
Increasing numbers of Indigenous players 'big priority' for AFL amid five-year slip
Top AFL executives say the league should consider introducing all-Indigenous sides in elite junior pathways, with tackling the recent dip in the number of First Nations players in the men's competitio...

Is it time for the AFL to step in and incentivise the recruitment of Indigenous players? Essendon pushed an idea a few years ago that would mandate every club be forced to recruit at least one Indigenous player to their AFL list every year on a 12-month contract and there would be an extra spot on each club's rookie list for this recently drafted Indigenous player. You'd think a policy like that would help if the AFL wants to increase the number of Indigenous players in the AFL.
What do you think? Does something need to be done or is the league fine the way it is?
CLUB | NO. OF INDIGENOUS PLAYERS |
Gold Coast Suns | 7 - Jy Farrar, Joel Jeffrey, Lloyd Johnston, Sean Lemmens PLAYERCARDSTART
23
Sean Lemmens
Career
Season
Last 5
PLAYERCARDEND
PLAYERCARDSTART
22
Ben Long
Career
Season
Last 5
PLAYERCARDEND
PLAYERCARDSTART
17
Daniel Rioli
Career
Season
Last 5
PLAYERCARDEND
|
Port Adelaide | 7 - Jase Burgoyne, Tom Cochrane, Jeremy Finlayson PLAYERCARDSTART
11
Jeremy Finlayson
Career
Season
Last 5
PLAYERCARDEND
PLAYERCARDSTART
2
Sam Powell-pepper
Career
Season
Last 5
PLAYERCARDEND
PLAYERCARDSTART
15
Willie Rioli
Career
Season
Last 5
No current season stats available
PLAYERCARDEND
|
St Kilda Saints | 6 - Lance Collard, Liam Henry, Bradley Hill, Isaac Keeler, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Marcus Windhager |
West Coast Eagles | 6 - Tyler Brockman, Malakai Champion, Tyler Dewar, Tim Kelly PLAYERCARDSTART
11
Tim Kelly
Career
Season
Last 5
PLAYERCARDEND
PLAYERCARDSTART
1
Liam Ryan
Career
Season
Last 5
PLAYERCARDEND
|
Fremantle Dockers | 5 - Shai Bolton PLAYERCARDSTART
15
Shai Bolton
Career
Season
Last 5
PLAYERCARDEND
PLAYERCARDSTART
19
Quinton Narkle
Career
Season
Last 5
PLAYERCARDEND
PLAYERCARDSTART
25
Alex Pearce
Career
Season
Last 5
No current season stats available
PLAYERCARDEND
PLAYERCARDSTART
10
Michael Walters
Career
Season
Last 5
PLAYERCARDEND
|
Geelong Cats | 4 - Mitchell Edwards, Lawson Humphries, Jack Martin PLAYERCARDSTART
19
Jack Martin
Career
Season
Last 5
PLAYERCARDEND
PLAYERCARDSTART
18
Tyson Stengle
Career
Season
Last 5
PLAYERCARDEND
|
Hawthorn Hawks | 4 - Karl Amon PLAYERCARDSTART
10
Karl Amon
Career
Season
Last 5
PLAYERCARDEND
|
Melbourne Demons | 4 - Steven May PLAYERCARDSTART
1
Steven May
Career
Season
Last 5
PLAYERCARDEND
PLAYERCARDSTART
23
Shane Mcadam
Career
Season
Last 5
PLAYERCARDEND
PLAYERCARDSTART
36
Kysaiah Pickett
Career
Season
Last 5
PLAYERCARDEND
|
Western Bulldogs | 4 - Arthur Jones, Liam Jones PLAYERCARDSTART
19
Liam Jones
Career
Season
Last 5
PLAYERCARDEND
|
Brisbane Lions | 3 - Callum Ah Chee PLAYERCARDSTART
4
Callum Ah Chee
Career
Season
Last 5
PLAYERCARDEND
PLAYERCARDSTART
23
Charlie Cameron
Career
Season
Last 5
PLAYERCARDEND
|
Adelaide Crows | 2 - Wayne Milera PLAYERCARDSTART
30
Wayne Milera
Career
Season
Last 5
PLAYERCARDEND
PLAYERCARDSTART
23
Izak Rankine
Career
Season
Last 5
PLAYERCARDEND
|
Carlton | 2 - Jesse Motlop, Zac Williams |
Collingwood | 2 - Bobby Hill, Ash Johnson |
Essendon | 2 - Alwyn Davey Jr, Jade Gresham PLAYERCARDSTART
11
Jade Gresham
Career
Season
Last 5
PLAYERCARDEND
|
GWS Giants | 2 - Toby Bedford PLAYERCARDSTART
14
Toby Bedford
Career
Season
Last 5
PLAYERCARDEND
|
North Melbourne | 2 - Robert Hansen Jr, Jy Simpkin PLAYERCARDSTART
12
Jy Simpkin
Career
Season
Last 5
PLAYERCARDEND
|
Richmond Tigers | 2 - Rhyan Mansell, Maurice Rioli Jr |
Sydney Swans | 1 - Joel Hamling PLAYERCARDSTART
29
Joel Hamling
Career
Season
Last 5
No current season stats available
PLAYERCARDEND
|
TOTAL | 65 |
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