Bob Jones.

Bob Jones was born in Darwin, NT and grew up a keen footballer.
After playing footy for Waratahs he decided to see something of Australia ... and play a lot of football at the same time!
As a teenager, he played for Williamstown in Melbourne, before he headed off to Tasmania. There, Bob played 4 years for North Hobart, then went north to play for Latrobe for a year before moving on to Devonport, on the coast. It was from Devonport he was drafted to St Kilda in 1987.
When he walked onto the Moorabbin oval, the first player he saw was Russell Jeffrey, who he went to primary school with in Darwin, so he felt at home pretty quickly.
Other indigenous players he played with at the Saints included the one and only Nicky Winmar and Jimmy Krakouer, who crossed from North Melbourne.
Bob reckons some people get lucky and play with one great player in their careers, but he felt blessed to play alongside two all-time greats in Winmar and Tony Lockett, who he calls ‘amazing players’.

Bob Jones names his career highlights as running onto the MCG to play for the first time … and an unforgettable game where he played on Carlton champion centre half forward Stephen Kernahan and held him goalless!

Today, Bob manages the indigenous call-centre for CentreLink in Darwin, so he is still deeply involved with the indigenous community.
His advice to aspiring young indigenous players is to be true to themselves and never underestimate the hard work and dedication essential to reaching the top level in any sport, especially AFL.

Bob Jones: top player and top bloke.

A highly respected Brisbane triple premiership player, Chris Johnson started his career at Fitzroy, a VFL/AFL foundation team, which had originally started up in 1883. Sadly, when Chris was drafted in 1993, the club was fading into oblivion.
To the young Chris, however, playing footy and getting paid for it was great. “I was enjoying myself and going out and having fun pretty much.” Chris made a name for himself as a dangerous small forward and led the club’s goal kicking in 1995. In 1996, he was chosen to be one of eight Fitzroy players instructed to go to Brisbane, after the 1996 merger.

Although he would rather have stayed in Melbourne with his family, at Brisbane Chris transformed himself from a mercurial forward into a great small defender. Rarely beaten, he earned All-Australian selection in 2002 and 2004.

He remembers current Eagles coach John Worslfold as one of the toughest and scariest players he encountered, as well as the Eagles team of that era, generally.

He finds it difficult to describe the amazing, even more amazing and amazing beyond your wildest dreams feelings of winning three successive premierships … especially as so many top players go through long careers without once experiencing that premiership feeling!

Now, Chris is on the Brisbane coaching staff, developing young players and mentoring young indigenous players on and off the field. He aims to make 100-200 game players from fringe players, while helping them set up their lives for after football.

“If I can do that," he says, "I can walk away a happy man.”

Profile of a Champion:

Games: 263 Goals: 171 Finals: 19
Drafted: Selection No.7 – 1993 National Draft
AFL Debut: Fitzroy v Essendon (OO) Round 2, 1994
Lions Premiership Player 2001, 2002, 2003
All Australian 2002, 2004
Lions Co-Captain 2007
Lions Club Champion Runner-Up 2005
Fitzroy Leading Goal Kicker 1995
Indigenous Team of the Century
Indigenous All Stars Captain 2005, 2006
Australian International Rule Series Co-Captain 2005
Lions Life Member

Beat up photograph, brilliant memories.

This old photograph is one of the few mementoes left from the all too brief career of Les 'Lally' Bamblett. Back in the 80s he played 11 games for Melbourne under the' hard but fair' legend, Ron Barsassi. Barass actually recruited him from Shepparton team Lemnos, in Victoria's Goulburn Valley, which is a real footballer factory.
Les then moved on to Footscray (now Western Bulldogs), where he played under Michael Malthouse, in his first coaching role.

Les enjoyed his time at Footscray, not just for the matey informality of the area generally, but also he got to play footy with Michael 'Magic' McLean, one of the game's all-time champions. Back then, they were two of very few indigenous players running around, in stark contrast to the AFL today. In 1985 he kicked 51 goals, including at least one goal in every game he played.
Les played 37 games at Footscray, for a total of 48 VFL matches: far too few in the estimation of anyone who saw him play.
Nowadays, Les works in and for the community, especially with young people.

Asked what advice he would give to any young indigenous player kicking off his career today, Les said:

Work hard and be true to yourself!

Excellent advice, from a deadly star.

