JIMMY Toumpas says one of his main tasks as an AFL multicultural ambassador is convincing people of all backgrounds that there is a place in the game for everyone.

Speaking at the launch of the AFL’s multicultural round at the MCG on Thursday morning, Toumpas said he had encountered a significant amount of people from multicultural backgrounds, who were eager to be involved in the game – whether it was playing, supporting or acting as an official.

But he said the next step was to make sure those people were included and embraced in the game.

“[I’ve learned that] many people from different cultures understand footy and want to be a part of it, but don’t feel like they can because of their background,” Toumpas told Dee TV.

“We’re just trying to make them feel as comfortable as possible to be involved in footy. Once you’re involved in footy, it’s so easy to be involved, because it is such an inclusive environment and everyone feels the same. 

“No one looks at you differently and we’re all here for the same reason, because we all just love football. I’ve learned that just so many people love football and want to get involved.”

Toumpas, along with Essendon’s Jobe Watson and Carlton’s Dale Thomas, were also on hand to spread the message, in the lead-up to round 19’s multicultural round.

Victorian premier Daniel Andrews, AFL general manager of AFL clubs and AFL operations Travis Auld, Collingwood president Eddie McGuire and new Victorian multicultural commissioner Helen Kapalos also threw their support behind the cause.

Toumpas said multicultural round was simply “trying to embrace many different cultures”.

“Australian rules footy is our number one sport in this country and what I’m trying to do and all of the other ambassadors are trying to do is spread the word of footy,” he said.

“One of the slogans we have is ‘many cultures and one game’ – and I love that slogan. It just goes to show that we have many cultures and we’re just trying to represent what footy brings to Australia.

“It’s such an inclusive, diverse environment we have here and it’s pretty special being part of something. Hopefully we can keep building for the next 10, 12 or 13 years [that I’m playing], because we have so many different backgrounds playing AFL.”

As part of being an AFL ambassador for multiculturalism, Toumpas has a squad affiliated with the Dandenong Stingrays.

“They play against [North Melbourne’s] Majak Daw, who has got [a squad], along with [Essendon’s] David Zaharakis and [Geelong’s] Steven Motlop, and we play in the four nations’ cup against each other,” he said.

“It’s a bunch of boys who are 15 and 17-year-olds, from different backgrounds and we’re just trying to fast track their development and hopefully we can get them in the TAC Cup team of Dandenong.

“We’re just going to different events and trying to spread the word and it’s a really enjoyable time and it’s pretty special being a part of it.”

Toumpas, who has played nine matches this season, including eight in a row from rounds six to 14, said he would dearly love to break back into the side to play in Melbourne’s multicultural round match against North Melbourne at the MCG in round 19.

“I’d love to [play] but you’ll have to speak to Roosy about that?” he said with a smile.