Australian rules football players set to play in China take "cultural awareness" lessons

Australian rules football players set to play a league match in China later this month have been taking "cultural awareness" lessons ahead of their visit, in order to gain a greater understanding of Chinese cultural practices.

Players from the Port Adelaide Football Club, the team which organized the match at Jiangwan Stadium in Shanghai on May 14, have attended a number of cultural lessons ahead of the Australian Football League' s (AFL) landmark first match - for league points - in Asia.

Port Adelaide defender Jack Hombsch told Fairfax Media on Wednesday the lessons had been eye-opening. He said the players had embraced leaning about Chinese culture.

"The idea is to get a heads up on how cultures are different, how to respect them, and not make fun of them. Some things in other cultures are really important to them, and what is funny can be different to us," Hombsch said.

"It's being respectful to what they have and their values. We are in their home, so to conform a little bit to the way they like things to be done. It was really interesting, it was quite good," he added.

The defender said that some of the players had even taken Mandarin lessons in an effort to converse with the Chinese people and fans who may come to watch the match.

"The main thing was, don't speak too quick. And just try and be as respectful as possible - don't be loud and obnoxious. Like I said, we did try and learn a bit of Mandarin to say hello and thank you," Hombsch said.

Other things covered during the lessons include how to properly handle chopsticks.

"And the chopsticks - if you can't do it, that's fine, but it's important to have a go. As long as you are having a crack, they respect that," Hombsch added.

Port Adelaide plays the Gold Coast Suns at Shanghai's Jiangwan Stadium on May 14. Endit