IWhy do the AFL clubs spend money trying to recruit Indigenous players?

Question

Why do the AFL clubs spend money trying to recruit Indigenous players? Where do they find them?? (across Australia or just in Melbourne)?

Sorry trying to write an essay about it.

thanks..

please help me out here!

Answer 1

because they seem to pocess that natural flare and instinct that fits in with Aussie rules take the daveys, michael long or andrew macloud for example.

Answer 2

Firstly it is across Australia have you ever seen the NT league some of the players in there are amazing, their speed and skill. Indigenous players have been under represented for to long. Keven Sheedy was one the first coaches to go up north for recruiting.

Answer 3

It probably helps draw attention to living conditions in aboriginal communities. Players in the city are easy to scout. players in aboriginal communities are hard to watch because of remoteness.

Answer 4

TALENT

The AFL has quite a few development options when it comes to regional centres and clubs, allowing for a huge oppotunity when it comes to the draft.  There have been a number of AFL clubs that have recruited indigenous players from particular states/regions for ages.

In the AFL's own words (see link - but still a year old I believe - even more young Aboriginal players in the comp this year)

"INDIGENOUS Australians have played a major role in the evolution of football. Here are the major stats:

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THERE are 87,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people involved in Australian Football programs. This represents 12.4 per cent of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population.

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THERE are 71 indigenous players listed with AFL clubs representing nearly 10 per cent of players, the most to be listed in a single season in VFL/AFL history.  (73 in 2008)

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FREMANTLE currently has the highest number of indigenous players on an AFL list with eight.

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IN 2006, indigenous players won both the Brownlow Medal (Adam Goodes) and NAB AFL Rising Star (Danyle Pearce).

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Indigenous players have won:

Three Brownlow Medals

Six Norm Smith Medals

Three AFL NAB Rising Star awards

Twenty-five players have been members of a premiership team

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IN 2004, the AFL Goal and Mark of the Year were won by indigenous players Daniel Wells and Ashley Sampi. The 2006 goal of the year was won by an indigenous player, Eddie Betts.

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IN 2006 Gavin Wanganeen became the first indigenous player to reach 300 career games.

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10 indigenous players have played more than 200 games.

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OVER the past 25 years, 137 indigenous players have made their AFL debut.

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A RECORD 15 indigenous players were drafted at the 2006 NAB AFL Draft.

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TWELVE players from the Clontarf Academies (in WA and NT) have been drafted to AFL clubs.

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BETWEEN 2002 and 2006 indigenous children participating in AFL Kickstart clinics grew 300 per cent from 2000 to 6000.

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MORE than 500 indigenous coaches were accredited in 2006."

ALSO (from Aborigina Football.com) stats available from website;

