Essendon Football Club is a diverse work place with a variety of different cultures currently present throughout players and staff at the club.

The AFL community is this week celebrating the diversity within our great game ahead of AFL Multicultural Round this weekend.

The club has staff from Australia, Kenya, New Zealand, India, Italy, Malta, Greece, Canada, Scotland, Philippines, Libya and America.

Multicultural Development Officer Salim Mahazi said it was great to see the AFL industry opening its arms to the many cultures present within Australia.

“The Essendon Football Club is by far the most multicultural workplace I have ever been involved in.

“It makes me very proud to see the clubs attitude towards recognizing the importance of multiculturalism within our game. At Essendon  multiculturalism is not only reflected in our supporter and players but in our staff as well.”

Mahazi joined the club in June 2012 with little knowledge of the game of AFL but is now one of its biggest admirers of the game.

"For me having a father from Kenya meant I grew up with the round ball but since my time at Essendon I have definitely grown very fond of footy. I love the athleticism involved in the game and the frenetic speed its played at."

"I never followed footy before coming to the club but now I’m a Bomber through and through"