The AFL is proud to announce West Australian great, Australian Football Hall of Famer and Indigenous Team of the Century member Stephen Michael as the 2025 Sir Doug Nicholls Round Honouree.
A proud Noongar man, Stephen Michael is widely regarded as the best player to have never played in the AFL/VFL, choosing to play his career out in his home state of Western Australian despite many attempts to lure him east.
Michael had a decorated football career playing 243 matches for South Fremantle between 1975-1985, with the strong high-leaping ruckman kicking 231 goals in his time.
Michael won the Sandover Medal (WAFL best and fairest) in 1980 and 1981, was South Fremantle best and fairest five times (77, 78, 79, 81 and 83), won the 1980 premiership for South Fremantle and captained the side in 1983. He represented Western Australia 17 times where he was captain three times. In 1983, Michael won the Simpson Medal for best player in the WA vs SA game, and the Tassie Medal as the best player in Australia in State of Origin Football, earning him the honour of captain of the 1983 All Australian team.
Michael is an inaugural member of the Fremantle Football Hall of Legends, in 1999 he was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame and in 2004 was inducted into the West Australian Football Hall of Fame. In 2005, Michael was named at Centre Half Forward in the Indigenous Team of the Century.
He is currently patron of the Stephen Michael Foundation, a foundation which delivers a range of school and community-based programs to at-risk and disengaged youth people across Western Australia. With a mission to support young people to reach their full potential, the Foundation has engaged more than 10,000 children and teenagers since its inception in 2017.
AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said Michael’s contribution to South Fremantle FC and West Australian football was one to be celebrated.
“Stephen was a remarkable player and person both on and off the field, having a significant impact of football in Western Australia,” he said.
“We are delighted to celebrate Stephen as the honouree for this year’s Sir Doug Nicholls Rounds, joining an illustrious group of honourees including Glenn, Sonny, Polly and Longy.
“Sir Doug Nicholls Round is always a highlight on the football calendar and brings the industry together to celebrate and recognise the continued impact that First Nations people have on the great game of football in Australia from community football right through to the elite game.”
AFL Executive General Manager Social Inclusion and Policy Tanya Hosch was on hand to announce Stephen Michael as the 2025 Honouree, ahead of the 2025 Toyota AFL Indigenous All Stars match in Perth on Saturday.
“Stephen is an incredible player and person, who is extremely deserving of this honour, and we a delighted to have him as the 2025 Sir Doug Nicholls Round honouree,” she said.
“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples continue to make an enormous contribution to football, and to our nation, and the AFL will once again recognise and celebrate this during Sir Doug Nicholls Round in May this year, along with celebrating the contributions of Stephen Michael.
“It’s fantastic to be here in Western Australia at South Fremantle FC where Stephen played his illustrious career, ahead of the Toyota AFL Indigenous All Stars match in Perth on Saturday. It is a fitting celebration of football and Indigenous culture in Western Australia and around the country.”
2025 Sir Doug Nicholls Round Honouree Stephen Michael said he was chuffed to receive the recognition.
“I’m extremely proud to be named as honouree, Sir Doug Nicholls was a pioneer for Indigenous football and to be recognised for the round named in his honour, and alongside some of the previous honourees, is extremely humbling.”
Each year the AFL highlights the excellence and the contribution of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander to the game of Australian Rules Football, anointing an honouree during the Sir Doug Nicholls Round.
Michael is the seventh person to be named the Sir Doug Nicholls Round honouree, joining fellow greats Sonny Morey (2024), Glenn James OAM (2023), Bill Dempsey (2022), Syd Jackson (2021 & 2020), Michael Long (2019) and Graham ‘Polly’ Farmer (2018).
The 2025 season marks the nineteenth year the AFL has held the dedicated round and is the tenth year it has been named in honour of Sir Doug Nicholls. Born on Cummeragunja mission in New South Wales in 1906, Sir Doug Nicholls played football for Fitzroy before becoming a Pastor and pioneer for reconciliation in Australia. He then went onto become the first Indigenous person to be Knighted and hold the position of Governor of South Australia.
Sir Doug Nicholls Round will launch in Darwin in Round 10 when the Gold Coast SUNS play Hawthorn on Thursday 15 May, before heading to Sydney for the traditional Marngrook clash between the Sydney Swans and Carlton at the SCG on Friday night.
Dreamtime at the ‘G between Essendon and Richmond will take place on Friday 23 May at the MCG where honouree Stephen Michael will be celebrated, before Marvel Stadium hosts two matches on Saturday between Carlton and GWS Giants then North Melbourne and Collingwood in the evening.
