Richmond has partnered with a team in this year’s inaugural Robert Rose Foundation Victorian Wheelchair Football League (VWFL).
The state-wide league is the first opportunity people with a physical disability will have to play AFL in a regular competition.
The VWFL will see two teams of five players each take to a basketball court, with a handball the equivalent to a kick and an underarm throw comparable to a hand pass as per traditional AFL.
The competition is open to anyone with a physical disability, people with mobility issues as well as able-bodied people who are interested in getting involved.
The VWFL Tigers will wear Richmond guernseys and Club branded apparel.
Richmond CEO Brendon Gale welcomed the partnership.
“We are committed to supporting access and opportunity for anyone who wants to play our great game,” Gale said.
“This partnership provides a wonderful opportunity for our football club to help strengthen the role sport plays in connecting communities.
“We also see it as a great intersection to make Australian Rules football as inclusive as possible.
“One in five Australians and more than 2 million working Australian’s live with a disability and almost 200,000 Australia’s use a wheelchair.
“We firmly believe that everyone should be able to be involved in Australian Rules football – whether that be spectating or playing.”
In partnership with the Robert Rose Foundation, the state-wide league is the first opportunity people with a physical disability will have to play AFL in a regular competition.
In conjunction with Disability Sport & Recreation, the new league will focus on promoting social inclusion and allow more Victorians to enjoy the benefits of physical activity.
The ten-round competition will run between May and August, with the Grand Final to be played in September during the AFL Bye-Round.
Richmond joins Collingwood, Essendon, Hawthorn and St Kilda as AFL clubs to have secured squads in the inaugural league.
AFL Victoria chief executive Steven Reaper said the establishment of the Victorian Wheelchair Football League was a great addition to the range of AFL disability programs on offer for Victorians.
“Our mission at AFL Victoria is to be the most accessible sport for all Victorians, and the creation of this league is just another example of how we are working towards ensuring that every Victorian has the chance to play our great game,” Reaper said.
“In addition to our other disability programs we offer such as AFL Blind and Victorian FIDA Football League, the establishment of the VWFL means that those people with a physical disability who never thought they would play AFL now have the chance to do so, plus it also allows people who may have had the opportunity to play football previously, prior to being in a wheelchair, to play our sport once again.”
