Sport

Aboriginal players in Australian Football League clubs

Ever wondered which Aboriginal player played in which club? Here's a list.

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

ClubAboriginal players in 2007-2011
Adelaide Crows (SA)Andrew McLeod, Cameron Ellis-Yolmen, 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, Darryl White, Jason Roe, Rhan Hooper, Sam Sheldon, Xavier Clarke
Carlton Blues (VIC)Andrew Walker, Chris Yarran, Clinton Benjamin, Cory, McGrath, Eddie Betts, Jeffrey Garlett, Joe Anderson
Collingwood Magpies (VIC)Andrew Krakouer, Anthony Corrie, Brad Dick, Chris Egan, Johnny Bennell, Kirk Ugle, Leon Davis, Peter Yagmoor, Richard Cole, Shannon Cox, Sharrod Wellingham
Essendon Bombers (VIC)Adrian Wilson, Andrew Lovett, Alwyn 'Froggy' Davey, Anthony Long, Courtenay Dempsey, Dean Dick, Dean Rioli, Jarrod Atkinson, Justin Murphy, Leroy Jetta, Mark Williams, Nathan Lovett-Murray, Patrick 'Paddy' Ryder, Richard Cole
Fremantle Dockers (WA)Antonio Grover, Calib Mourish, Casey Sibosado, Clancee Pearce, Clayton Collard, Des Headland, Dion Woods, Jeff Farmer, Joe Houghton, Jonathon Griffin, Jordan Wilson-King, Michael Johnson, Michael Walters, Roger Hayden, Stephen Hill, Troy Cook
Geelong Cats (VIC)Adam Varcoe, Allen Christensen, Joel Hamling, Liam Bedford, Mathew Stokes, Nathan Djerrkura, Stephen Motlop, Travis Varcoe
Gold Coast (QLD)Brandon Matera, 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, Nathan Wilson, Rhys Cooyou, Shaun Edwards
Hawthorn Hawks (VIC)Amos Frank, Bradley Hill, Cameron Stokes, Carl Peterson, Chance Bateman, Cyril 'Junior Boy' Rioli, Derick Wanganeen, Harry Miller, Lance 'Buddy' Franklin, Mark L 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 Motlop, Daniel Wells, Djaran Whyman, Eddie Sansbury, Lindsay Thomas, Malcolm Lynch, Matt Campbell, Warren Benjamin
Port Adelaide (SA)Brendon Ah Chee, Byron Pickett, Chad Wingard, Daniel Motlop, Danyle Pearce, Elijah Ware, Gavin Wanganeen, Marlon Motlop, Nathan Krakouer, Peter Burgoyne, Shaun Burgoyne, Wade Thompson
Richmond Tigers (VIC)Alroy Gilligan, Andrew Krakouer, Carl Peterson, Clayton Collard, Gibson Turner, Jarrad Oakley-Nichols, Renton Roberts, Richard Tambling, Shane Edwards, Troy Taylor
St Kilda Saints (VIC)Allan Murray, Andrew Lovell, Nick Winmar, Raphael Clarke, Ross Tangutulum, Terry Milera, Xavier Clarke
Sydney Swans (NSW)Adam Goodes, Byron Summer, Lewis Jetta, Michael K O'Loughlin, Tony Armstrong
West Coast Eagles (WA)Adam Cockie, Ashley Sampi, Brad Dick, Callum Papertalk, David Wirrpanda, Gerrick Weedon, Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls, Josh Hill, Koby Stevens, Lewis Broome, Liam Bedford, Murray Newman, Phillip Matera
Western Bulldogs (VIC)Brennan Stack, Cameron Faulkner, Jarrod Harbrow, Joshua Hill, Liam Jones, Malcolm Lynch, Nathan Djerrkura, Shane Thorne, Stephen Koops, 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.

For more see famous Aboriginal sports people.

Hey Brother, let's play footy

Hey Brother
Kick me the ball
I love playing footy
I love running and weaving
Kicking and marking
One day I will play in a
Grand final at the MCG
Like my forbears did
Why not me, eh
Syd Jackson, Norm Macdonald
Polly, Barry Cable and plenty of others.

Hey brother
We have plenty of brothers
Krakouer brothers and now a son
Burgoyne brothers, Clark Brothers
And now the slick Davies boys
It's a shame Polly didn't have a brother
Imagine what two Pollies would have done

Hey brother
We now represent nearly 20 per cent of AFL playing list
Won't be long before its 30 per cent
Our current ambassadors are champions
Goodes with two Brownlow
Medals O'Loughlin over 250 games
Leon Davis, Lovett, Wirrpanda McLeod
Wanganeen and many more.

Hey brother
Don't forget many who fast-tracked our cause
Nicky Winmar for his proud display
Michael Long for his relentless actions on and off the field
And many more who gave enjoyment
Rolliwa, Pickett, Peake, Lewis, Johnson...
The list goes on
We will need to keep increasing verses

Hey brother
A lot of our stars stayed at home
And didn't venture to Victoria in the VFL days
Bill Dempsey, Stephen Michael,
Roger Bigney, Sonny Morey,
David Kinsella were all good enough to win
Tassie, Simpson, Sandover and Magarey medals.

Hey brother
Let's not forget our brother Glen James
Who donned the all-white uniform
And umpired several day and night Grand Finals

Hey brother
Let's continue to play footy, train hard, keep fit
And be role models, not just for our people but all Australians
Recent football tactics have been to flood the backline
Let's just flood the AFL
With new recruits.

Poem by Alan Thompson, Orbost, Victoria . Read more Aboriginal poetry.

References

View article sources (7)

[1] 'AFL's 150th year a worthy celebration', Koori Mail 438 p.80
[2] 'From the Ashes', ABC1, 14/3/2010 1:30pm
[3] 'AFL promises a blockbuster year', Koori Mail 472 p.92
[4] 'Our very finest are ready to roll in AFL', Koori Mail 497 p.86
[5] 'It's crunch time in Aussie rules', Koori Mail 408 p.88
[6] '51 more reasons in 2005', Koori Mail 343 p.67
[7] 'Hey Brother, let's play footy', Koori Mail 417 p.23

Cite this page

Korff, J 2021, Aboriginal players in Australian Football League clubs, <https://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/sport/aboriginal-players-in-australian-football-league-clubs>, retrieved 27 April 2024

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