IN ROUND four of the 2003 season, AFL history was made. For the first time, seven indigenous players were selected in the same team.
The team was Fremantle and it was the Len Hall Anzac round game at Subiaco Oval, against North Melbourne. The players were Jeff Farmer, Troy Cook, Steven Koops, Roger Hayden, Antoni Grover, Des Headland and Dion Woods.
The seven stood side by side during the Anzac observance ceremony. The image is a powerful reminder of the opportunities our game has given footballers of indigenous heritage, opportunities that did not exist in previous years, primarily because of a lack of pathways and support.
The seven players collectively represented Fremantle in 778 games, and along with others such as Dale Kickett (still the most loved Fremantle player I know), Winston Abraham, Scott Chisholm, the late Gary Dhurrkay and Clem Michael and current stars Michael Johnson, Stephen Hill, Jon Griffin, Danyle Pearce and Michael Walters, have made indigenous culture a strong part of the Fremantle Football Club's DNA.
In May 2013, the Dockers launched their Reconciliation Action Plan, which CEO Steve Rosich says formally acknowledges the club’s indigenous links.
Dale Kickett has said: “It is very important that we have indigenous people succeed, whether it be in sports, business or whatever. They are looked up to by a lot of Aboriginal children.”
Every AFL club has its indigenous story. Great Australian Football activists including Gerard Neesham, Kevin Sheedy and Michael Long have helped introduce incredible players to our game at the top level.
I coached Fremantle in that 2003 season, and over my football career as a player, coach and administrator, have been involved with many indigenous players, including Liam Jurrah, Les Bamblett, David Wirrpunda, Aaron Davey and Chance Bateman. I have also spent many sleepless nights planning to coach against indigenous superstars, including Adam Goodes, Michael O’Loughlin, Chris Johnson, Andrew McLeod, Gavin Wanganeen and the Burgoyne brothers, Peter and Shaun.
But since I started in the elite level in 1981, I have never worked with an indigenous coach, administrator or board member.
Off the field, the game is aiming to drive change by creating pathways and opportunities for indigenous people in these positions.
This requires industry-wide support and commitment, from the AFL and its clubs, the AFL Players’ Association and leagues and clubs at grassroots level.
All parties need to work together to ensure indigenous players are given every opportunity to stay in the game once retiring and work at clubs or at League level, be it as coaches, administrators or umpires. The AFL-supported indigenous coaching and umpiring academies are a great start and we must continue to support those programs.
More than 10 per cent of AFL players have an indigenous background, but hardly any of the many hundreds of staff at the AFL clubs do. This is not right and will change.
As Shaun Burgoyne outlined in the AFL Record last year, great things can start with a simple idea, as long as the necessary support continues. “You just need an opportunity and a platform to grow,” Burgoyne said.
Remember, Indigenous Round was once simply an idea. So was creating a major themed round that focused on Anzac Day. These rounds are now marquee events on the AFL calendar.
Great things happen when ideas are championed. That’s why we must continue supporting the idea of having indigenous coaches, administrators and umpires being given opportunities to make an impact, in the same way our great indigenous players have.
Chris Connolly played 84 games for Melbourne from 1982-89 and coached Hawthorn and Fremantle in 130 matches.
