PORT Adelaide’s SAASTA Aboriginal AFL Academy has today embarked on the trip of a lifetime to China.

As part of the unique 10-day trip, the Academy side will take on Team China in an exhibition game, as well as take part in cultural exchange sessions at local schools, football clinics and a visit to the Great Wall of China.

Port Adelaide CEO Keith Thomas said the trip to China was a great reward for the Academy team members and works perfectly within Port Adelaide’s two key off-field strategic objectives – Aboriginal community programs and the continual engagement of the Chinese community.

“As a club we have a strong commitment to engage the Chinese community here in South Australia but also in China itself,” Mr Thomas said.

“Over the last couple of years we’ve introduced a number of initiatives in China including sponsoring Team China and the local Southern China AFL competition.

“And just recently we wore a Chinese-themed guernsey in Multicultural Round with both the Chinese and Australian national flags displayed on the front and the player’s name in Chinese characters on the back.

“We see our Academy team’s excursion to China as the perfect alignment of these two important club strategies.

“A massive thank you to our joint club major partner EnergyAustralia for their wonderful support of our Aboriginal AFL Academy program and equally UniSA who also provided significant backing to our Aboriginal programs and China strategy.”

portadelaidefc.com.au will follow the Academy’s trip for the next 10 days, including videos, photos and a diary through a player’s eyes.