Lado Alphonse said he was a "20-year-old reject in society" before being recruited by Cora Lynn Football Club in West Gippsland.

Key points: Lado Alphonse has been playing with the Cora Lynn Cobras senior reserves for five years

Lado Alphonse has been playing with the Cora Lynn Cobras senior reserves for five years He said he has found "peace" within the regional football club, which has embraced the Sudanese community

He said he has found "peace" within the regional football club, which has embraced the Sudanese community The club's president said the new players have been a boost for the club

Originally from Sudan, Alphonse managed to make friends in Australia and became a citizen, but said he struggled to settle in.

"They wanted me to enjoy everything with them, but the places where they had most of their fun, I was the outcast," he said.

Denied entry to venues, he often felt on the outer.

A former refugee, he is now proud to hold an Australian passport.

When he travels, he says people treat him as an Australian.

When he returns to Australia, it is different.

"This is the place I'm supposed to call home, but when I'm here, that's when I do not feel like I'm at home," he said.

"It really just doesn't sit right and that's the bit I just really feel it frustrating and sometimes, I find it really disappointing … we have a long way as a human race to overcome a lot of things."

At Cora Lynn Football Club, Alphonse said he has finally found a home.

The Cora Lynn Cobras have embraced the Sudanese community. ( Supplied: Michael Dillon )

He has been playing with the senior reserves side for the past five years.

"Out here I find peace because out here I find like-minded people," he said.

"It is one of those things where I cannot explain it, however there are some people around here and we will look at each other and sometimes we will not even need to talk to know one is hurt, one is uncomfortable, one has had a bad day.

"Getting to that point of a relationship with any person, it is a beautiful thing."

Sudanese community helps club thrive

Known as the team with no town, the Cora Lynn Cobras have a population of around 50 locals to service their teams.

Their decision to embrace the Sudanese community has reinvigorated their Aussies Rules side, particularly the juniors.

Fifty per cent of their under-16s team is Sudanese and the community is also represented at under-18s and senior reserves levels.

"Without them, there's no chance we would have had an under-16s side the last two years, no chance," club stalwart Michael Dillon said.

While results have not always gone their way, they've created a winning culture.

Alphonse wants to tackle on-field racism with conversations. ( Supplied: Michael Dillon )

"When we played Philip Island last year we got beaten by 27 goals and they had a boy with Down Syndrome playing for them, in the last quarter the boy kicked a goal and without prompting all of our Sudanese boys in the whole team got around that guy and congratulated him … that has been burned into my memory forever," Mr Dillon said.

On-field racism tackled with conversation

If an opposition team player uses a racial slur against one of their players, a reconciliation meeting is organised.

"If you have an issue with someone of race, how about let's address it as it is," Alphonse said.

"Instead of calling me names from 100 metres, how about you call me a name close by so we can actually talk about that … you tell me why you've called me that for example.

"Let's all reflect on that for a second and have a conversation."

The club funds their new members' fees and helps organise transport.

Club president Andrew Bergmeier is hopeful that Cora Lynn's Sudanese contingent will continue to grow.

"We have gained a lot of value from having them in our club. We've gained more value from them, than I think they have from us," Mr Bergmeier said.

"They are really important to our multiculturalism, they are really important to this country and they will be amazing citizens for us if we accept them."