Allan Murray is a Wiradjuri man and grew up around Albury just across the river from Victoria. He played junior football for Lavington and at Thurgoona.
In 2001, he was drafted by Port Adelaide where, full of great expectations, he joined his brother Derek. As one of 8 or 9 indigenous players at Port, Alan enjoyed his time there, even if he didn’t get much game time. After two seasons, he was traded to St Kilda and made his debut for the Saints in Round 10 of the 2003 season, booting four goals against Hawthorn. He remembers 2004 when the club won the first 10 games after undergoing a training trip in London’s winter cold under ‘father figure, friend and coach’ Grant Thomas. After that, the whole group moved forward as one and narrowly missed playing in the Grand Final, losing the preliminary final by one straight goal.
Today, he rates the Saints very highly and believes the presence of ruckmen Stephen King and Michael Gardiner will be instrumental in the team’s movement onwards and upwards.
In 2003 Allan co-founded the Indigenous Lighthouse with teammate, Xavier Clarke. Allan helped raise approximately $230,000 for a home to provide long-term accommodation and intensive support for homeless young people. Now, Allan works with the Unity Foundation that supports athletes to deliver early intervention programs for Indigenous youth, as well as highlighting aspects of Indigenous culture.
A major focus of Alan’s work is to encourage teens to consider their actions carefully and aim for a life of achievement, whether it be in pursuit of a Uni degree or successfully completing an apprenticeship. Either way, it can build a firm foundation for your whole life.
Alan was named by the Victorian Government as an Aboriginal Young Achiever for 2006.

For a young bloke, he’s already achieved a great deal.

Lionel Proctor was a city boy, growing up in Fitzroy and playing footy for Alphington. His boyhood heroes included the great Nicky Winmar and long-time Fitzroy main man, Paul Roos, now very successfully coaching Sydney.

While playing with Preston under-18sLionel was greatly encouraged by his coaches. This stood him in good stead when he went to Richmond, where he played 20 games in four years.

He says coach Geoff Gieschen was very supportive and gave him good opportunities. Similarly, the senior players helped him fit in, although he felt quite daunted at first mixing with some of the big guns of the AFL. He felt at home with the younger guys and was pleased to have Andrew Krakoeur around the place, too.

Looking back, he feels he didn't make the most of his opportunities, in that he didn't work hard enough at training or in the heat of AFL games. His major career highlight was kicking his first goal, in his second game.

Perhaps because he regrets he didn't put in hard enough, his advice to young players at clubs, or on the brink of being drafted, is to take full advantage of the opportunities that might come their way: train hard, play hard, grab opportunity with both hands and don't look back.

As captain of the Fitzroy All-Stars, these are values and philosophies that he drills into his players. Pretty good advice for any young person, in any field of endeavour whether it's sport, academics or in business.

After being drafted by Richmond in 1994, Justin went on to play for Carlton (twice), Geelong and Essendon. Looking back, he believes getting traded made him focus on football and his own abilities and helped him play almost 200 AFL games over 12 years. A special highlight was playing in the ANZAC Day game in 2004, in front of 90,000 people. To add to the hype of the day, it was Justin's 150th AFL match.

To him, the game had the same atmosphere as a final ... and he should know, having played in eight of them. Another major highlight was having the ball in his hands when the final siren went when Carlton created one of the biggest upsets in finals history when it defeated 'certainties' Essendon by a point in the 1999 Preliminary Final.

As far as inspirational players go, he says every one played a part, but at Carlton Fraser Brown, Steven Silvagni, Craig Bradley and the great Kouta all stood out.

He played for four clubs and enjoyed them all.

To young players, he offers this advice: Take responsibility for your actions on and off the field; make the sacrifices you have to make if you want to succeed at a high level ... get in there and train and work hard. Remember, the average AFL career lasts only 5 years so you have to make the most of it.

He could have added that you need a master-plan for your future, too.

Matthew was born in Alice Springs in 1974. As a young man, he played for the Darwin Buffaloes, as did his father and grandfather. He played for Brisbane when they were the Bears and was coached by Robert Walls, who was well respected by his team. However, Matthew’s football progress was impeded by the attractions and distractions of the Gold Coast.

In 1994, while standing out of football for a year, he played for the first Indigenous All-Stars team. This team beat Collingwood and underlined the remarkable Indigenous talent that was emerging across Australia. In the All-Stars, he met later Sydney teammates Derek Kickett and Jamie Lawson.

Matthew loved it at Sydney and had an absolutely fantastic time. He regrets not training hard enough and not being committed enough, as he feels he could have done better, for longer.

