Best indigenous Player you have ever seen?

[Ari]

Polly Farmer followed by Michael Long.

 

[blackdiamond]

Gavin Wanganeen would have to be close the best and what probably makes him this is due to his versatility.

Yes Nicky Winmar was great but was more of a player who would run forward of centre, while Wanganeen plays forward, middle and back and is a star at all.

 

[blackdiamond]

One from left field, Jason Akermanis.

 

[Count Zero]

Gavin Wanganeen. He may not be captain any longer but he will always be my number 1.

 

[dan warna]

B Darryl White Mal Michael Chris Johnson
HB wanganeen Goodes Peter Matera
C Winmar McLeod P. Krakour
HF G McAdam Headland Rioli
F A McAdam O'Lauchlin J Krakour
R Farmer Long cable

be hard catching a team with this much run, and this much goal scoring ability

 

[panthers]

nicky Winmar
David Kantilla
Michael Long

Archie Kartinyeri
Lewy Rigney

The last 2 were kids i played with in the country Absolute champs

 

[slugger]

Mal Michael's from PNG

Heard that Diesel's brother calls himself aboriginal, but Diesel says he's Spanish. He certainly played like an aboriginal with his intuitive skills.

 

[Mead]

Originally posted by answerman
Peter is definitely regarded as an Indigenous footballer while I heard recently that Phil does not regard himself as one. I don't really know what to make of that.

Its 50/50, iirc, half aboriginal, half italian. Makes for a very handy set of footballers in any case.

 

[davo dog]

les bamblert

 

[masai]

Originally posted by Adrian Shelton
Peter 'vegimite' Ware, you've brought this guy up a few times Masai, just how good was he?(i won't mind if you leave the black and white goggles on either!)

Tongue firmly in cheek to see if anyones awake. A very good player for the Ducks, but I'd be joking if I put him anywhere near Maurice Rioli or Nicky Winmar.

I loved him because he looked like a vegemite jar, tallish and strongly built and he was proud to be a TI.

Played in an era before all the political correctness and was highly respected by other players for his humour and ability to turn the comments back on the originator.

 

[Yze_Magic]

Originally posted by Scott
One from left field, Jason Akermanis.

hahahaa

****a

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Voss

 

[Piano Player]

Originally posted by davo dog
les bamblert

You beat me to it Davo Dog. If he didn't get injured he could have been anything(yes I know you could say that about anyone).
Definitely cannot consider Alan Thorpe. Played 2 good games (West Coast 1993 @ Western Oval, Crows in Adelaide 1994) and the rest were awful. Would go for an overhead mark with his arms outstretched and his eyes examining the grass.

Wanganeen would be my selection

 

[Ben_Asgari]

Andrew McLeod

 

[shacka]

i've been told that Craig Turley was in the paper a few years ago saying the he has always felt like a black person inside a white person's body.

does that mean he counts?

 

[BulldogMike]

Gavin Wanganeen. Mcleod and michael mclean would be a highly rated.

 

[krisholio14]

marice rioli was one i definately forgot, along with magic mclean

lelly bamblett lol (is he dean riolis fitness coach?)

aker does have indigenous blood in him.

another player i alwayes liked from the old wafl days was basil campbell. what a hard nut he was, but a very skilled player.

and heres one nobody has mentioned

ROBBIE MUIR!!!!!

 

[DarkRider]

Originally posted by dan warna
B Darryl White Mal Michael Chris Johnson
HB wanganeen Goodes Peter Matera
C Winmar McLeod P. Krakour
HF G McAdam Headland Rioli
F A McAdam O'Lauchlin J Krakour
R Farmer Long cable

be hard catching a team with this much run, and this much goal scoring ability

Might have a lot of run but they would have no accountability

 

[Altum Volantes]

Chris Lewis should get a nod in this thread, his footy in the early to mid 90s was just excellent - he had his flaws but he was an awesome player.

 

[blackdiamond]

Originally posted by Yze_Magic
hahahaa

****a

Whats so funny???

Courtesy of www.afl.com.au

Influence of Aboriginal players

Aboriginal footballers had starred periodically at the elite level of Australian Football before the 1980s, but their presence in the AFL has grown enormously in the past two decades.
Their ball-handling and evasive skills have thrilled many crowds. In some cases, the way players of Aboriginal descent have played the game has changed everyone’s perceptions about what is possible on a football field.
Unfortunately, it has also taken great courage for many Aboriginal players to play Australian Football as they have had to overcome racial prejudices and a lack of cultural awareness in order to excel at their chosen sport. Thankfully, with innovations such as the AFL’s Racial and Religious Vilification Rule and the leadership and actions of such people as Essendon’s Michael Long, former Brisbane player and assistant coach Michael McLean and former St Kilda and Western Bulldogs player Nicky Winmar, the football community has gained a greater understanding of the issues confronting Aboriginal players. Their achievements have also made them role models for other Aborigines.

First Aboriginal Player

The first known player of Aboriginal descent to play at AFL level was Fitzroy’s Joe Johnson, who played 55 games, including premierships in 1904 and 1905.

In AFL history, only 132 players known to be of Aboriginal descent have played AFL football, but in 2002, there were 48 players of Aboriginal descent on AFL lists.

