Aboriginal & TSI Decline in Indigenous AFL players. Should the AFL do more to address it?

[hampton]

Isn't it obvious? More than 60% of the Indigenous population resides in New South Wales or Queensland. Therefore, it's not surprising to see a higher percentage Indigenous players in the NRL when compared to the AFL. Also, it does look like it's about to increase in the AFL with the predicted top 2 picks in next year's draft being Indigenous and another top 2 pick in 2027 also being Indigenous.

One statistic that is surprising - 52% of all players in the NRL are of Pacific Islander heritage. Especially considering people of Pasifika heritage make up just 1.6% of the national population.

Even still the aboriginal and Torres Strait islander representation in afl is under-represented compared to league. League also has a high representation of islander heritage like you mentioned. One thing you notice with an afl vs nrl game is both the players and crowd - afl way more white and anglo.

 

[GC2015]

Even still the aboriginal and Torres Strait islander representation in afl is under-represented compared to league. League also has a high representation of islander heritage like you mentioned.

Just purely comparing the make-up of two national sporting leagues is not a good way of determining whether a demographic is under represented. The national Indigenous population of Australia is roughly 3.8% and the AFL is currently made up of 8% Indigenous players. So Indigenous Australians are actually over represented in the AFL. To try and suggest that Indigenous Australians are under represented in the AFL, just purely because there's a higher percentage in the NRL, would be a very poor way of interpreting statistics.

It's also important to point out that the actual number of Indigenous players in each league is roughly the same because the AFL has larger lists. Both leagues have approximately 65-70 Indigenous players at the moment.

 

[Bjo187]

I'd be concerned by the lack of European background and anglo Australians playing in the NRL, how can the significant majority of the population be so under represented in that sport?

 

[faible]

This thread has taken an unsurprisingly weird turn.

 

[hampton]

I'd be concerned by the lack of European background and anglo Australians playing in the NRL, how can the significant majority of the population be so under represented in that sport?

There's about 45-50% pacifica heritage in the NRL, 15% aboriginal/torres straight islander, so that leaves 35-40% 'white' aka european / others, given there's few black african or asian heritage players. It's not a tiny percent.

Pacifica, indigineous, black people generally make up a higher percentage of top athletes in many sports given natural athletic abilities, especially for sports that require strength, size, contact, speed and endurance. It's curious that AFL has so few, given the types of skills required in the sport. The Israel Folau $4m marketing ploy that afl house tried didn't result in this community being attracted to afl, but as per the thread title it's probably more of an issue of the decline in indigenous numbers and what can the AFL do to combat that.

 

[Bjo187]

The difference is Aboriginals that play rugby are mostly from metro areas, the Aboriginals that play Aussie rules are from n.t and remote w.a etc. So AFL clubs find it takes too many resources and it's too much of a jump to a professional environment for the majority of these kids.

It was fine back in the 90s when you could just get by just on talent, but the level in detail of game plans, professionalism etc is massive now. It's why clubs lean towards private school educated kids more as well now. For the more basic sports with not many tactics and a limited skill set, this isn't as much of an issue.

The numbers that play are still massive from the aboriginal community, but the AFL being an ultra professional environment now makes it harder for that transition. In contrast, most Aboriginals in the NRL come from western Sydney and Qld and are already living in Metro areas, so don't have to move far outta there familiar environments to play in the professional league.

 

[faible]

There's about 45-50% pacifica heritage in the NRL, 15% aboriginal/torres straight islander, so that leaves 35-40% 'white' aka european / others, given there's few black african or asian heritage players. It's not a tiny percent.

Pacifica, indigineous, black people generally make up a higher percentage of top athletes in many sports given natural athletic abilities, especially for sports that require strength, size, contact, speed and endurance. It's curious that AFL has so few, given the types of skills required in the sport. The Israel Folau $4m marketing ploy that afl house tried didn't result in this community being attracted to afl, but as per the thread title it's probably more of an issue of the decline in indigenous numbers and what can the AFL do to combat that.

AFL and NRL are vastly different athletic profiles.

NRL is closer to NFL than AFL; size, strength, power. All short-burst and body mass.

AFL has a massive endurance component that puts it closer to soccer. Pacific Islanders tend to be big, strong, and heavy. Not useful traits for endurance running.

 

[faible]

The difference is Aboriginals that play rugby are mostly from metro areas, the Aboriginals that play Aussie rules are from n.t and remote w.a etc. So AFL clubs find it takes too many resources and it's too much of a jump to a professional environment for the majority of these kids.

It was fine back in the 90s when you could just get by just on talent, but the level in detail of game plans, professionalism etc is massive now. It's why clubs lean towards private school educated kids more as well now. For the more basic sports with not many tactics and a limited skill set, this isn't as much of an issue.

The numbers that play are still massive from the aboriginal community, but the AFL being an ultra professional environment now makes it harder for that transition. In contrast, most Aboriginals in the NRL come from western Sydney and Qld and are already living in Metro areas, so don't have to move far outta there familiar environments to play in the professional league.

IMO if the AFL is serious about increasing the numbers of aboriginal players, there needs to be some form of separate rookie type list where you can stash them for a few extra years without the pressure of list spots, and some extra funding to help with the challenges of coming from a remote community to a highly professional sports environment.

A lot of these kids only get a couple of years with limited support because the clubs simply don't have the list space, or the support resources to give them the best chance at making it.

Meanwhile if you've grown up in the city and gone through the private school system, you'll already have done a fair amount of preparation for the full-time professional club environment so the transition is much, much easier.

 

[hampton]

AFL and NRL are vastly different athletic profiles.

NRL is closer to NFL than AFL; size, strength, power. All short-burst and body mass.

AFL has a massive endurance component that puts it closer to soccer. Pacific Islanders tend to be big, strong, and heavy. Not useful traits for endurance running.

NRL players have a lot more endurance requirements than NFL players (and union counterparts also) because there’s only one half, few stoppages and constant offence and defence means there’s a lot of fatigue. Though similar contact / strength with big hits and tackles, more so than union and afl for example.

Soccer has a wider assortment of nationalities and ethnicities than afl which you can see in a-league games.

AFL ethnicity profile is more similar to cricket- way more Anglo oriented. And player shape is more similar to basketball than soccer.

 

[faible]

NRL players have a lot more endurance requirements than NFL players (and union counterparts also) because there’s only one half, few stoppages and constant offence and defence means there’s a lot of fatigue. Though similar contact / strength with big hits and tackles, more so than union and afl for example.

Soccer has a wider assortment of nationalities and ethnicities than afl which you can see in a-league games.

AFL ethnicity profile is more similar to cricket- way more Anglo oriented. And player shape is more similar to basketball than soccer.

Basketball and AFL have very different athletic requirements. I'm not sure I agree with your premise that AFL and the NBA have more similar body types than soccer either.

From a very quick search, average heights:

EPL: 182.75cm
AFL: 188.1cm
NBA: 198.6cm

NFL and NRL are closer in athletic requirements than NRL and AFL are.

Yes, AFL player profile is very white dominated, which isn't that surprising given it's a very small, localised sport played in a historically majority white country and was commonly a winter sport for cricketers, with an outsized (but still small) level of Aboriginal participation at the professional level.

 

[Rob R]

Would it help if the Academy rules were tightened to encourage clubs to put more effort into regional communities and indigenous people who may not have access to the same opportunities instead of people already playing afl from established families who in some cases don't even know they are indigenous until.a club goes looking for a way to get them though an Academy.