PORT ADELAIDE rookie Martin Frederick says it means everything to him to be named among the AFL’s Multicultural Ambassadors for 2020 alongside some of the competition’s biggest names.

Frederick is from South Sudan and was selected by Port Adelaide as a Category B Rookie at the end of 2018 after spending time in the club’s Next Generation Academy.

The dashing half-back flanker says he is extremely proud to be involved in a program that means so much to him.

“It means everything to be a part of the program,” Frederick told portadelaidefc.com.au.

“I remember when I came through the program as a kid and it was Bobby (Alipate) Carlile who was running the clinics.

“It was great to have someone from the AFL take time and encourage us kids to get involved in the game, and now I get to do that for the next generation.”

Frederick said the role is about encouraging people in the community to get involved in AFL football at grassroots level and also attending games.

“The role is about growing the game within the community,” he said.

“I think it’s very important for the league and the community to run this program.

“There are a lot of kids who do play footy or who want to play footy, and hopefully this encourages them to get involved in the AFL by both playing and going to games.”

Frederick will be joined as a Multicultural Ambassador by the likes of Sydney’s Aliir Aliir, Richmond’s Bachar Houli, Essendon’s Dyson Heppell and Giant Stephen Coniglio.