01. (283) 00 283 Andrew McLEOD #23 Adelaide

02. (270) 00 270 Michael O'LOUGHLIN #19 Sydney Swans

03. (229) 00 229 Jeff FARMER #33 Fremantle

04. (209) 00 209 Adam GOODES #37 Sydney Swans

05. (208) 00 208 Peter BURGOYNE #7 Port Adelaide

06. (192) 00 192 David WIRRPANDA #44 West Coast

07. (146) 00 146 Des HEADLAND #11 Fremantle

08. (139) 00 139 Leon DAVIS #1 Collingwood

09. (129) 00 129 Antoni GROVER #14 Fremantle

10. (128) 00 128 Matthew WHELAN #45 Melbourne

11. (129) 00 129 Shaun BURGOYNE #8 Port Adelaide

12. (126) 00 126 Graham JOHNCOCK #18 Adelaide

13. (102) 00 102 Daniel WELLS #8 Kangaroos

14. (098) 00 098 Ashley McGRATH #9 Brisbane Lions

15. (097) 00 097 Xavier CLARKE #3 St Kilda

16. (096) 00 096 Chance BATEMAN #10 Hawthorn

17. (082) 00 082 Aaron DAVEY #36 Melbourne

18. (080) 00 080 Roger HAYDEN #43 Fremantle

19. (076) 00 076 Mark WILLIAMS #6 Hawthorn

20. (076) 00 076 Daniel MOTLOP #4 Port Adelaide

21. (074) 00 074 Andrew WALKER #1 Carlton

22. (065) 00 065 Nathan LOVETT-MURRAY #42 Essendon

23. (057) 00 057 Eddie BETTS #19 Carlton

24. (056) 00 056 Lance FRANKLIN #23 Hawthorn

25. (054) 00 054 Michael JOHNSON #37 Fremantle

26. (053) 00 053 Richard TAMBLING #30 Richmond

27. (050) 00 050 Danyle PEARCE #16 Port Adelaide

28. (049) 00 049 Andrew LOVETT #13 Essendon

29. (039) 00 039 Eddie SANSBURY #32 Kangaroos

30. (033) 00 033 Anthony CORRIE #18 Brisbane Lions

31. (030) 00 030 Jason ROE #29 Brisbane Lions

32. (030) 00 030 Patrick RYDER #30 Essendon

33. (030) 00 030 Raphael CLARKE #16 St Kilda

34. (030) 00 030 Mathew STOKES #27 Geelong

35. (025) 00 025 Chris EGAN #15 Collingwood

36. (019) 00 019 Rhan HOOPER #33 Brisbane Lions

37. (018) 00 018 Travis VARCOE #5 Geelong

38. (014) 00 014 Alwyn DAVEY #29 Essendon

39. (000) 00 016 Shane EDWARDS #10 Richmond

40. (016) 00 016 Jon GRIFFIN #6 Adelaide

41. (013) 00 013 Matt CAMPBELL #43 Kangaroos

42. (012) 00 012 Lindsay THOMAS #12 Kangaroos

43. (011) 00 011 Nathan KRAKOUER #29 Port Adelaide

44. (010) 00 010 Jarrod HARBROW #40 Western Bulldogs

45. (008) 00 008 Shannon COX #12 Collingwood

46. (007) 00 007 Jarrad OAKLEY-NICHOLS #29 Richmond

47. (006) 00 006 Brad d**k #33 Collingwood

48. (006) 00 006 Courtenay DEMPSEY #15 Essendon

49. (005) 00 005 Joe ANDERSON #26 Carlton

50. (004) 00 004 Leroy JETTA #7 Essendon

51. (002) 00 002 Malcolm LYNCH #39 Western Bulldogs

52. (002) 00 002 Albert PROUD #34 Brisbane Lions

53. (001) 00 001 Clayton COLLARD #27 Richmond (Rookie)

54. (001) 00 001 Josh HILL #20 Western Bulldogs

55. (000) 00 000 Tony ARMSTRONG #38 Adelaide

56. (000) 00 000 Jarrod ATKINSON #38 Essendon (Rookie)

57. (000) 00 000 Liam BEDFORD #42 Geelong (Rookie)

58. (000) 00 000 Clint BENJAMIN #20 Carlton

59. (000) 00 000 Edward CURNOW #45 Adelaide (Rookie)

60. (000) 00 000 Dean d**k #40 Essendon (Rookie)

61. (000) 00 000 Nathan DJERRKURA #18 Geelong

62. (000) 00 000 Cruize GARLETT #44 North Melbourne (Rookie)

63. (000) 00 000 Jarrhan JACKY #10 Adelaide

64. (000) 00 000 Marlon MOTLOP #11 Port Adelaide

65. (000) 00 000 Calib MOURISH #39 Fremantle (Rookie)

66. (000) 00 000 Jared PETRENKO #42 Adelaide (Rookie)

67. (000) 00 000 Cyril RIOLI #33 Hawthorn

68. (000) 00 000 Sam SHELDON #37 Brisbane Lions

69. (000) 00 000 Brennan STACK #33 Western Bulldogs

70. (000) 00 000 Cameron STOKES #44 Hawthorn (Rookie)

71. (000) 00 000 Sharrod WELLINGHAM #41 Collingwood (Rookie)

72. (000) 00 000 Isaac WEETRA #28 Melbourne

73. (000) 00 000 Austin WONAEAMIRRI Melbourne (Rookie)

Content Copyright © AboriginalFootball.com.au 2008

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Answer 5

Its an Aussie sport and it should represent the whole of the country. There is nothing wrong with trying to bring everyone together.

