Australian Made Chief Executive Ben Lazzaro and Abel Sports General Manager John Cann celebrate the campaign launch beneath Abel's footy goals.
Yesterday our hardworking team downed tools and headed to the MCG to help kick-off Australian Made Week 2026. It was a proud moment and an important acknowledgment of the critical role our people play in the creation of the 'big sticks' that are such an essential part of Australian Rules Football.
Abel Sports was proud to be chosen as the showcase business for the official launch. The event brought together our team alongside workers from across our supply chain, senior government ministers, Australian Made Chief Executive Ben Lazzaro, campaign ambassador Andy Lee, and all the major media outlets.
Our footy goals that stand tall at the MCG and the other major stadiums around the country are a prime example of the quality of Australian manufacturing and the flow-on benefits generated across the supply chain and into the community.
Abel Sports General Manager John Cann was keen to pay tribute to the local suppliers who are such an important part of Abel’s success.
“Our goal posts and flag poles are installed across the country including the MCG, Adelaide Oval, SCG/ALLIANZ Stadium, Optus Oval as well as multiple recreation grounds and schools across the country. While the product is ours, it relies on the craftsmanship and manufacturing expertise of a broader local supply chain,” John said.
“This has been such a unique opportunity to bring some of the people together to be recognised in their role of this broader product and it’s humbling to receive the recognition for our Australian Made footy posts that we think 90 per cent of the population would see or interact with throughout the various sporting seasons.
“Abel Sports employs 15 people, but when we look at the employment of the broader supply chain we are looking at more than 6,000 people who have been employed by the businesses connected to these footy goals.”
John explains to the press pack why Australian Made is so important
Joining Abel Sports at the event were workers from Abel’s supply chain including Capral, A.R.C (The Australian Reinforcing Company which is a division of InfraBuild) and C-Tech Laser.
Australian Made Chief Executive Ben Lazzaro said it was fitting to come together to acknowledge the contribution made by Australian manufacturers to an iconic Australian landmark.
“During Australian Made Week – which runs from today until Sunday – we will be shining a light on our homegrown creators and makers, such Abel Sports, drawing attention to the breadth of Australian Made options across every category – manufactured to some of the highest safety and quality standards in the world, right here in our own backyard,” Ben said.
“It’s important to support local businesses not only during Australian Made Week, but also the other 51 weeks of the year because looking for the green and gold kangaroo logo and choosing Australian Made can have a huge impact.
“It’s also important to remind the industries that purchase at scale – including accommodation providers, healthcare, commercial sectors and government – that choosing Australian Made products for their project, business, or organisation helps support local businesses, strengthens Australian manufacturing, and creates jobs across the country.”
“When consumers and businesses make more conscious decisions about purchases – and choose Australian Made – it really can ‘shift the goal posts’ for our local industries.”
The Abel team with workers from across Abel's supply chain and Andy Lee
Tim Ayres, The Minister for Industry and Innovation paid tribute to the workers at Abel Sports, Capral and ARC and acknowledged the 40th anniversary of the the Australian Made initiative.
“Today 4,500 Australian businesses, tens of thousands of Australian workers are members of this scheme. And if you’re a patriotic Australian, you believe in the country and you’re in the supermarket or you’re in the shopping centre – buy Australian. Look for the Australian Made logo because you’re backing the country, you’re backing high quality products and you’re backing Australian jobs.”
Comedian, broadcaster, and campaign ambassador Andy Lee attended the launch in his trademark green-and-gold tracksuit.
Lee has been a long-standing advocate for domestic business and manufacturing, even though his kicking skills left a bit to be desired on the day. “I’m devastated that Snoop Dog kicked a goal and I got a behind,” he later quipped.
From humble beginnings as a flag pole supplier back in 1992, Abel Sports is now Australia’s leading manufacturer and supplier of sporting ground equipment including AFL goals, soccer goals (including portable soccer goals), rugby goals, hockey goals and netball goals as well as storage systems, and coaches boxes.
We supply all the major stadiums around Australia including the MCG, Adelaide Oval, Allianz Stadium Optus Stadium, The Gabba, HBF Park and AAMI Park, as well as schools, businesses, sporting clubs and local governments.
Our success is built on an unrelenting commitment to quality, locally sourced materials and manufacturing, product innovation and unrivalled customer service and support.
Being an Australian Made licensee isn’t a marketing badge for us. It reflects a genuine commitment to employing Australians, sourcing from Australian businesses, and building the kind of long-term industrial capability that Australia needs. Yesterday’s event at the MCG was a reminder of what that commitment looks like in practice — and of the thousands of people across our supply chain who share it.
