Kubota goes in search of the ‘Country Spirit’ in latest campaign via Redhanded, Melbourne
To celebrate this weekend’s AFL Country Game, Kubota Australia, via Redhanded, Melbourne, is setting out to define the ‘Country Spirit’ and examine the role it plays in helping young country footballers succeed at the highest level.
The campaign will launch with a 30 second TVC played on the big screen at the MCG tonight. Part one of the ‘Country Spirit’ documentary can be seen on the Kubota Facebook page with more episodes to follow.
The campaign will feature a series of online videos that explore the intangible qualities country footballers possess.
The contribution country footballers have made to our great game throughout history is undeniable. Geelong Football Club Chief Executive, Brian Cook revealed on Thursday that in the history of their club, 85 per cent of their players have come from regional areas of Australia.
Says Cook: “We’ve had 800 players from country Victoria out of a total of 1066 players who have played senior footy for us since 1859.
“We are proud of all of those small towns and those small communities around Victoria and around Australia that have been incubators for legends and champions of our game.”
Malcolm Owens, General Manager Sales & Marketing at Kubota Australia, believes that this is a story that needs to be told. “The Country Spirit is alive and well. We are simply setting out to try and define it and explore the role it plays in helping young footballers from the country make it in the AFL,” says Owens.
The first video features Andrew Dunkley and his son Josh. Andrew played 217 games for the Sydney Swans and was regarded as one of the AFL’s leading full backs for a number of years. Following his retirement at the end of the 2002 season, Andrew returned to country Victoria to play and coach.
Andrew’s son, Josh, enjoyed the ultimate success last year, winning a premiership with the Western bulldogs in his first year. Josh played junior football for Sale Football Club and under 18s for the Gippsland Power.
“It is no fluke that so many young players from the country have had such a huge impact on our game. We want to explore this and pay tribute to the ‘Country Spirit’,” says Owens.