Answer 6

Can't speak for the other clubs but Sheedy started trying to develop indigenous opportunity because he genuinely believes in equal opportunity, and one of the people on Essendon's board has a deep interest in Aboriginal culture and art and she would have supported this.

Essendon's Koori guys have been a good part of what success we have had for twenty years - I don't like using the term indigenous because the proper definition of that is Australian-born and 90 per cent of our footballers qualify.

Sheedy hasn't had all outstanding results overall from his program of Koori recruiting, there have been problems adjusting to city living and 21st century deportment, but Michael Long's career and subsequent projects alone are achievements of which the club may be proud.

Would be glad to hear in detail of other clubs' stories!

Answer 7

Because players like the Burgoyne's, Wells and Kerr are stars and it makes our game better to have players that play in a different way like aboriginal players do.

They seem to be more elusive and have more skill then the ordinary AFL player, the game wouldn't be as good to watch if there weren't indigenous players

Thanks for the stupid question

Answer 8

There have been many amazing Aboriginal players and the clubs will do whatever required to have a great team.

Answer 9

because they can play footy

Answer 10

answer to your starting question, what money do they spend trying to recruit them, 'they' are Aussies like any one else, more so in fact, and the ones that do make are fantastic to watch. they are exciting, can do magically things with the ball.

They find 'them' the same place they find the other draft picks.Throughout our gr8 wide land. players are not found just in melb, that is very ignorant really, they come from every state and  n.t, act.  even Ireland.

to all the other answers , one said there are hardly any aboriginals playing, i doubt that this person would know what they had for breakfast 20 minutes ago.

another said so they don't look racist, bloody ridiculous comment, indigenous top level players are brilliant, some are a liitle small, but their speed and ball handling is a joy to watch, watch Cyril rioli for hawthorn, the new recruit, i have seen tapes of him, he is a star in the making.

good luck with your essay, watch a few games.

Answer 11

cause they want to be popilar teams

Answer 12

Maybe to look less racist? Just a guess though. There are barely any aboriginal players in the afl.

Answer 13

Hmmm thumbs down? OK..

The AFL like any company need to expand to avoid perishing. So they will seek out talent wherever they can find it.

{{By the way I am sick  of people with a drop of Aboriginal blood being called Aboriginal. If you are less than 50 % aboriginal you are simply NOT ABORIGINAL, regadless of what the dogged white man says.}}

Answer 14

Not really the hardest question to answer. Clubs these days are not looking so much to skill (not to say aboriginals do not have any) but to fitness, acceleration and sprint speed. Having had a small part in the last draft and applying for this coming draft i can tell you that the one things coaches make note on is the lack of "take off" in players.

This boils down to hereditory and biological make-up of a an aboriginal. Much like the African-Americans in America these races are are made to be athletes. The proof, the only Australian to break the 10second 100 metre sprint is in fact an aboriginal by the name of Patrick Johnson.

Answer 15

This reads like you don't like Aborigines, if not sorry if I made a mistake.

I am not old enough to remember much of integration and race relations of the 1960's here in America. I didn't really know any blacks until I got to University. There are good and bad people of all races and creeds.

I don't care who plays for my team, any sport. If the guy helps us win, let's get him to our team. I want Buddy Franklin to come to Geelong. He can kick a good goal and I want more goals.

Answer 16

Lots of reasons, to be seen doing a good thing (good pr), they want to win games, some of the indigenous players are the best players that  have ever played  AFL/VFL,  they find them right across this wide brown land.