This is footy country

Whether you’re an AFL or NRL fan, footy is woven into Australia’s identity. It speaks to our competitive spirit, our mateship and the power of community. And nowhere does that run deeper than in the country.

For over 20 years, Telstra has backed footy in Australia. Rather than chasing big games and stadium lights, they focused on where the game truly lives: in country towns…where clubs are lifelines and heroes are homegrown.

This Is Footy Country was Telstra’s love letter to grassroots footy. Shot with real locals, the hero film followed a club president rallying townsfolk to fill in for a missing team.

And Telstra backed its words with action, committing $8M in community grants to local clubs.

The campaign that stood out in a cluttered sponsorship space, strengthened Telstra’s emotional connection with fans, and reminded Australians that Telstra doesn’t just connect phones, it connects communities.