These days, Matthew Ahmet works with mostly indigenous youth at the Don Bale Juvenile Detention Centre in Darwin. His task is to get the boys back on track and to improve their education, as he sees education as the foundation to success. In fact, Matthew's advice to talented young footballers aspiring to an AFL career is ‘go to school and get a really good education’. Football careers don’t last long and only the top players make the really big money, so an education is essential to your life, wherever your football leads you.

In his first game for Carlton, Troy kicked 3 goals against Adelaide, the team where he crowned his career with the 1997 Premiership win over St Kilda.
This famous victory was particularly sweet, as he'd left Carlton after being omitted for a Grand Final clash, after playing every game of the season. However, at Carltonhe had experienced the adrenaline rush brought on by from playing finals footy in front of huge crowds. And he'd played with champions such as Stephen Kernahan, Craig Bradley and Greg Williams under a legendary coach David Parkin. So he has much to look back on over a career of achievement and excitement.

Playing under the coaching of Malcolm Blight at Adelaide and and John Cahill at Port Adelaide also are valued memories. He believes they were both great coaches who concentrated on the simple, basic things.

Today, Troy works as an indigenous Project Officer of the S.A. Drug & Alcohol body. This enables him to travel around and help people reduce their dependence on drugs and alcohol, or even quit altogether.

He feels that if he can help one in ten people this way, it is a worthwhile and valuable follow-up to a stand-out football career.

Port Power recruited Derek Murray from the Murray Bushrangers, which surprised him at the time, because the club had showed no interest at the draft camp. He played 23 games between 1999 and 2002. One of his big influences was Bushrangers coach Kelly O’Donnell, who told him to keep his ‘head down and bum up’ and have a real go at his dreams.

The only negative about being drafted by Port was leaving his family behind. But it was great to go to a team that boasted legendary indigenous players like Che Cockatoo-Collins, Gavin Wanganeen, Fabian Francis and Donald Dickey.
His main first impression about AFL was the speed. Even big guys were very fast and agile, which, as a small player, he initially found a bit of a worry.
These days, he works with the Ganbina agency, helping indigenous primary and secondary students, in the Shepparton area, achieve their educational and employment ambitions.

On weekends, he pulls the boots on for the Rumbalara footy club.

Phil Egan wore number 13 for Richmond at a time when the club was very successful and had a star-studded team that included names like Jess, Cloke, Raines, Wood and many others. At first, the young Phil felt quite daunted, but the legendary Maurice Rioli arrived around the same time and the two youngsters formed a strong bond. Today, he feels his game was inconsistent and based on instinct and doubts whether he would thrive under the strict set-plays and structures of modern football. He was a 'straight ahead' player, and seems gratified but a little embarrassed to be regarded as one of football's historic 'hard men'.
In his view, football was much tougher and physical than today and he ranks Magpie Darren Millane and Demon Robby Flower among the toughest and most skilled. While he his proud of his career, he says his highlights were coaching and selecting players for indigenous all-star teams.
He studied while he was playing top level footy and today Phil Egan is a Senior Lecturer at Australia's world-ranked Melbourne University. There he lectures in Education, with a special emphasis on indigenous and human rights subjects.
A remarkable man, on and off the arena.

Cory McGrath felt very excited going to Essendon in 2001, because it had a strong culture and the team was packed with great footballers … Michael Long, James Hird, Mark Mercuri, Smokin’ Joe Misiti and Dean Rioli, who he lived with for a while after his arrival from South Fremantle.

He kicked a goal in his first game, which was a Rivalry Round match against Hawthorn. Foremost in his highlights were finals matches he played for Essendon, even though they didn’t go all the way. He kicked 14 goals in 28 games for the Dons, but the coach Kevin Sheedy didn’t have Cory in his plans ‘going forward’. Although disappointed, partly because he was leaving behind some good friends, he went to Carlton where he played 50 games under another great coach, Denis Pagan. Cory recollects them both as being tough and demanding a great deal from their players.

Looking back, he sees James Hird as his biggest influence, for the thorough way he prepared and played. As a young fan, back in Perth, he was influenced by great Eagle players Chris Lewis and John Worsfold.

Today, Cory in still ‘in the game, working’ as Indigenous Program Manager for the AFL Players Association and he is also working on his accountancy degree. Life always delivers opportunity to those who seek it and prepare well for it.

