The launch of the 2021 Toyota AFL Premiership season was officially marked nation-wide on Wednesday morning with the iconic sound of the siren echoing in the SCG and in unison from stadiums and local grounds across the country.

Sounding the siren at the SCG was Darren McLanders and Naomi Mason, representatives from the Newtown Breakaways Football Club, a local community league side in the AFL Sydney competition. 

As a sign of celebration and togetherness, ‘The First Siren’ of the season was rung for the solidarity that transcended clubs, borders, and rivalries throughout 2020, while symbolising the start of a new season - and with it a renewed sense of hope and anticipation.

The siren sounded all at major AFL venues including the SCG, the MCG, Marvel Stadium, GMHBA Stadium, Giants Stadium, the Gabba, Metricon Stadium, TIO Stadium, Adelaide Oval and Optus Stadium, as well as AFL’s Cape York House and NSW’s Ganmain Sportsground (Home of the Ganmain Grong Grong Matong Lions).

Each location sounded their siren at precisely 11:35am AEDST, which was live streamed onto the stadium’s big screens to showcase the moment in unison.

Representatives from the football community were invited to officially ring the siren at each location, featuring volunteers, junior footy representatives, NAB AFL Auskick participants, SES & CFA volunteers, AFL Club legends and charity partners.

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