Port Adelaide defender Aliir Aliir knows the importance of helping people find belonging, especially when they’ve relocated to a new country. 

Born in a Kenyan refugee camp after his family fled South Sudan, Aliir said he feels the responsibility of being a role model to kids, as he visited the eighth edition of the Multicultural Power Cup at Alberton on Friday. 

Speaking with the Adelaide media, Aliir spoke on the importance of the event, how multicultural participation is growing in AFL, and what his side needs to do to tackle Fremantle this Saturday night. 

Aliir on the Multicultural Power Cup 
“It's very special for me, because obviously I didn't have this growing up and I think it's the eighth year now doing it, and we’ve got more schools doing it, and more kids, over 500, so to be able to have them here…I know what it feels like when you belong, you know, coming to a new country, and hopefully that's what we've been able to give the kids out here. So it's always a special time for me to come in, give my time and chat to young kids here.” 

Aliir on being a role model for kids 
“Yeah, it's a little bit surreal, because, all they do is watch me on TV. So whenever I come up here, I just try and be myself, and try to chat to them, because I was them at some point. And just able to come into certain areas here and just to feel like you belong in this society, and just to play sport, to mingle with other schools and a bunch of other cultures, I think that's probably the best thing about it.” 

Aliir on Essendon’s  Jayden Nguyen, the first Vietnamese AFL player 
“It is (good to see). And I think he had the task of playing on Tom Papley so it wasn't a very easy task for him, but I thought he did well. I haven't got to meet him or talk to him, but I think just the way the game is growing, it's changed massively from when I first started, so it's good to see the growth of the game.” 

Aliir on his connection with other African players in the AFL 
“Yeah, 100 per cent (we connect). We have a WhatsApp group with the young Sudanese guys that are playing in the system now, and we started that early days just to be able to come ask questions or chat, whatever the case may be, doesn't necessarily have to be football, and it's just a way we can check in. Because I know how tough it is, and it can be (hard) at times when you when you get drafted and you're going to a different state, and you don't really know too many people. All you know is just the players. So I have that connection with the African boys, and so it's good to be able to just see guys come through and give them advice.” 

Aliir on the possibility of a Multicultural All-Stars team 
“I was talking to Pauly Vandenberg because they’ve got the (Indigenous) All-Stars. How awesome would it be if we had an Indigenous All-Star versus a multicultural team? I don't think we could fill a whole team, but I feel like that's something that can happen in the future, hopefully while I'm still playing. But I think that'd be awesome, because the growth of the game has gone so massively now, and it's so good to see. So I'd love to be a part of something, if the AFL do consider it.”

Aliir on the challenge of moving to a new country as a child 
“Yeah, it was hard. And I think the probably hardest bit was was not knowing English, because some of these kids have probably only been in Australia for a year, maybe two years, or even less than that. So that's probably the hardest thing, being able to communicate with them. But with sport, you don't really need to talk too much. You can see the smiles on the kids’ faces. You don't need to speak the same language (with football). As long as you understand the game, you can come out and make friends here. So I think that was the hardest bit for me. And I think other people don't really understand the powerful thing (sport) can be because it can connect a lot of people.” 

Aliir on how his body is feeling 
“Yeah the body’s good. I obviously had the little knee niggle probably about a month ago, but the body’s holding up good. I'm doing all I can to recover, train out here, get better and then take it into games. It's three games to go and I want to finish off on a high.  

“(Having to work through issues with your body) is part of being an athlete. I'm in my 12th year now, so I know how to play with, you know, certain injuries and niggles, and sometimes you're not 100 per cent but I think if your mind is ready and you know you want to go out there and compete, I think your body will always follow. So, yeah, it's not easy. But as an athlete, your footy career isn’t naturally just smooth sailing all the way. So there's going to be a little injuries that you have, and I happen to have one, and I think you know us as a team of copped a fair few (injuries). But that's not an excuse, you know, whoever gets selected to play out there, we’ve got a job and a role to do, and that's to play our best footy.” 

Aliir on pushing through 
“I want to play, like I have honest chats with Kenny, you know, because it's not like I've been missing training. I'm still out there training, so if I wasn't training out there and just going to play, then it's probably a different story. But we always have honest conversations with Kenny. You know, I can go out and compete and still play well, there's times where I lose a one on one, and I don't look well, but you know, it's going out there to compete and doing what I can for the team.” 

Aliir on his motivation heading into the final three games 
“Just to win. Obviously our last two weeks hasn't been the best, because no one likes losing, and as an athlete, you want to win. So as long as you take positives out of those losses and try and get into the next game, that's really the best thing you can do. And I know we’ve got a young side, and me being one of the old heads there, it's just trying to, you know, keep us calm and do whatever we can to get wins on the board.” 

Aliir on having a lot of young guys in the team 
“Yeah, it's different. I think for them it's good just to be able to learn little things that they can take into next year. Obviously, as I touched on, the last two weeks haven’t been good, but I think there's always a positive that comes out of a losing game, and if you can take that individually and then look at the whole team, then I think it's going to help us long term.” 

Aliir on Fremantle this weekend 
“I wouldn't say it’s an extra motivation (to keep the record of being undefeated by Fremantle at Adelaide Oval), but I would like to keep that record going to be honest. Obviously, they're playing some good football, and I think they've won the last 10 out of 11 in the last few weeks. So, yeah, it's going to be a challenge for us. I think every week is a challenge, but if we can go out there, try play the way we want to play, there's no reason why we can't keep the record the same.” 

Aliir on stopping the Fremantle forward line 
“Probably just winning the contest, because we know they've got some big boys up there that can, that can take marks, and they like to get it forward and get their smalls involved. So obviously, me and Thatch are going to have our hands full having those big spearheads down there. But you know, if we can win the contest there and stop them getting the ball on quick, I think it'll hold us in good stead.” 

Aliir on having four inclusions this week 
“Yeah, it's good to have Willie back. Obviously, Willie (Rioli), Roze (Connor Rozee), Luko (Jack Lukosius) and Chriso (Christian Moraes), so it's good to have those boys back. And, yeah, I think they're excited to play and I think the plan is to come out and play their game, bring a bit of excitement, and, you know, hopefully get the win.” 

Aliir on Willie Rioli having a challenging year 
“It's been tough for him, but I think there's a lot of players that have had a tough year in terms of finding form and playing well. I don't think I've played my best football, but I think it's just, if you're coming out, trying to improve and get better, which he has been doing, and he's been able to earn a recall. And we know what Willie does, when the ball comes into his area, he's kicking goals, so hopefully that's what he does tomorrow.”