Wally Lovett played junior and senior football for Heywood, in Western Victoria. Then, he had an unusual road into the top rank of Aussie Rules. According to Wally, Collingwood was short of money at the time and ran some training sessions at Hamilton, just down the road from Heywood. Wally was picked out and went to the Magpies in 1982. He booted a goal with his first kick in ‘league footy’ and went on to play 15 games and kick 11 goals. At Collingwood, he was first coached by the legendary Tom Hafey, who made a big impact on him, as did Mick Irwin, who took over from Hafey halfway through the year. In 1983, Wally moved on to Richmond, where he played 13 games and kicked 6 goals.

Collingwood goal-kicking freak Peter Daicos ('The Macedonian Marvel') was one of the best players he played with and he was amazed by Maurice Rioli’s ability to weave in and out of packs. Maurice was Wally’s favourite Indigenous player. Regrets? Not starting in top level football until he was 24. Wally feels he was never able to attain the fitness levels needed to stay injury-free and carve out a career in the toughest comp of all. On the up side, his top level experience opened the door to success in business. Even today, clients want to talk about his time at the top of footy.
Wally Lovett, a good and gutsy footballer: career cut short by injuries.

Eric Clarke was recruited to St Kilda from Ballarat, which used to be the club’s major source of players, during the zoning days. While he only played six games and kicked six goals, he did play 50 reserves games and played alongside some Saint greats like Trevor Barker,


Barry Breen, Greg Burns and Geoff Cunningham. He learned a lot from another Ballarat team-mate, Robbie Muir, who was a very tough player with exceptional skills.

Club coach at the time was Michael Patterson, who got him back to the club after he went back to Ballarat for a while. Playing legend Alex Jesaulenko took over coaching from ‘the Swamp Fox’ and his influence was important to Eric. Incidentally, Eric strongly refutes the widely held opinion that St Kilda was a ‘party club’ in those days.

After football, Eric went to Uni at Deakin and achieved a teaching certificate. He now ia an Inidgenous Liaison Education Officer in RMIT’s indigenous centre. This section which brings senior secondary students to the RMIT campus, to show them how university can enhance their life prospects and build a solid future.

Stephen Michael was the complete footballer. His strength and prodigious spring meant that he could beat most opposition ruckman on most days, while his pace, poise and consummate ball skills enabled him to eclipse opponents at ground level. Stephen played 243 games, over 11 seasons with South Fremantle, including a record-setting 210 in succession from 1975 to 1983, and was a prominent member of South Fremantle's 1980 premiership side.
He won Sandover Medals (best in WAFL) in 1980 and 1981 and represented Western Australia 17 times, winning a Tassie Medal for best player in the 1983 Interstate Carnival. After that carnival, he was named captain of the 1983 All-Australian Team. He also has 5 club fairest and best awards in his trophy room.
While many WA champions moved to Victorian clubs, Michael felt the best footy was being played in WA at the time. Furthermore, he had strong family and cultural ties, which kept him at home.
Geelong came closest to winning his signature, but a wet, cold tour of Kardinia Park and a barbecue in the rain did nothing to persuade him about the charms of Victoria.
His toughest opponents were Graham Moss and Rod Boucher, both WA champs. The best players he saw were Graham 'Polly' Farmer, Buddy Franklin and Maurice Rioli.

His advice to youngsters staring out in AFL, is to play for enjoyment first, as enjoyment is the the most important thing in life.
Everything else follows.

Kevin Caton was recruited from Swan Districts in the WAFL. He played a total of 18 games for West Coast, Fitzroy and Brisbane. After the AFL, in 1992, he topped the WAFL goal-kicking with 51 goals for Swan Districts.

However, in a memorable game for a fading Fitzroy, Kevin kicked the winning score against Geelong. At three quarter time the Lions were 32 point down and looked a goner. However, they kicked on and with about 20 seconds to go, Kevin had a shot from outside fifty and hit the post, which was enough to nail the game by a point. On that memorable day, Kevin was tagged by Gary Ablett Senior, who still managed to kick 3 points from the back pocket.

Kevin had an exciting time at the Eagles, who trained out of humble facilities and were not the huge club they are today. In contrast, the Brisbane Bears were teetering on the brink of oblivion, so much so that the players refused to make body contact in the pre-season, in case they had to try and get new contracts at other clubs. This was not ideal preparation for a season of hard footy.

