Hawthorn will host its 2026 Inclusion Match this weekend against Port Adelaide at Marvel Stadium.

The Inclusion Match is made possible thanks to Variety, the Children’s Charity. Hawks and Variety joined forces last season in a three-year collaboration to promote inclusion in the AFL.

GET YOUR VARIETY INCLUSION MEMBERSHIP HERE!

This year's Inclusion Match will see the unveiling of The Inclusion Project mascots 'Ace' and ‘Indi’. The exciting new initiative aims to promote a more accessible and connected game day experience for those with hidden disabilities, with a pair of Inclusion Project mascots, 'Ace' and 'Indi', making their debut.  

Ace (short for 'Accessibility') and Indi (short for 'Independence') were co-designed by the Inclusion Project’s staff with lived experience and Occupational Therapists to better represent those living with hidden disabilities in the community.

The pairing of Ace and Indi creates a safe and imaginative space for young people to explore emotional regulation and empathy without judgment. 

The mascots have been brought to life to attend sporting matches and community events to act as real-life advocates for through the Inclusion Project made possible by Variety, the world leading match day inclusion program which originated at Hawks games in 2019. The programs pairs lived experience of living with a disability with allied health to create supports for fans and members attending match days all across the sporting landscape. 

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Hawthorn's Round 6 side will be accompanied onto the field by 23 junior mascots from Variety running out with the team, with their parents and further Variety participants to form the Guard of Honour. 

There is a range of activations happening on the concourse during the pre-game on Saturday afternoon, including AFL Wheelchair and AFL Blind 'come-and-try' sessions. There will also be a Variety Bay on Level 1, Bay 37, which will be full of Variety participants and members. 

Two sensory spaces will be in operation facilitated by the Inclusion Project’s Occupational Therapists and Inclusion Project Officers on hand (Level 1 Aisle 3 and Level 3 Aisle 31) for the duration of the game, including when gates open. 

Patrons can pick up a sensory kits, made possible by Variety from any one of the sensory spaces, which includes headphones and fidget toys. Attendees can simply ask an Inclusion Project Officer for the kit once in the room. 

We encourage attendees to connect with Inclusion Project Officers, around the stadium wearing their sunflower lanyard and gold Inclusion Project t-shirts to assist people who need it. Additional to this Occupational Therapists will be roaming the venue with Ace and Indi for any attendees who might need to have a chat around how to make their experience more accessible. 

Thanks to Marvel Stadium, there will be an accessible entrance at Gate 5, which security personnel can assist with. 

In addition to the game-day offerings, Hawthorn’s AFL players will sport red Variety beanies at training during the week in recognition of the upcoming Inclusion Match.

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