The AFL's commitment to bringing the game to more Australians has been strengthened, with the Western Bulldogs’ match against Gold Coast set to be broadcast in traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander language.

In consultation with First Nations Media Australia and Senior Research Fellow for Media and Communications at RMIT Dr Daniel Featherstone, the AFL with support from Telstra, is delighted to extend its offering of in-language broadcasts to three different radio stations in 2023 to ensure the game is available to more First Nations people during the dedicated round.

Round 11 will welcome Top End Aboriginal Bush Broadcasting Association (TEABBA) to broadcast the Darwin match between Gold Coast SUNS and the Western Bulldogs in traditional Tiwi language.

TEABBA is responsible for the Indigenous Radio Broadcasting Services for 29 remote Top End Aboriginal Communities, with regular programming content from its Darwin studio and various community Remote Indigenous Broadcasting Services (RIBS).

Tiwi locals and Northern Territory football greats Kevin Baxter and Laelia Dunn will join the TEABBA commentary team to call and AFL match for the first time. Baxter is a dual-premiership player for the Waratah Football Club, while Dunn returns to the commentary box as a caller, after doing special comments with ABC Darwin. 

Adelaide v Brisbane in Arrente language will be broadcast via Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association (CAMMA), while Yolŋu Radio broadcasted the round 10 Dreamtime game between Essendon and Richmond in traditional Yolngu Matha.

AFL Executive General Manager Inclusion and Social Policy Tanya Hosch said it was pleasing to provide First Nations people with access to more AFL games than ever before.

"The AFL is proud to extend its offering of in-language broadcasts to three different radio stations this season to provide more Australians with an opportunity to hear the elite game in their own languages," Ms Hosch said.

"Language is very sacred and a source of great strength where it has survived in many communities across Australia so it's extremely important to make sure that we continue to support and respect the preservation of these traditional languages. To have an opportunity to provide the footy platform to these callers of the game is a privilege for the AFL.

"I'd like to thank Yolngu Radio, TEABBA and CAMMA for their contribution to our game along with Telstra for being a supporting partner of this initiative and Triple M for their technical support for each of the broadcasts.”