Speaking of hardness, Kevin really admired Hawk Dermott Brereton because of the way he went about it … a fantastic player with a lot of showmanship. But when the crunch came, Dermie always stuck his hand up and gave as good as he got.

Kevin’s advice to young players just starting out with the AFL is don’t get caught up in the hype. Give the opportunnity your best shot, because you don’t want to die wondering.

Richard Cole originally played at longtime Alice Springs power team, Pioneers. A desire to come to Melbourne to further his education saw him playing for the Eastern Under 18s, from which team Collingwood drafted him, at number 11 in the 2001 draft.

His early influences included Michael Long, Gilbert McAdam, Darryl White and a number of older cousins who played in the Northern Territory. One of his favourite memories is the day his Mum came down from the Territory to see him play his first AFL game, which was against the Tigers.
According to Richard, Leon Davis helped him in this baptism of fire.

Career highlights included the 2003 Grand final against Brisbane. While the Maggies lost, playing in front of such a huge crowd was a great experience. Looking back, Cole thinks the Lions were just more experienced and took the Collingwood players by surprise.

After playing 56 games with the Magpies, Richard asked to be traded and ended his career at Essendon, playing 7 games during 2006-07.

Overall, he considers the toughest opponent he encountered was hard man Byron Pickett. Many AFL players would no doubt agree.

These days, Richard works at the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency, where his role is to organise playgroups and help families to develop healthy life styles.

His advice to young players starting out is ‘you’re only in it for a short while, so go at it hard, make some money and enjoy your footy’.

After starting out at Claremont in the WAFL, Dale Kickett played at five AFL clubs: West Coast, Fitzroy, St Kilda, Essendon and Fremantle.

Playing elite football for so many clubs provided Dale Kickett with many highlights. He says his first game of all with Fitzroy was such a highlight (he kicked five goals), but that his first games with all clubs was great because he played alongside so many legends of the game.

For example, at St Kilda he played beside Nicky Winmar and Gilbert McAdam in some great games, including the only two finals he played in. The first was when they rolled Collingwood on a cold and wintry day at VFL Park. Coming to Melbourne the second time was easier than going to Fitzroy, because of Nicky and Gilbert being at the Saints.
After one year at Essendon, Dale went back to WA in 1995 and played out his career with Fremantle.

These days, Dale works at the Clontarf Academy where he coaches the footy team and works hard to keep the boys concentrating on their schoolwork. Why? Although Clontarf graduates have been picked up by AFL teams, it’s at a ratio of 100 to 1, which shows that education is more important … even if you do get drafted.

Troy grew up in Carnarvon, about 10 hours drive north of Perth, WA. He had an unusual intro to the AFL, being drafted at 20, after three years with Perth Football Club. Playing this senior footy stood him in good stead, helping him play 20 games in his first year at the Swans. All the same, he found the experience awesome. His formula for success was hard work on the training track and respect towards players and supporters of the club.

The highlight of his career was his first game because his whole dream had been to play AFL football. His parents flew over to see his debut, but the notice was so short, they got to the ground just in time for the first quarter. His first kick went out of bounds on the full, and his last was a goal that helped Sydney to a 7 point victory.

On his return to Fremantle, he played 88 games straight, before breaking his ankle against the Eagles, in the last game of the season. This meant he missed playing in Freo's first finals series. It was most disappointing and was the lowest point in his successful career.

He also values highly winning his club fairest and best, because not many people get to achieve an honour of that kind.

Clem is son of WAFL legend Stephen Michael, who gave him a lot of guidance, but left it up to him make decisions about playing or not playing footy. His dad was always there to give him a hand, offer advice and Clem wanted to follow in Stephen's footsteps. Clem started off at South Fremantle, his father’s old club. After being drafted at 21, he then played 43 games and kicked 11 goals for Freo AFL side. Plagued by injury, he tore his groin in his first game in 1998, when rucking against Melbourne Brownlow Medallist, Jim Stynes. During his career, he was a high-leaping ruckman, tap ruckman and tap ruck-rover.

Clem played 20 games in 2000 and felt he was setting goals and achieving what he wanted to achieve. He believed if you play against the best, week in week out, and beat one of them, there’s not reason you couldn’t beat the others. Career highlights included winning the award for best first year player and, in 1999, playing in the first Western Derby the Dockers won. Tragically, at the end of 2000, he tore the posterior ligaments in his left knee. Worse, the scans revealed a hole in his knee joint, which brought his life-long dream of playing 200 games to a harsh ending and led him into a long period of depression. Eventually, he snapped himself out of that and set out to build a ‘life after footy’ he now enjoys.

