Aboriginal Indigenous sport

If anything else transcends race, intolerance or discrimmination, it is sport. —Steve Stacey, Executive Officer Nyoongar Sports Association Malaga, Western Australia [3]

Sport was the first pathway that embraced Aboriginal people and gave them the opportunity to compete on an equal playing field. —Michael O'Loughlin, Aboriginal AFL player [18]

Aboriginal players in Rugby League and Australian Rules

Aboriginal people seem to have a natural talent to excel in Rugby League. In the National Rugby League 11% of the players were of Indigenous heritage. In 2008 Australia's national Rugby League team saw a record number of five Aboriginal players (38%) in their ranks of 13.

Aboriginal people themselves account for only about 2.3% of Australia's population (2008 figures), yet they account for more than five times that percentage of elite footballers [8].

Australian rules football has a special place in the culture of many Aboriginal communities. In some instances it has become as much as 'an obsession' and a tool to keep children in school and promote healthy lifestyle messages [1].

Australian Football League (AFL) is loved 'with a passion' from the Tiwi Islands in the north to the game's spiritual home in Melbourne in the south [8]. It is loved for being an inclusive game that does not discriminate. Football gives Aboriginal people the acceptance and recognition they are longing for.

In many communities the 'footy' plays a crucial role in keeping people together, giving them a sense of community and beloging, offering them an opportunity to meet and exchange news while they cheer the team on [8] — very similar to traditional times when large Aboriginal groups met if seasonal food was in plentiful supply. In this way every football game is an avenue to health and well-being for each individual.

When we play football there's that connection with the land that we are on and the way that we play. When you see two brothers or three brothers playing on the same team you can just see this natural ability shine through. —Adam Goodes, Aboriginal football player [1]

Fact: Rugby league was only introduced to Australia in late 1907 and yet there is strong evidence that it was first played in Cherbourg in 1908, which would make this small South Burnett Aboriginal mission one of the key birthplaces of Australian rugby league [19].

Fact: Elcho Island (far north Queensland) has Austrlaia's highest per capita participation rate in AFL football [23].

Fact: The largest Aboriginal population lives in the western suburbs of Sydney, the traditional heartland of rugby league [26].

What is it that allows these players to keep getting up for games, when they are under-nourished, inadequately prepared for matches and playing in the harshest conditions of any group in Australia? Two words—desire and passion. —Tavis Perry, AFL Northern Territory regional development manager [23]

Are Aboriginal players a 'risk'?

Aboriginal players are often praised for their 'magic' or 'x-factor' [21] but there is another aspect to them. Team managers frequently attach a "stigma of risk and vulnerability" to key aspects of their cultural identity [21].

Research [21] into AFL player recruitment found that clubs continued to see Aboriginal players as presenting particular "risks and vulnerabilities".

Clubs calculate risks based on—among others—what suburb or area Aboriginal players come from, what schools they attend, their family status—good, bad, broken.

It seems AFL clubs overemphasise the danger of Aboriginal players making 'mistakes', e.g. for drink driving or brawling, a risk which is equally present for non-Aboriginal players.

Some such views may be based on thinking Aboriginal players are lacking dedication, and other racist attitudes.

Indigenous players in Australian Football League 2008-2011

Players lists are cumulative, meaning retired player's names remain listed.

