AJAX doco full of heart, sweat and soul
AJAX’s mission to preserve its history has become a feature documentary screening at JIFF.
It began with the simple aim of capturing stories before they were lost forever.
In 2019, volunteers from the AJAX Football Club community started recording interviews with significant members, conscious that many from the club’s earliest decades were now elderly.
The project then took on a life of its own, developing into a feature documentary called Who Are We, which will be screened throughout the upcoming 2026 Jewish International Film Festival (JIFF) in Melbourne, and an additional screening in Sydney.
“We thought, let’s just keep going with it,” AJAX vice-president Craig Joel – the driving force behind it – told The AJN.
He said that about 100 interviews were recorded, with players who took part in the Jewish club’s first Australian Rules football game in 1957, to today’s generation of “Jackas” players.
“With so much material, we thought why not make a documentary that captures the heart of this history and celebrate our club’s 70th year?
“Squeezing 70 years into 75 minutes was never easy, but the committee backed the idea.”
Joel – the club’s longest-serving committee member at 13 years – went looking for funds, and said the AJAX community responded generously, raising more than $100,000.
A production team including directors Jeff Shenker and Sean Meltzer were then engaged, and the finished film premiered in Melbourne last Sunday, ahead of its JIFF screenings.
“To see it all come together into a film was fantastic – a real honour and a privilege.”
Who Are We tells the story of Melbourne’s Jewish community through the lens of its footy club, where Jews from north and south of the Yarra came together to form a true community club.
The film begins even before 1957, when the two communities occasionally played each other, and recognises Daryl Cohen as the founding father who ensured AJAX was formed, and incorporated into the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA).
Narrated by Josh Frydenberg – who has a lifelong connection with AJAX and was keen to be involved – the film follows numerous themes: the road to men’s A Grade in 1979, women’s football, antisemitism, the all-abilities team and the Sunday program that – with support from other VAFA clubs – enables religiously observant players to take the field with the blessings of their families.
“It’s not a Hollywood production, but I believe it’s an incredibly good story, and well told,” Joel said.
“It does a really good job of capturing the essence of what the club is all about and the sense of community, connection, leadership and pride – with plenty of humour too.
“Some footy terms may go over the heads of people who aren’t into footy, but I think they will still enjoy it. It’s got plenty of heart.”
Joel – granted Life Membership by the club last month – said, “We would love as many people as possible to go experience it at JIFF.”
Who Are We will screen at JIFF six times at Classic Cinemas in Elsternwick between October 22 and November 22; three times at Lido Cinemas in Hawthorn between October 25 and November 19; and once at Randwick Ritz Cinema on the evening of October 28. For more information and screening times, or to book tickets, visit jiff.com.au/films/who-are-we