship group at school and brought me into the Australian community,” Johannisen told media on Tuesday.
“It’s pretty important to me.
“(The) Harmony Game is a great way to celebrate the diversity in our country, the different cultures and how football brings everyone together.”
The Bulldogs and North Melbourne will play in a VFL curtain raiser at Etihad Stadium at 3.20pm on Saturday, before the Harmony Game at 7.25pm. An official flag ceremony will commence at approximately 6.50pm.
Tickets for the match are available at Ticketmaster, and fans are encouraged to use #HarmonyGame on social media.