Club	Aboriginal players in 2007-2011 [7,16,17,27,30]
Adelaide Crows (SA)	Andrew McLeod, Ed Curnow, Graham Johncock, Jared Petrenko, Jarrhan Jacky, Jonathon Griffin, Richard Tambling, Tim Milera, Tony Armstrong
Brisbane Lions (QLD)	Albert Proud, Anthony Corrie, Ashley McGrath, Chris Johnson, Jason Roe, Rhan Hooper, Sam Sheldon, Xavier Clarke
Carlton Blues (VIC)	Andrew Walker, Chris Yarran, Clinton Benjamin, Eddie Betts, Jeffrey Garlett, Joe Anderson
Collingwood Magpies (VIC)	Andrew Krakouer, Anthony Corrie, Brad Dick, Chris Egan, John Bennell, Kirk Ugle, Leon Davis, Shannon Cox, Sharrod Wellingham
Essendon Bombers (VIC)	Andrew Lovett, Alwyn 'Froggy' Davey, Anthony Long, Courtenay Dempsey, Dean Dick, Jarrod Atkinson, Leroy Jetta, Mark Williams, Nathan Lovett-Murray, Patrick 'Paddy' Ryder, Richard Cole
Fremantle Dockers (WA)	Antonio Grover, Calib Mourish, Casey Sibosado, Clancee Pearce, Des Headland, Jeff Farmer, Joe Houghton, Jonathon Griffin, Michael Johnson, Michael Walters, Roger Hayden, Stephen Hill
Geelong Cats (VIC)	Adam Varcoe, Alan Christensen, Liam Bedford, Mathew Stokes, Nathan Djerrkura, Stephen Motlop, Travis Varcoe
Gold Coast (QLD)	Brandon Matera, Harley Bennell, Harley Bennell, Jarrod Harbow, Liam Patrick, Nathan Krakouer, Rex Liddy, Roland Ah Chee, Steven May
Greater Western Sydney1 (NSW)	Curtly Hampton, Damian Williams, Gerald Ugle, Isiah Stevens, Jarrod Harding, Rhys Cooyou, Shaun Edwards
Hawthorn Hawks (VIC)	Cameron Stokes, Carl Peterson, Chance Bateman, Cyril 'Junior Boy' Rioli, Derick Wanganeen, Lance 'Buddy' Franklin, Mark Williams, Rhan Hooper, Shaun Burgoyne
Port Adelaide Power (SA)	Daniel Motlop, Danyle Pearce, Marlon Motlop, Nathan Krakouer, Peter Burgoyne, Shaun Burgoyne, Wade Thompson
Melbourne Demons (VIC)	Aaron Davey, Austin Wonaeamirri, Byron Pickett, Daniel Hayes, Isaac Weetra, Jamie Bennell, Kelvin Lawrence, Liam Jurrah, Matthew Whelan, Neville Jetta
North Melbourne Kangaroos (VIC)	Cruize Garlett, Daniel Wells, Djaran Whyman, Eddie Sansbury, Lindsay Thomas, Matt Campbell, Warren Benjamin
Port Adelaide (SA)	Daniel Motlop, Danyle Pearce, Marlon Motlop, Nathan Krakouer, Wade Thompson
Richmond Tigers (VIC)	Alroy Gilligan, Andrew Krakouer, Carl Peterson, Clayton Collard, Jarrad Oeakley-Nichols, Renton Roberts, Richard Tambling, Shane Edwards, Troy Taylor
St Kilda Saints (VIC)	Andrew Lovell, Nick Winmar, Raphael Clarke, Ross Tangutulum, Xavier Clarke
Sydney Swans (NSW)	Adam Goodes, Byron Summer, Lewis Jetta, Michael O'Loughlin
West Coast Eagles (WA)	Adam Cockie, Ashley Sampi, David Wirrpanda, Gerrick Weedon, Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls, Koby Stevens, Lewis Broome, Liam Bedford
Western Bulldogs (VIC)	Brennan Stack, Cameron Faulkner, Jarrod Harbrow, Joshua Hill, Liam Jones, Malcolm Lynch, Nathan Djerrkura, Shane Thorne, Zeph Skinner

The table shows players who played in any of the seasons listed.
¹ The 18th AFL club entered the AFL in March 2012.

First NRL Indigenous All Stars team

In November 2009 the National Rugby League (NRL) announced its first Indigenous All Star team which played the NRL All Stars in a pre-season game on February 13, 2010 (two years to the day since the Australian government's apology to the Stolen Generations).

Preston Campbell who was part of the team tells his feelings when he visited his home town [15]: "I realised that the support [shown by his people] was not just for me or even the team. There was a sense of pride that we were representing them and that the game had recognised Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the special relationship we have with rugby league. And I also realised that we were representing those who had gone before us and that we were also fulfilling their dreams."

"We will take the spirit of our own mob on to the field and that will give us the personal strength to take on the might of the assembled NRL All Stars. We will also carry a special strength generated by the game commemorating the Stolen Generations on the second anniversary of the apology given by the Prime Minister [Kevin Rudd], who will be at the ground. This will have a special meaning for a number of the boys, including myself, whose family histories were affected by those times."

