The AFL is set to channel approximately $300,000 from sales of Indigenous guernseys into initiatives aimed at tackling culturally unsafe environments and racism, as the league faces a concerning decline in the number of First Nations players.
The count of Indigenous players in the league has fallen each year since reaching a peak of 87 in 2020, now standing at 62. Under a five-year strategy drafted last year, the AFL has set a target to increase this number to 89 by 2030.
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon noted that while First Nations teenagers are being drafted at a higher rate relative to their overall representation, more efforts are needed to ensure they can realize their full potential. “What we did see last year was nine Indigenous players drafted in the men’s competition, which was a bigger proportion of the 80-or-so players drafted – percentage-wise, that was a really high percentage,” he said. “But what happened was, at the same time, we had 11 Indigenous players delisted, so that’s why the number went down.”
The typical career length for an Indigenous player is roughly one year shorter than that of a non-Indigenous player. This trend is evident even among high-profile performers, such as Willie Rioli, who retired last year at age 30.
Dillon acknowledged that there are no “cookie-cutter” solutions, and the league has established a subcommittee to explore ways to boost Indigenous numbers. A working group is also considering dedicated First Nations list spots. “I think the players are there. Would we like even more? Absolutely, and that’s why we’re doing that work,” he said. “So it’s not only just about identifying, it’s then when the players are on the list, how can we make sure that an Indigenous player stays on the list as long as any other player does.”
The newly launched First Nations impact fund is expected to receive around $300,000 this season. Clubs can access the funding by proposing initiatives that support the league’s First Nations strategy, which includes creating culturally safe environments and addressing racism.
St Kilda’s Bradley Hill, a Noongar man and three-time premiership player, said he wasn’t sure of the exact cause for the drop-off but believed more could be done to help young Indigenous players seize opportunities. “Growing up as an Aboriginal young kid I know how hard it can be as a teenager, whether it’s getting to training, getting people committed to their teams,” he said. “I know sometimes it is difficult for us to get there, whether it’s money, travel, there could be a lot of things that we could do to make it easier for the younger boys coming through.”
Hill also commented on a recent incident involving a comment by coach Ross Lyon described as “casual racism,” stating there was a “positive outcome” but declined to elaborate further. “It’s already been out there in the newspapers and stuff, I probably don’t need to touch on that again,” he said. “I think you guys all know exactly what went on.”
