Whether or not Sydney or the Western Bulldogs make the grand final, there will be two footballers of African descent playing on grand final day at the MCG.

On a weekend during which Aliir Aliir and Majak Daw made their finals debuts, the AFL has taken another step towards getting more players from their backgrounds playing at the top level.

The league on Sunday inducted four players of African heritage into the AFL academy in a bid to fast-track the development of footballers from diverse backgrounds. Victorians Ajak Dang, Buku Khamis, Changkuoth Jiath and Kwaby Boakye have all been added to the academy - coached at least for the next six weeks by former Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson, who has been strongly linked to a move to Collingwood. The academy features 60 of the best underage footballers in the country, aiming to prepare them for life at an AFL club. Jiath and Boakye will both play in the under 17s All-Star match at the MCG that serves as the curtain-raiser for the grand final.

The AFL is keen to change the face of the game by adding more African players to the league - joining Aliir, Daw, Richmond's Mabior Chol, Brisbane Lion Reuben William, Essendon's Gach Nyuon and Bulldog Jason Johannisen.