"All these emotions will come together in a collective sense of pride in our culture and our history. Many people say we will be making history. I would like to think we are honouring history."

The Indigenous All Stars won 16:12.

The Indigenous All Stars were [13]: Carl Webb (Cowboys), Cory Paterson (Knights), D Laurie (Panthers), George Rose (Sea Eagles), Greg Inglis (Storm), Jamal Idris (Bulldogs), Jamie Soward (Dragons), Jharal Yow Yeh (Broncos), Joel Thompson (Raiders), Jonathan Thurston (Cowboys), J Hodges (Broncos), Nathan Merritt (Rabbitohs), PJ Marsh (Broncos), Preston Campbell (Titans), Sam Thaiday (Broncos), Scott Prince (Titans), Tom Learoyd-Lahrs (Raiders), Travis Waddell (Raiders), Wendell Sailor (Dragons, his last match), Yileen Gordon (Bulldogs).

Indigenous Australian Football League (AFL) fact file

This is a small snapshot of Aboriginal AFL statistics in 2008 [4]:

• The AFL's Indigenous programs reach more than 87,000 Aboriginal people or 36% of Australia's Aboriginal population.
• 25 Australian Football Indigenous academies operate across the country.
• Four AFL clubs engage with Aboriginal communities: Essendon (Wadeye), Geelong (Gove and Groote), Richmond (Alice Springs) and Collingwood (Katherine).
• 189 Indigenous players play AFL/VFL football.
• 72 players are on AFL club lists, an historic record.
• Indigenous football players make up 10% of the AFL competition, another historic record.
• 14 Aboriginal players have played 200 games or more, 7 more than 250 games, one has reached 300 games (Gavin Wanganeen).
• 156 Indigenous players have made their AFL/VFL debut since 1980. Only 23 did so prior to 1980.

Each year in AFL round 9 is the Indigenous Round, a themed round to acknowledge and celebrate Indigenous players. It culminates with the "Dreamtime at the G" clash in Melbourne. The AFL has more on the Indigenous round.

Australia's most successful football club

St Mary's Football Club is claimed to be Australia's most successful football club since World War II [29].

It was formed in 1952 in Darwin, Northern Territory. The club is known as the 'Green Machine' from the colour of their jumpers. It collected 28 flags and played in 44 premier league grand finals.

St Mary's Football Club was first created so that Aboriginal and Islander people could have a place to meet and play football, as they were banned from being in the CBD of Darwin after 6pm during Australia's assimilation policies.

One of the great records of the club is a win of 50 consecutive games in sequence that started in 1994. By March 2011 the club had won 773 of 1074 games at senior level and had never collected a wooden spoon, which equates to a 72% winning ratio over nearly 6 decades [29].

Australian Indigenous cricket tour 1868, 1988 & 2009

1868

 

As cricket's popularity in 1868 increased, a non-Indigenous man by the name of Charles Lawrence decided to band together an all-Indigenous team of Aboriginal men from lands of western Victoria, believing that their traditional abilities would make them outstanding cricketers [16]. It played its first game at Manly Oval, a Prime Minister's XI, led by Bob Hawke [14].

Charles Lawrence then decided the team to tour England, a journey that took them over six weeks by boat. Led by star all-rounder Johnny Mullagh, they won 14, lost 14 and drew 19 of their 47 games over six months.

The Aboriginal cricketers' journey to England in 1868 was the first sports team to represent Australia overseas, 14 years before the first Ashes tour. It created the beginnings of what is now considered the greatest battle in modern cricket—the battle for the Ashes.

1988

 

In 1988 a 17-member Aboriginal Cricket Association team celebrated the 120th anniversary of the tour by travelling to England. Captained by John Maquire the team played 28 games, winning 16 of them. They met the Queen at Buckingham Palace and went backstage at an INXS concert.

2009

 

In 2009 a squad of 14 Aboriginal players aged 16-26 left Brisbane, Queensland, on 20 June to retrace some of the famous 1868 tour. They played 11 matches within a month, some at the grounds where the tourists of 141 years ago visited.

This time the Indigenous cricket team won 8, lost 3 and drew 1 of their 12 games.

The documentary From The Ashes traces the journey of two members of the 2009 team, Worrin Williams and Cameron Trask.

