20th AFL License - An Indigenous Team

[Football Tragic]

Last week the League confirmed the return of the Indigenous All-Stars game for 2025 for the first time in nearly a decade.

Is the reintroduction of the Indigenous All-Stars game a step towards establishing a Northern Territory/'Top End' team, or could a team of Indigenous players actually be considered? I might be a cynic, but I feel the 20th team is inevitable and NT is the most likely pin on the map the AFL would like to place.

We've discussed a third WA team but, are the powers that be thinking more laterally than we believed by setting up a team of Indigenous/Islander players instead. I would have considered such a concept too discriminatory but, if they can play games with teams based on race for a round or tournament, maybe playing them for a season or as a long term team is the stretch we thought it could be?

 

[adammania9]

ignoring the absolute absurdity of the suggestion, there are not enough NT-born and raised players to fill up a quarter of an AFL list. Why would Indigenous players that aren’t from the NT want to move there when it offers nothing compared to any other of the cities we have teams in?

If the Indigenous side finishes dead last and the best indigenous player in the draft is the 20th best player, how does such a weak team improve without access to the best players?

If Indigenous players have no interest in playing for this side, does the club fill up its list with NTFL players that aren’t VFL standard?

An absolute laughing stock of a suggestion.

 

[Chief]

ignoring the absolute absurdity of the suggestion,

So - and I know I will regret this - what is the absurdity that we are ignoring if it's not any of the four things you mentioned in your post?

 

[1990crow]

No

 

[Robertio]

ignoring the absolute absurdity of the suggestion, there are not enough NT-born and raised players to fill up a quarter of an AFL list. Why would Indigenous players that aren’t from the NT want to move there when it offers nothing compared to any other of the cities we have teams in?

If the Indigenous side finishes dead last and the best indigenous player in the draft is the 20th best player, how does such a weak team improve without access to the best players?

If Indigenous players have no interest in playing for this side, does the club fill up its list with NTFL players that aren’t VFL standard?

An absolute laughing stock of a suggestion.

First time i agree with you, will not work in the current draft situation.

 

[burge13]

NT wouldn't be remotely viable or sustainable, and is never going to happen. Pointless discussion tbh

 

[adammania9]

So - and I know I will regret this - what is the absurdity that we are ignoring if it's not any of the four things you mentioned in your post?

What isn’t absurd about suggesting an AFL side limited only to a very small subset of the population?

 

[Sphynx]

So - and I know I will regret this - what is the absurdity that we are ignoring if it's not any of the four things you mentioned in your post?

It's quite possibly illegal?

It possibly violates the Fair Work Act 2009, regarding anti-discrimination restraints.

AFL clubs are bound by it like any other workplace.

You can't "openly" prioritize complete employment based on race in this country.

 

[Chief]

What isn’t absurd about suggesting an AFL side limited only to a very small subset of the population?

You mentioned that a few times in your four points.

ignoring the absolute absurdity of the suggestion,

So this was just a turn of phrase then? Nothing beyond the four points you raised? I'm trying to clarify. That's all.

You can just say "yes, it was a turn of phrase". That's OK. You're not going to be put in jail over it.

there are not enough NT-born and raised players to fill up a quarter of an AFL list.

I don't know the exact number, but I would agree it's not a big enough cohort to get the best team from.

Why would Indigenous players that aren’t from the NT want to move there when it offers nothing compared to any other of the cities we have teams in?

NT offers plenty, far as I can see. But day to day living, Darwin won't match the state capitals for drawing power.

If the Indigenous side finishes dead last and the best indigenous player in the draft is the 20th best player, how does such a weak team improve without access to the best players?

Again - the size of the cohort argument. All good.

If Indigenous players have no interest in playing for this side, does the club fill up its list with NTFL players that aren’t VFL standard?

Again - size of cohort argument. Agree.

An absolute laughing stock of a suggestion.

Meh - you're going a bit strong on that but that's your choice.

 

[Garwood18]

Yea nar just delete this thread.

As a black fulla, I don't want this.

 

[Chief]

It's quite possibly illegal?

It possibly violates the Fair Work Act 2009, regarding anti-discrimination restraints.

AFL clubs are bound by it like any other workplace.

You can't "openly" prioritize complete employment based on race in this country.

Generally in these things the courts leave it up to the sports league to decide.

 

[JackFlash]

We live in a mad world.

 

[adammania9]

You mentioned that a few times in your four points.



So this was just a turn of phrase then? Nothing beyond the four points you raised? I'm trying to clarify. That's all.

You can just say "yes, it was a turn of phrase". That's OK. You're not going to be put in jail over it.


I don't know the exact number, but I would agree it's not a big enough cohort to get the best team from.



NT offers plenty, far as I can see. But day to day living, Darwin won't match the state capitals for drawing power.



Again - the size of the cohort argument. All good.



Again - size of cohort argument. Agree.



Meh - you're going a bit strong on that but that's your choice.