Known as the Prince of Pockets, Scott played 3 years with with famous Darwin club St Mary’s, where his team-mates included the Longs and many other great players. Every year he was there, St Mary’s made the Grand final. Eventually, after being drafted from Claremont, in Perth, Scott played 63 games with the Freo Dockers debuting in 1995. Running onto the MCG to play Richmond in Freo’s first ever game was a big moment that made a bit of history. Coach Gerard Neesham impressed him with a wide variety of training routines including water polo.
He went on to play 18 games with the Dees after being traded while home in Darwin. He was disappointed about being traded and was greatly disturbed at being racially vilified during a game. Although he was very happy with the outcome of that experience, that it happened at all breaks his heart to this day.
In 2000, he only played one game for Melbourne and one day would like to find out why, from his coach at the time. Unfortunately, the experience may have led him to retiring prematurely.
Scott has strong advice to up and coming young AFL players: eat well and stay healthy; choose your friends carefully - ones that don’t lead you into trouble - and educate yourself, so every day you’re going to learn something.
With criticism, take the positives and forget the negatives, because, at the end of the day, the positives will make you stronger.
Everyone could benefit from Scott's words.

Andy Lovell from Glenorchy played 121 games for the Dees and 43 for the Eagles. As a 17 year old, was excited to play finals footy alongside Gary Lyon in beating Eagles in the 1988 elimination final at Waverley and then Collingwood and Carlton.
Andy’s highlights include his first VFL game against Geelong on MCG in front of 50 or 60 thousand people, when he was in year 12 at Melbourne High and the whole 1988 and 1994 final series.
A low-light was being being traded to West Coast. He went on a footy trip to Bali with the Dees and was an Eagle on return. But the opportunity to play under Mick Malthouse in such a great side was a huge, positive challenge, as well.
Best footballer he saw was Melbourne team-mate Steven Tingay, who was a super player, with great skills on both sides of his body. Andy believes that Tingay, if not struck down by injury, would have been a star.
Now, Andy coaches Sandringham in the VFL, but if opportunity arose, he’d love the challenge of being senior coach at an AFL club. He’s passionate about coaching and teaching young players and giving them the opportunities he had in his youth.

After coming down from Darwin, Troy played all games with Swan Districts and won the club's B&F in 1987. He then played 43 games for Eagles from 1988 to 1993. Very nervous in debut against Essendon but they won.

Thought his first eagles coach John Todd was great bloke and then Mick Malthouse took over. The rest is history he says. Malthouse was a hard coach who wanted the best out of his players … and you had to deliver.

Played in re-match after drawn 1990 Qualifying Final against Collingwood, but doesn’t regret not playing out the rest of the 1990 final series. He loved his footy and was grateful for the opportunity to play AFL. It was a dream come true, so no regrets. In those days, West Coast was a top side and it was very competitive, dog eat dog, to break into the team.

Sorry to finish AFL career relatively young but injury and age take their toll. Troy enjoyed his time in the game, although maybe didn’t take it seriously enough, he says, but the friends you make and the people you meet are the most important things.

Advice to young up-and-coming players is put your hand up and have a crack, simple as that. Of course it’s going to get hard, if it wasn’t hard, everybody could do it.

Concentrate, put your mind to it and just have a crack!

Bill Dempsey played 343 games for West Perth between 1960-76, after coming down from Darwin Football Club.
He never played VFL football, although several clubs tried to lure him east. When he told one team what he would require to make him sign up, the club rep said, “Who do you think you are? Polly Farmer?” And Bill retorted “No, I’m younger and better lookin’”.

They didn’t have state of Origin footy in those days; just state league teams, regardless of where the players hailed from. Bill reckons if they had played Origin in those days, WA would have creamed the other sides.

Victorian teams recruited the top WA, SA and Tassie players, so they had to play for Victoria.

Just as he was about to go home to Darwin, Polly Farmer arrived to coach West Perth. In 1969, the team made the Grand Final and they flew Bill’s mum down from Darwin to watch him play footy for the first time in her life.

Playing for his adopted state - because the NT didn’t have a team in those days – made him very proud and enabled him to play alongside greats like Polly Farmer, Ted Kilmurray and all those guys …
people who were his heroes.

