The All Stars team at the Indigenous All Stars Welcome Event at Perth Cultural Centre on February 14, 2025. Picture: AFL Photos

The 2025 Toyota AFL Indigenous All Stars game officially launched on Friday night with a special function at WA Museum Boola Bardip, celebrating the cultural and footballing contributions of Indigenous players, past and present. The event brought together players, football greats, and community members to honour the proud tradition of the Indigenous All Stars and build excitement for Saturday's match.

A highlight of the evening was the player's guernsey presentation, past Indigenous All Stars Dale Kickett, Shane Edwards and Michael Long presented players with their jumpers. The moment reinforced the honour that comes with wearing the All Stars guernsey, as players embraced their role in carrying forward the legacy.

Shaun Burgoyne was presented with his Polly Farmer Medal for his best-on-ground performance in the last All Stars match, played a decade ago. Burgoyne was awarded the medal for his performance in the match but never formally received after the game. On Friday evening, Polly Farmer's daughter, Kim Farmer, presented him with the award in a fitting tribute.

AFL Commission Chair Richard Goyder AO said: "This is a significant event for the AFL, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and, not just for football, but for the country.

"The gathering of Indigenous All Stars to play in a match is not only a celebration but an acknowledgment of First Nations Australians being present in this great game of ours.

"Historically it's been 10 years since the last game, between West Coast and the All Stars in 2015 at Leederville Oval. Today on a bigger stage, Optus Stadium will provide us and the country with a long overdue spectacle and celebration.

"The event is a direct outcome from the Indigenous and Multicultural Summit held in Geelong in 2022. I am so pleased this is a player led outcome.

"The players told of their desire to represent and be present. We are the beneficiaries of that want and that will, not just to perform but to make a statement."

Match Day Information - 2025 Toyota AFL Indigenous All Stars

  • Indigenous All Stars v Fremantle at Optus Stadium
  • Gates Open: 3pm
  • Cultural Performance, team entry and Welcome to Country: from 4pm
  • First Bounce: 4.30pm
  • Half-time activation – Stephen Michael Foundation Game
  • Post-match - Polly Farmer Medal presented to Best on Ground by Kim Farmer and AFL Indigenous All Stars Shield presented to winning team by Michael McLean

Indigenous All Stars Shield

The Indigenous All Stars Shield has been designed by Indigenous craftsman, Patrick Ferguson, as a tribute to the rich history, cultural strength, and resilience of Indigenous players in the AFL.

Patrick's vision was to create a physical representation of the Indigenous All Stars' journey, embedding elements that acknowledge past, present, and future generations.

The Shield will be an official AFL-recognised perpetual trophy, prominently displaying all past Indigenous All Stars result, which will be affixed following the 2025 event.

The Shield will be displayed at AFL House or the winning Club for the next 12 months.

Michael McLean, as the first captain of the AFL Indigenous All Stars and two-time coach of the team, will present the Shield to the 2025 winning team.

Polly Farmer Medal

Graham Vivian "Polly" Farmer MBE was an Australian rules footballer who played for the Geelong Football Club in the VFL and the East Perth Football Club and West Perth Football Club in the WANFL.

Born in WA and of Indigenous heritage through his Noongar mother, Farmer is considered one of the greatest footballers in the game's history; when the Australian Football Hall of Fame was established in 1996, Farmer was among the 12 inaugural players given "Legend" status. He is primarily recognised for the way he revolutionised ruckwork and handballing.

It is fitting, that since the inception of the AFL Indigenous All Stars game, that the All Stars player judged best on ground has received the Polly Farmer Medal.

2025 Polly Farmer Medal voting panel: 

  • Shaun Burgoyne – Fox Footy match caller, games record for Indigenous players – 407 games for Hawthorn and Port Adelaide, four-time premiership player and 2015 Polly Farmer Medal winner.
  • Eddie Betts – Fox Footy match caller, All Australian selector, 350 games for Carlton and Adelaide, three-time All Australian
  • Chris Johnson – National Indigenous Radio Services match caller, Indigenous Team of the Century member, 264 games for Fitzroy and Brisbane, three-time premiership player for Brisbane, and two-time All Australian
  • Megan Waters – AFL.com.au journalist and Indigenous media personality

 
Grass Signage

The Toyota AFL Indigenous All Stars playing field will include important signs and symbols, highlighting the significant of the game. The individual elements on-field include:  

  • Aboriginal flag and Torres Strait Islander flag in each goal square. 
  • The centre circle design represents a gathering or meeting place. 
  • Circle symbol on the 50 metre arcs, from the All Stars artwork, representing past, present, and emerging. 
  • The Toyota AFL Indigenous All Stars logo lock up will be below the centre square.
  • Whadjuk, the nation of the Traditional Owners of the land will be represented on the ground, under the centre circle.