AFL Launches Indigenous Round in Elizabeth, Melbourne and Fremantle
On Monday at Elizabeth, the AFL’s highest rollers were in attendance and were quick to pay tribute to Australia’s First Nations people, as the AFL launched the Sir Doug Nicholls Round.
“Our game simply wouldn’t be as great as it is without the contributions of its Indigenous players,” said AFL CEO Andrew Dillon.
“The AFL is now contributing 10% of all revenue back into the grassroots of football, and there are specialised Indigenous programs so we can continue to have representation at the elite level.”
“Sir Doug Nicholls Round provides an important platform for us to celebrate First Nations people’s contribution to our game, and to continue the conversation about the game’s history, the nation’s history and our way forward together,” said Tanya Hosch, AFL Executive General Manager of Inclusion & Social Policy.
“This game is important to our community and it’s vital that we continue to get Indigenous players playing at the highest level of our game, in both the men’s and women’s [competition],” Tanya Hosch continued.
Tayna Hosch was asked on former player and current North Melbourne assistant coach Xavier Clarke, who missed out on Richmond’s vacant role last year after being an assistant at Tigerland since 2016.
“He’s one of those coaches we’re including in our perspective, we’ve got to encourage and support the coaches that are already in the system as well as bring new ones in.
“There’s no question he’s a real demonstration of what’s possible and I hope he makes it as a senior coach.”
Sir Doug Nicholls Round spans two rounds each year, with Round 10 and 11 selected for 2024. Round 10 began on Thursday when Gold Coast upset Geelong in Darwin, before Sydney’s clash with Carlton tonight.
Sonny Morey is the Sir Doug Nicholls Round Honourary. A proud Arrernte man, Morey played 213 games with the Central District Football Club. During his 14 year career with the Dogs, he played four times for South Australia, was the Central District Best and Fairest in 1970 and the Magarey Medal runner up in 1972. He finished behind only Malcolm Blight, who won a Brownlow Medal in the years to come.
After his playing days, Morey would go on to coach an U17 Premiership in 1985 at the Ponderosa, and make the SANFL Indigenous Team of the Century, selected in 2011. He was inducted into the SANFL Hall of Fame in 2023. Morey is a life member of both the SANFL and the Central District Football Club, and an incredible trailblazer for Indigenous players in our wonderful game.
“It’s bit big, the oval (X-Convenience Oval in Elizabeth), it was punishing if you did three laps, that’s about 1 mile in the old days,” Morey began
“[To be the Sir Doug Nicholls Honourary] is absolutely huge, not only for me, but for the Indigenous people of this state.
“[Sir Doug Nicholls Round] is very important [to highlight the efforts of the Indigenous community playing football]. It means a great deal to the Aboriginal people to have someone representing us at the government level and also with the footy,” Morey reflected on the achievements of Sir Doug Nicholls.
“I think this honour that the AFL’s given me is gonna give the Indigenous community, especially here in SA, playing footy, a massive growth. Be proud, be strong and play the game we love. It’s the best game in the world.
“Centrals means a lot to me. They gave me the opportunity to play, given me the opportunity to become a life member. The opportunity to talk to you guys, if I didn’t play for Centrals none of that happens.
“It’s a fantastic club, a family club, there’s some serious players that have come out of this club. There’s still kids playing for this club today, its fantastic and I encourage them [to continue].”
Elsewhere at Elizabeth, Adelaide superstar Izak Rankine was the co-designer of Adelaide’s jumper this year. Ahead of the game against Collingwood on Saturday, he had this to say;
“I’m happy with the design and how it came out. It means a lot to my family and his [Harley Hall, co-designer] family. Harley’s done a great job.”
“I’m proud of it, growing up you always want to buy the Indigenous guernsey.
“I definitely [wanted to design an Indigenous guernsey]. Indigenous round is my favourite round of year. To be able to work with someone and put something like this together is pretty special.”
Meanwhile Rankine believes that the Crows now have momentum.
“We didn’t get off to a great start, then the draw [vs Brisbane], but we’re excited for next week and think we can build off our momentum, over the next couple of weeks we think we have some winnable games.
“We’ve always had that belief, each line group is doing well, they know their roles.”
When asked on his personal game Izak had this to say;
“I’ve put a few good games together now, and I’m at the age where a need to start playing more consistently and become one of the leaders in the team. Me going into midfield, it creates a bit of havoc and a bit of spark in there, so I’m happy doing it a bit more.
“It changes a bit week to week [in terms of playing time in the midfield], we just look at each other and give each other a wink, it’ll go up on the board, but we’ve got a great list of players that can play forward and midfield.”
In terms of playing at the MCG, Rankine had this to say;
“We need some more games at the G, I think. It’s a great stadium, historical stadium, all the great players play there. Every time you go to the G it’s a special feeling and you want to play well.”
Jase Burgoyne had this to say on Port Adelaide’s Indigenous guernsey;
“It’s probably fitting that [Byron Pickett] is the designer this year, 20 years since the grand final. It’s unreal and I can’t wait to run out in it.”
The Burgoyne and Pickett families are relatively close. His dad, Peter, and uncle, Shaun, are both premiership teammates of Byron, but Jase said he didn’t receive a lot of advice from the 2004 Norm Smith Medallist;
“I grew up with his [Byron’s] kids, but I didn’t really get too much advice from him. It’s good to see him and his family doing well, and designing the guernsey.”
In Round 10, Adelaide take on Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday afternoon, with the game kicking off at 1:15pm Adelaide time. Port take on the Hawks at the Adelaide Oval, the first bounce at 2:50pm.