Michael Long and Jason McCartney led a squad of 16 and 17-year-old indigenous footballers in a three-match series against a South African side in late February which was a hailed a success both in terms of growing the game in that country and exposing both sets of kids to different cultures.
At the announcement of the tour on Friday in Darwin, South African coach Mtutuzeli Hlomela hoped that the three matches - one in Perth, one in Darwin and one in the Tiwi Islands - would further strengthen the relationships built on the last tour.
AFL ambassador Michael Long was thrilled that the program had taken the next step and said that there was more to the concept than just the game itself.
"That trip wasn't just about football, it was about life experiences and having the opportunity to travel and we've built up a lot of great relationships," Long said from TIO Stadium.
"I think the whole concept and idea is that we can share the same things that football has given a lot of the indigenous kids here in Australia and I think that relationship will strengthen over the years.
"It's early days for South Africa in terms of how they play the game - our kids really stood out - but the whole theme of the games was for them to actually learn from us and vice versa for us to learn about their culture, their people and to travel."
Just over 3,000 kids play AFL football in South Africa currently with that total expected to grow to 20,000 over the next three years.
The South African coach said his players had learned a lot from the last series and echoed Long's sentiments about the importance of the program.
"South Africa is a country of close to 50 million people and not everyone plays organised sport, so what AFL football does in South Africa is provide an opportunity for the kids who do not have an opportunity to play organised sport and to be a part of something," he said.
"It also takes the kids out of their immediate situations. South Africa is hit by things like HIV and AIDS, poverty and the like and it gives them a chance to come out of their immediate environment and it puts them on a level playing field with everyone else.
"AFL football in South Africa carries no historical baggage and right from the start it has been seen as a sport for all."