In the 132 years sinced the first Test match was played, Jason Gillespie is the only Indigenous player to have represented Australia at cricket [10].

It's only a matter of time before Indigenous people make their mark in first-class cricket, particularly with the popularity of Twenty/20.—Dan Christian, Indigenous cricketer [11]

Fact There are 13,000 registered Indigenous cricketers across Australia. That figure, however, pales against the thousands of Indigenous footballers in Australian rules or rugby league.

Resources

Aboriginal soccer

The inaugural Indigenous Football Festival was held in Townsville, Queensland, in July 2009. It is a first attempt to get Aboriginal Australians to embrace soccer. The festival targeted mainly young socceroos who played matches, attended coaching clinics and team-building activities.

In May 2009 the Borroloola Cyclones, a team of 15–18-year-old Aboriginal youth, became the first all-Indigenous soccer team to play an international match during the Arafura Games, held every two years in Darwin, Northern Territory [12]. Because Aussie rules is the dominant football code in the Territory, soccer is referred to as 'round-ball'. Borroloola is about 950 kms south-east of Darwin.

Aboriginal sporting events

Aboriginal people love their sport. Here's a list of popular Aboriginal sporting events:

• Aboriginal Power Cup (APC): The Aboriginal Power Cup was created in April 2008 and targets Aboriginal students. They must attend at least 70% of their classes to attend this sporting event.
• Badu Island of Origin is an annual Rugby League contest which started in 1994 and is staged on Badu Island in the Torres Strait.
• Barunga Festival: One of the Northern Territory's biggest annual festivals over the June long weekend in the Jawoyn community, about 80km south-east of Kathering. Besides sport the festival offers cultural events like spear-throwing, music, dance and cultural activities.
• Bill Coolburra Memorial Shield, held on Palm Island in far north Queensland, honours Bill 'kookaburra' Coolburra, a respected Elder and Australian Army Vietnam War veteran.
• Cairns All Blacks carnival is held in October in Queensland.
• Dan Ropeyarn Memorial Rugby League Carnival takes place at Bamaga, a small community 40kms south of the tip of Cape York in far north Queensland.

• David Peachey Foundation Aboriginal Rugby League Carnival is held anually in Dubbo (NSW).
• Dingo Cup cricket competition, held since 2003.
• Dunheved Aboriginal Golf Championship. The first championship was held in October 1979 at the Dunheved course at St Marys in Sydney's west. It's a 36-hole medal/strokeplay event.
• Ella 7s Rugby union carnival, which started as an annual event in 2009 and is staged in Coffs Harbour, NSW.
• First Contact Sports and Cultural Festival was 2008 in its 15th year. It is held in Brisbane, QLD, and was founded by Robbie Williams. Many market stalls offer products art and craft of Aboriginal businesses.
• Foley Shield started in 1948 and is held in far north Queensland with teams from the Torres Strait and Cape York.
• Generation Cup, held since 1995 in Launceston, Tasmania, is a battle between young and old teams of netball, softball and football.
• Henaway Cup is an annual golf event in Queensland, founded by Pastor Les Henaway. Aboriginal and non-Indigenous contestants are allowed.
• Imparja Cup is Australia's National Indigenous Cricket Carnival held each February in Alice Springs, central Australia. Originally founded by custodians Shane Franey and Ross Williams as a family match between Alice Springs and Tennant Creek, the Imparja Cup is now a national celebration of cricket and Aboriginal culture.
• Indigenous Reconciliation Rugby League Carnival started in 2009 in Rockhampton, Queensland, and involves sixteen rugby league teams.
• Lord's Taverners Indigenous cricket carnival is an annual event in South Australia with teams from all across the state.
• National Indigenous Golf Championship started in 2006 and is staged at changing locations across Australia.
• Newcastle Koori netball tournament started in 1999 and attracts over 200 players from all across New South Wales.
• National Indigenous Golf Tournament was co-founded in 1979 in Victoria by Syd Jackson. The tournament is held anually at changing locations in Australia.
• NSW Aboriginal Rugby League Knockout Carnival is one of the biggest Indigenous gatherings in Australia. The very first knockout was held at Camdenville Oval, St Peters, on the October long weekend of 1971 with 8 participating teams. The winning teams gains the right to hold the next knockout.
• NSW Indigenous Athletics Championships is a fun, safe and competitive environment for athletes aged 5-21 years. The event also offers educational, craft and career information stalls.
• Rainforest Cup is an Indigenous cricket carnival held at Tully in Queensland, which is regarded Australia's wettest town.
• Seaswift Island of Origin Series Rugby League Carnival, held for three days on Thursday Island, offers one of the richest prizemoneys of an all-blacks carnival in Queesland. 2009 saw the 24th carnival.
• South Australian Aboriginal Cultural and Sport Festival is held at Moonta (150km north-west of Adelaide) in September. The 2.5-day festival attracts a crowd of several thousand people.
• Toowoomba NAIDOC Golf Classic is an 18-hole golf tournament which takes place annually in southern Queensland.
• Torres Strait Island of Origin Rugby League carnival: Held over the Queen's Birthday long weekend in June, usually on Thursday Island or Badu. 2010 sees the 25th anniversary of the Rugby League carnival.
• Vern and Frank Daisy Cup Rugby League carnival is held in Townsville, north Queensland, every year in February. The carnival started in 2006 and is named after two great Rugby League footballers to come out of north Queensland.
• Woorabinda Pastoral Company Indigenous Reconciliation Rugby League Carnival consists of a 16-team men's Rugby League knockout and an 8-team women's touch football competition. The carnival started in 2008 and aims to initiate reconciliation through a celebration of Indigenous culture, arts and sport.
• Zenadth Kes Cup is a Rugby League carnival held on Thursday Island in the Torres Strait. The cup is 'one of the biggest events on the Torres Strait Islands sporting and social calendar' [9]. Many teams reach Thursday Island by powered dinghies.

