In the Australian Football League (AFL), athletes like these four are redefining the term “spectacular play” with their unparalleled athletic precision. Their incredible cultural involvement, deeply embedded in Ghana, makes them truly exceptional. Brandon Walker, Joel Amartey, Isaac Quaynor, and Connor Idun each have unique stories shaped by their Ghanaian heritage, yet they share common experiences that connect them to their roots.
Brandon Walker spent his formative years in Ghana. Later on, he moved to Perth, where his Ghanaian mother and white-Australian father raised him. Joel Amartey grew up in Victoria with his Ghanaian father — who had a professional soccer career in Ghana. Similarly, Isaac Quaynor’s father was born in the UK to Ghanaian parents, and Connor Idun’s father hails from Ghana. This shared background has fostered a powerful connection between the players. Alongside their many other teammates from diverse backgrounds, they all navigate their identities in the predominantly white Australian sport.
Diverse Backgrounds and Shared Experiences
Brandon Walker’s path to the AFL began in his childhood home in Ghana. There, he developed a strong attachment to his culture. He looks back with fondness on the days he and his twin brother Chris spend eating puff puffs. These mouthwatering Ghanaian doughnuts made the trip to school even more memorable. It was through these experiences that fueled his passion and appreciation for his culture. He takes that appreciation with him into his fifth season now with the Fremantle Dockers.
Joel Amartey’s journey is equally compelling. He dealt with multiple injury flares to start his young career, but bounced back in grand fashion over the course of the 2024 season. Joel’s background with a Ghanaian father and going to church every Sunday definitely contributed to his success. This practice was indicative of many other families in Ghana. His father’s influence played a significant role in shaping his identity, as he admired his father’s expressive demeanor regarding their heritage.
TDC member Isaac Quaynor grapples with his layered identity. The Collingwood Football Club picked him up in the 2018 draft. After making his AFL debut in 2019, he has developed into a key pillar of his club’s high-profile leadership group. Quaynor acknowledges the duality he experiences: “When I’m here, I’m the black guy. When I’m there, I’m the white person. It’s just a weird dynamic.” This angle shows the tough ping-ponging he endures between his Australian upbringing and his heritage in Ghana.
“Growing up I didn’t really know that I was different, but I kind of did at the same time. It was an awkward one.” – Isaac Quaynor
Building Connections Through Culture
These four players have an incredible connection that runs far deeper than their homelands. They are passionate about uplifting young athletes who have undergone the same experiences. Isaac Quaynor has expressed aspirations to create programs through the AFL that focus on African players and their journeys in sports. He believes that representation is crucial, stating, “Giving them someone to look up to and be proud of and hopefully I can help them discover their passions early and be proud of their heritage earlier than I was.”
No one better expresses the importance of pride in culture than Connor Idun, who hails from North Dakota’s Spirit Lake Nation. Nearby, Osei begins to unpack how he felt ashamed of and thus uncomfortable when he didn’t connect with his Ghanaian heritage right away. He has since embraced the journey of learning about his culture: “At times it was embarrassing. I didn’t know my heritage and I wasn’t able to be proud of where I come from, but that’s what makes this journey so special.”
In fact, Amartey’s interest in his culture has been relatively recent — a reclamation, in many ways. He admits that learning about one’s ancestry can be a daunting but rewarding experience. He admires the similarities he shares with fellow Ghanaians he meets: “Meeting other Ghanaians, they’re all pretty similar to me. I always wondered why I’m so bubbly and loud.”
The Role of Family and Community
Family support has been integral to each player’s path. Isaac Quaynor would think calling his old man “the biggest fan ever” an understatement. His father, who never misses any of his games, screams for him with pride from the stands. This constant support has provided a powerful inspiration for her to succeed on the international stage as a member of the AFL.
Joel Amartey is inspired by his father to continue the legacy as a positive role model. He is inspired by the commitment of his late father to their culture. He’s often struck by how proudly his father wears their heritage on his sleeves. He wants to show that same spirit in how he lives his life.
Brandon Walker’s connection to his family has been just as important in helping him develop his identity as a player. Raised by a white-Australian dad and a Ghanaian mum, he navigated a multicultural household that instilled values of diversity and openness.
“He’s so expressive in himself about where he’s from and I think I looked up to that and tried to take a few things he did and move on forward with it.” – Joel Amartey