That growth recognises both the ability of players of Aboriginal descent and the clubs’ efforts to recruit them.
Geelong’s Graham ‘Polly’ Farmer, who revolutionised the game with his use of handball and was named in the AFL Team of the Century, and Carlton’s Syd Jackson were stars of the 1960s and early 1970s. Both were from Western Australia.

A great reference for information about players of Aboriginal descent who have excelled in Australian Football is AFL’s Black Stars, published by Lothian Books in 1998.

Aboriginal Footballing achievements
Players of Aboriginal descent have won:
Two Brownlow Medals: Gavin Wanganeen (1993), then an Essendon player but now at Port Adelaide and Jason Akermanis of Brisbane in 2001.
Five Norm Smith Medals: Maurice Rioli, Richmond (1982); Peter Matera, West Coast (1992); Michael Long, Essendon (1993); Andrew McLeod, Adelaide (1997 and 1998).
Two AFL Rising Star awards: Byron Pickett, Kangaroos (1998) and Adam Goodes, Sydney (1999).
Six Sandover Medals: Ted Kilmurray 1958; Polly Farmer 1956, 1957, 1960; Barry Cable 1964, 1968, 1973; Stephen Michael 1980, 1981; Phil Narkle 1982; Michael Mitchell 1984.

Nineteen players of Aboriginal descent have played in premierships. They are: Jason Akermanis (Brisbane 2001, 2002), Winston Abraham (Kangaroos 1999), Shane Bond (WCE 1994), Troy Bond (Adelaide 1997), Barry Cable (North Melbourne 1975, 1977), Graham ‘Polly’ Farmer (Geelong 1963), Des Headland (Brisbane 2002), Eddie Jackson (Melbourne 1948), Syd Jackson (Carlton 1970, 1972), Chris Johnson (Brisbane 2001, 2002), Joe Johnson (Fitzroy 1904, 1905), Chris Lewis (WCE 1992), Michael Long (Essendon 1993), Norm McDonald (Essendon 1949, 1950), Andrew McLeod (Adelaide 1997, 1998), Peter Matera (WCE 1992, 1994), Shannon Motlop (Kangaroos 1999), Byron Pickett (Kangaroos 1999), Gavin Wanganeen (Essendon 1993) and Darryl White (Brisbane 2001, 2002).

Nicky Winmar became the first player of Aboriginal descent to play 250 AFL games. Winmar played 230 games for St Kilda and 21 for the Western Bulldogs. He won two best and fairest awards at St Kilda, was an All-Australian twice and won the Michael Tuck Medal as best on ground in the 1996 pre-season grand final.

Rio Tinto AFL Kickstart

The Rio Tinto AFL Kickstart program, implemented in 1997, funds specific development programs for Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory, northern Queensland and north Western Australia.

The program is designed to develop Australian Football and promote healthy lifestyles in Aboriginal and Tiwi Islander communities in northern Australia. It also facilitates career opportunities in the AFL.

The relationship with the Rio Tinto program emanated from the AFL’s Racial and Religious Vilification Rule which was developed in 1995. It is also an extension of the AFL’s commitment to indigenous Australians, particularly those in remote northern Australian communities.

The AFL’s annual budget for the program is $550,000.

The program employs former AFL players as regional coordinators in the Northern Territory, north Queensland and north Western Australia. Most coordinators have an Aboriginal background.

The program aims to lift participation in AFL football at junior level. In older age groups, it aims to identify talented athletes and provide them with a career path to AFL football.

The program includes such activities and initiatives as:
• visits to Aboriginal communities from AFL role models and coordinators. Players and coordinators talk about football, career aspirations and social issues.
• the establishment and support of junior football competitions.
• coaching and umpiring clinics.
• donations of equipment such as footballs, jumpers, T-shirts and hats.
• clinics at Aboriginal cultural events.
• skills camps in Cairns, Broome, Alice Springs and Darwin.
• high-level skills testing and fitness programs at the NT Institute of Sport.
• football carnival.
• identifying outstanding players for inclusion in elite squads such as Territory Thunder.
• education scholarships at Kormilda College, Darwin, and assistance with relocation costs.

 

[Deegle]

Peter Matera

 

[TheBloods]

Maurice Rioli and Barry Cable were sensational, and would probably be my two top picks for being regularly outstanding.

Never saw Polly Farmer, but everyone raves about him.

Recently - Matera, McLeod, Long, J Krakouer, Winmar, Goodes, O'Loughlin, Waganeen, Akermanis.

Hard to separate some of them. Hard to tell some of them are aboriginal!

 

[Don Logan]

Former West Coast and Richmond utility Ashley Blurton who could ignite his team with that special something.

 

[bOmBeR_BoY1]

Originally posted by Black JuJu
Chris Lewis should get a nod in this thread, his footy in the early to mid 90s was just excellent - he had his flaws but he was an awesome player.

Absolutely, I'm surprised it's taken until page 5 of this thread for that name to be mentioned! He didn't even make that 'best of' team somebody made up on a previous page...

He wasn't the best (Polly Farmer, Micheal Long or Gavin Wanganeen in no particular order), but he was good.

 

[Clayton]

Yeah Lewie was a champ!

Matera is the best for mine though , because I didn't see Polly Farmer play & because im a bias easgles fan.

Wanganeen deserves a mention as well one of the best.