Marcel Pascual touchdown as Australians play NFL Flag showcase at Marvel Stadium

Six of Australia's flag football athletes competed at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night in an NFL Flag showcase before the Four'N Twenty Legends Game for Prostate Cancer.

Delivered by the National Football League and Sports Entertainment Group, the match put Australian flag football representative members Jacob Atley, Wyatt Gardner and Marcel Pascual, Cody Donlan, James Young and Jared Stegman on the pitch.

The two teams on Thursday night represented the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers in a showcase, who will meet at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 11 September in the first NFL regular season game played in Australia.

Joining the NFL Flag lineup were Melbourne Storm premiership players Ryan Hoffman and Christian Welch on opposing teams, and in addition, former AFL players Heath Shaw, Josh Jenkins and Steve Gilham took part.

Another addition to the already star-studded line up was Ben Graham, the only Australian to have played in both an AFL grand final and a Super Bowl. Graham spent five seasons in the NFL as a punter with the New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals after more than 200 games with Geelong.

The 49ers' Cody Donlan scored the game's opening touchdown, and the Rams quickly responded when AFL star Heath Shaw caught a ball deep in the end zone. With a crucial defensive pick from Josh Jenkins and a 30-yard dash touchdown from quarterback Marcel Pascual, the Rams maintained their pressure. The Rams defeated the 49ers 29-21 in a closely contested game that came down to the last drive.

Speaking about the game, Wade Kelly, Chief Executive Officer of American Football Australia, said:

“This was an exciting moment for flag football in Australia. Thanks to the NFL, and SEG, it was an opportunity for the entire country to see the sport live and free to air. This is the start of a very real and special chapter for all fans of American football in Australia.”

Flag football is the non-contact form of American football and is played in more than 500 schools across Australia.

Rewatch the NFL Flag match broadcast on-demand on 7Plus.

Stay up to date on American Football in Australia, follow @americanfootballau on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

For more information on American football in Australia, visit americanfootball.org.au

———

Media contact

Brock Bentley

Chief Marketing Officer, American Football Australia

media@americanfootball.org.au

American Football Australia (AFA) is the national governing body for American Football in Australia, recognised by the Australian Sports Commission and a full member of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF). AFA is responsible for national competitions and the development of Australian national teams across both tackle and flag football.