Australian football and Australia’s natural fibre continue to celebrate their connection through The Woolmark Company's Fibre of Football campaign.

Headlining the campaign is Fremantle superstar Nat Fyfe, who takes us back to his home town of Lake Grace in WA in a new video to explain his relationship with the wool industry through his family’s transport business.

In recent days, the wool industry has showcased itself to the Australian football public through a series of events, woollen products and new videos that help tell the many stories of the campaign.

Fibre of Football campaign

The idea for Australian football was sparked on a sheep station in the 1850s when the son of a pastoralist was thinking of how cricketers could stay fit over the winter. The idea grew a game now enjoyed by millions across Australia, and the fibre and Australian rules football have been knitted together ever since.

Australian football is still played where wool is grown. The local football team is still the centre of many wool-growing communities with signs from agents, contractors, studs, transport companies and merchandise outlets seen around the ground.

From Lake Grace in WA, Nat Fyfe's family run a transport business carting wool, livestock and grain. A trained shearer, road train driver and soon-to-be helicopter pilot Nat is better known as the Fremantle Dockers superstar and winner of the 2014 AFL Players Association Most Valuable Player award.

Media and support

A video of Geelong premiership star Tom Hawkins was also released recently, which gives a unique look at his country background on a mixed sheep, beef and cropping property at Finley, NSW.

Meanwhile Melbourne midfielder Bernie Vince has shown his shearing skills on the MCG in front of the football media. As the son of a shearer and woolgrower from the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia, Bernie was possibly the first person to shear a sheep on the paddock that grew for up to 200 years.

Over the past week, celebrity Merino rams Fred and Truffle have been meeting people on their way to work, shopping or at the football. Appearing across at the MCG, and across the city, the rams have also made guest appearances on the Fox Footy channel and at Melbourne’s top-rating breakfast radio programme on 3AW with Ross and John.

Range of supporter jumpers

The woollen range of supporter jumpers, scarves, beanies, gloves and knitting kits has also been launched. Available through all AFL club websites and AFL shops, the woollen products using 100% Merino wool are proving particularly popular for supporters keen to keep warm and comfortable at the football.

The wool in the jumpers has been traced back to 25 farms across Australia. These woolgrowers will be receiving the relevant team jumper and growers.

www.woolmark.com