to netball. The AFL is a major supporter of Auskick and star players occasionally assist in training events. The AFL also invites various branches of the Auskick network to play short games during the half-time breaks of premiership season games at all grounds, with numerous matches played on modified fields simultaneously. In 2007 the program's slogan was "Where Champions Begin", with Jo Silvagni (wife of former AFL player Stephen Silvagni) and Robert DiPierdomenico, the 1986 co-Brownlow Medallist as the main ambassadors. They also used the kick-to-kick tradition as part of their promotional television campaign, which shows kids from around the country kicking the football to each other to the tune of "Gimme Dat Ding". Parents' role in Auskick Parents are involved across the board in activities such as at skills sessions, as coaches and supervisors, administrators, helpers, coordinators and first aid officers. Throughout the year, there are parent orientation courses as well as coaching courses. Auskick in non-traditional Australian rules football regions The AFL has used the Auskick program the introduce Australian rules football into schools and communities around the country to increase the AFL's profile in areas that traditionally support other football codes such as New South Wales and Queensland. However there have been accusations of exaggerated participation figures in an attempts to gain access to Sydney playing fields. Vast increases in AFL participation figures in Sydney were questioned by David Lawson, a Melbourne University academic, in a study commission by the AFL. Lawson's study found that AFL club participation rates in Sydney had stalled, and that the AFL was masking low figures by using short term, non-club affiliated Auskick participants and comparing them to competitive junior club participation numbers in other sports. Ambassadors Early on in the national program, national ambassadors were nominated. All of these ambassadors played for Victorian clubs and as the AFL and the program continued to expand nationally, these players were not always well recognised figures by children in all regions. In 2010s each state nominating its own ambassador, usually a home grown talent, without a national ambassador. National Shane Crawford (2012) Robert Dipierdomenico (2009-2010; 2011) Joel Selwood (2008) Robert Dipierdomenico & Jo Silvagni (2007) Australian Marketing Campaigns "NAB AFL Mini Legends" (2016-) "More Give, Less Take" (2012) "Let It Shine" (2009) "Follow Every Rainbow" (2008) "Gimme That Thing" (2007) "Where Champions Begin" (2007) Sponsors Australia National Australia Bank (2006-) as "NAB AFL Auskick"