What reaction were you trying to get out of me?

 

[Toump Ass]

Unreal suggestion, let's do it!

Few on here are gonna love watching a team of indigenous players get absolutely murdered by 200 points every week.

 

[Chief]

What reaction were you trying to get out of me?

Reaction? I don't know why you're being so defensive.

I was trying to clarify what you meant. If it was just a turn of phrase, then it was just a turn of phrase. Whatever.

If you had extended arguments, I am interested in hearing them. That is all.

 

[loki04]

I got a great idea, how about we segregate all the aboriginals into 1 team in the name of inclusion...

... yeah brilliant idea mate.

 

[Toump Ass]

Someone add a poll to this thread.

 

[Sttew]

OP thinking out aloud. Commendable idea but will never happen. Would probably be in breach of the AFL's own National Vilification & Discrimination Policy.

 

[Obeanie1]

ignoring the absolute absurdity of the suggestion, there are not enough NT-born and raised players to fill up a quarter of an AFL list. Why would Indigenous players that aren’t from the NT want to move there when it offers nothing compared to any other of the cities we have teams in?

If the Indigenous side finishes dead last and the best indigenous player in the draft is the 20th best player, how does such a weak team improve without access to the best players?

If Indigenous players have no interest in playing for this side, does the club fill up its list with NTFL players that aren’t VFL standard?

An absolute laughing stock of a suggestion.

Your comment regarding Darwin and the NT has nothing to offer indigenous players compared to the big established clubs and cities.

Just shows you don't understand indigenous players nor what the NT and Darwin offers.

Really bad call.

As to the OP raising the option of an indigenous team. Creating a team and club based on race. Not a great way forward IMO.

 

[Freomaniac]

Your comment regarding Darwin and the NT has nothing to offer indigenous players compared to the big established clubs and cities.

Just shows you don't understand indigenous players nor what the NT and Darwin offers.

Really bad call.

As to the OP raising the option of an indigenous team. Creating a team and club based on race. Not a great way forward IMO.

What Does the NT or what Darwin offers to the AFL?

Mararra oval or TIO stadium only Holds 12,500 seats. Darwins Population is only 140,000.

Darwin in the AFL wont be profitable unless sponsors are brought in.

Canberra would make a better option.

 

[LordLucifer]

ignoring the absolute absurdity of the suggestion, there are not enough NT-born and raised players to fill up a quarter of an AFL list. Why would Indigenous players that aren’t from the NT want to move there when it offers nothing compared to any other of the cities we have teams in?

If the Indigenous side finishes dead last and the best indigenous player in the draft is the 20th best player, how does such a weak team improve without access to the best players?

If Indigenous players have no interest in playing for this side, does the club fill up its list with NTFL players that aren’t VFL standard?

An absolute laughing stock of a suggestion.

Thsat's all you really needed to write.

 

[Walshawk]

Is the reintroduction of the Indigenous All-Stars game a step towards establishing a Northern Territory/'Top End' team, or could a team of Indigenous players actually be considered? I might be a cynic, but I feel the 20th team is inevitable and NT is the most likely pin on the map the AFL would like to place.

We've discussed a third WA team but, are the powers that be thinking more laterally than we believed by setting up a team of Indigenous/Islander players instead. I would have considered such a concept too discriminatory but, if they can play games with teams based on race for a round or tournament, maybe playing them for a season or as a long term team is the stretch we thought it could be?

Not close to inevitable.

• unsuitable climate, the first two months of the season are unplayable. Humidity means games at other times are slippery, sloppy and energy sapping
• tiny population, very few corporates
• travel and player retention issues

Canberra can mount a better case than Darwin in every respect.

Also, the all stars game should be played in Alice Springs, Dees should move their Alice game to Darwin and Gold Coast should play in the Gold Coast

 

[cryptor]

Just sounds like segregation with extra steps.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

What reaction were you trying to get out of me?

Probably a touché to what was a casual observation, or an explanation as to how you simultaneously ignored the absurdity, and pointed out all the reasons why it was absurd.

We have much to learn sensei.

 

[Football Tragic]

Well, I guess the Ingenious team would not be warmly received. It is interesting that they can play an Indigenous game using Indigenous players during the season and also have a whole round/s devoted to indigenous players but having a team is just a step too far....'absurd', it would seem.

Hey, I get it. It's like having a team of Greek heritage playing a team of Irish descent who then go on to play the winner of the Italian versus English team, but the AFL do seem to make an exception with the First Nations people, so is it such a stretch? I'm not sure it is.

Regardless, its not going to happen but I do think people are dismissing the concept of a Northern Team far too quickly. If we can have a team in Tassie, with a population of 578,000, then we could have a team with Northern Territory/Queensland/WA. The other alternatives are not much more appealing - Canberra (tiny), 3rd WA/SA Team (market already saturated & committed) or a crazy stretch in NZ (no chance).

The 20th team will happen. It's just a matter of where the pin will land on the map.