Alan Bloomfield played 13 games for North Melbourne over 1970/71. An Aussie Rules rarity, he was born and raised in Canberra for the first 19 years of his life, where the choice at school was Rugby or Rugby League. But in Alan’s family it was Aussie Rules! Aussie Rules! Aussie Rules! This was because his father played this great game. Alan’s dad was his big influence, as he coached a lot of the teams his son played for. On ethical side of things too, his father taught him you could be enemies on the field, but when you walk off it, forget the rest.

When he came down to North, even in those days, he found training at very different and harder than any country footy.

The highlight of his VFL career was in round 9 when he kicked 4 goals against Richmond at the MCG. In probably best game he ever had, he put himself in position to receive from some good passes, kicked a few goals and North Melbourne rolled Richmond.

The absolute highlight of his footy career was winning premierships after his stay at North, especially one in Arnhem Land in 1990, 20 years after he started with the Kangaroos.

Michael “Magic” McLean was born in Darwin but his traditional connection is from far north Queensland area. He played 95 games and booted 23 goals for Footscray 1983-89 – including finals in the same team as Les Bamblett in 1985. First played one season with Waratahs, because Cyclone Tracy forced the family to move suburbs. After that, he played with Nightcliffe Tigers, with a senior debut at 15. It was tough move to Victorian in 1982. Most Territorians went to WAFL or SANFL teams in those days, but he stepped up to the VFL, ‘the big league’, first up and played under ‘novice coach’ Mick Malthouse.
After 9 years and 8 operations, the club lost a bit of interest and he went back and played in Darwin for half a season. But in 1991, he was No. 1 March draft pick by the Brisbane Bears. There he played from 1991-97, kicked 17 goals. In his first year, he finished 5th in the Brownlow and was B&F in 1991 (and 1993) and generally became a legend.
Michael’s highlights include: reaching his 100 games; ending up a member of the 200 Club; leadership roles at both Footscray and Brisbane and All-Australian in 1998. Then, in 1994, he captained the All-Stars against Collingwood and has coached the last 3 All-Star games. On the down side, he missed 6 of his 16 years through injury, equal to about 120 games.
Today, he runs a drop-in centre with the YMCA, a job he absolutely loves. It’s nice to go to work each day and make a difference in people’s lives. He’s also coaching local footy. Together with his family, these are his passions in life. His advice to young players is ‘work hard, chase you dreams and don’t let people write you off. Believe in yourself and get ready jump those hurdles. There’s plenty.”

From Darwin, 17-year-old Robbie was 1994 draft pick no. 47 after being spotted in junior carnivals by Collingwood, where he played 25 games1995 – 1997. He was hoping to be picked up rather than expecting it. Only the 3rd indigenous Collingwood player, he was proud to pave the way for current young players like Leon Davis and Sharod Wellingham. The club was good, allowing him to go home when he got homesick and for important family events.

However, he took a while to settle into Melbourne and the intense training AFL programs.

Robbie found the crowd at 1997 Anzac clash against Essendon overwhelming at first but soon settled into the game. Unfortunately, he was racially abused in that game and took a long while to get over it. After 1997, he wanted to get away from cold Melbourne and find a club with more indigenous players he could go and do things with, outside of footy. Thus, he ended up playing 42 games at the Sydney Swans from 1998 to 2001 and kicked 46 goals.
The toughest player he played against was ‘Magic’ McLean, who was married to his cousin. He rates childhood idol Gilbert McAdam as the greatest all-time Indigenous player.
These days, Robbie coaches the ST George AFL club in Sydney and is hoping to win the premiership after being runner up in 2007.

Polly first played footy at Kenwick State School, WA. It was at this time he developed and practised his handball skills by handballing footies through open car windows.

As an adult, he played a lot of footy at East Perth and West Perth, but harboured a desire to go to Melbourne and play in the VFL. He took a while to get used to the muddy winter grounds there and also the hardened players who didn’t mind dishing out a whack. Polly experienced a snapped knee cartilage, which would have ended most players’ careers in those days, but such was his determination he re-built his knee.

In 1973, Polly was made coach of Geelong, but it was a tough job as players had left and the club was also short of money. It was necessary for his players to win, but also to lose with a lot of courage. He changed the dynamics of the game by using fast, accurate handball in an era when people hardly hand-passed at all. Gradually, handball became an integral aspect of the game, when key people realised it turned players into team players.

Polly rates Barry Cable or Bill Dempsey the all-time greatest Indigenous player, depending on how Cable sees himself.