Mifsud, the chief executive of the AFL Foundation which oversees the League's numerous indigenous development schemes, was delighted to hear eight aboriginal players have their names called on draft day, continuing a tradition of strong indigenous participation at the elite level.
"The national indigenous population is about 2.5 per cent of the total Australian population, so to have 10 per cent picked up in the draft -- which is reflective of the 10 per cent we currently have across the 16 AFL lists -- is great," Mifsud said.
"We had about 25 per cent in 2007 draft so by that measure this year's number is a bit under the odds, but we consider that figure was exceptional. If we maintain an average of about 10 per cent from this point forward we'll consider that a success.
"I think the other success, other than the actual figure, is the fact that we had a guy from Darwin (Steven Motlop) picked and we had a kid from Tasmania (Liam Jones) picked … That probably reinforces the national coverage we're getting now".
While seeing the likes of Stephen Hill and Chris Yarran ascend to the highest level of the sport is encouraging, Mifsud maintains it's not the sole purpose of the AFL's indigenous initiative.
"I think in a lot of ways [indigenous draftees] are the by-product of the community engagement work that underpins our programs," he said.
"We believe the broader and deeper our engagement with the community, the greater our participation rates become which enables the talent to continue to be nurtured.
It is a message, Mifsud believes, that underpins the far reaching benefits of participation in the sport at community level.
"Community engagement into participation into talent; if you get the engagement and participation elements right then it's no secret that there's an abundance of talent within indigenous communities to continue to nurture and bring into the system.
"The talent outcomes are a by-product of all the other work we do."
Football has provided a welcome outlet for indigenous youth right across the country with the Tiwi Bombers, the Rumbalara Football Club in the Goulburn Valley and the Fitzroy Stars in suburban Melbourne just a few of the success stories.
The two most visible programs from a community point of view are the annual indigenous home and away round and the Indigenous All-Stars match which takes place every two years.
"We'll play against Adelaide next year (February 7) in Darwin and then we have the annual AFL indigenous themed round which celebrates indigenous heritage, identity and culture," Mifsud says.
"It's recognition for the unique place that our indigenous players have within the game and the contribution they've made to the game going back many years now.
"To have 10 per cent of AFL players be indigenous players is a remarkable achievement within its own right, so I think that celebration is something that we should continue to promote.
"I think it creates a very safe environment for younger indigenous players in the community who have aspirations to play AFL footy that their identity will be celebrated and acknowledged more broadly through initiatives like the All-Stars game."