Fact A sports carnival on Palm Island was an alcohol and drug-free event. Organisers asked police to breath-test players for alcohol "to ensure that no players had any alcohol reading and if they did, they would not have been allowed to play" [32].

The Imparja Cup

The mighty MacDonnell Ranges watch the action unfold
the Imparja Cup is under way what a sight to behold.

The first people of this nation showcasing their talent and flare
playing with fire and hunger in a spirit that's always fair.

For tens of thousands of years ceremonies held at this place
now a different type of performance enlivens this sacred space.

A game rich with tradition bound by chance and skill
a truthful form of expression the ultimate test of one's will.

Towering straight sixes elegant cover drives
lion-hearted bowling spells defying the heat and flies.

The audience comprises many different mobs
cheering out their lungs proud of where they're from.

This festival of cricket a jewel in the calendar year
a celebration of our beloved game and the cultures that were first here.

Poem by Jonathan Hill, Old Erowal Bay, NSW [31]. Read more Aboriginal poems.

National Indigenous Games?

Plans are underway for annual national Indigenous Games, a move initiated by the Australian Indigenous Games Foundation (AIGF) which was founded in May 2008.

The main aim of the games will be to build self-esteem and confidence. AIGF President Bob McCullough says that "the Australian Indigenous Games will contribute significantly to the development of Indigenous communities, encouraging young people to strive for excellence and develop skills in life and sport. This will develop into pride in the community and pride in being Indigenous." [5]

Aboriginal sport resources

National Aboriginal Sporting Chance Academy

The National Aboriginal Sporting Chance Academy (NASCA) helps Aboriginal children achieve their sporting and academic goals and possibly becoming a sports star in their field.

NASCA was founded in 1995 and is set up as a mentoring initiative. It offers sporting, academic and health programs for Indigenous children, including ARMTour (Athletes as Role Models Tour) where famous Aboriginal athletes visit remote communities to promote healthy lifestyles and give the children a hands-on sporting experience.

The academy does not run the sports programs but has partnerships with sporting institutions such as NRL, AFL, NSW Institute of Sports, Cricket NSW, Cricket NT, National Women's Basketball League and Softball Australia [6].

National Aboriginal Sporting Chance Academy (NASCA)
Suite 1009a, Level 10
MLC Centre, 19 Martin Place
Sydney NSW 2000
Ph: 02 9221 8655
Fax: 02 9221 8322

www.nasca.com.au

Out of respect for Aboriginal culture I use Indigenous sources as much as possible.
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