From far and wide on our continent, players brought a repertoire of speed, strength, balance, reflex and instinct to the big league – sometimes a combination of all of these in one player – and Footy will be forever grateful.
Today, with the Doug Nicholls round rolling into Saturday and the Herald Sun kicking off an Indigenous Athlete Celebration next month, it was fitting that the best Indigenous players of the century were honored.
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Hall of Fame legend Barry Cable and Norm Smith medalists Michael Long and Peter Matera were invited to join Mark Robinson to select the best team of players.
We bet you’ll – like the selectors – smile in amazement at the amazing array of talent.
« The Indigenous Rounds for the next two weeks are a festival and I know the Indigenous players love this round because they represent their community and, what’s special, Uncle Sydney (Jackson) is celebrated.
« What a great way to see history, culture and football is an art form anyway.
« We have different players from different regions of Australia with different skills and talents and the crazy way they play the game. It’s the art of football.
« All the players chose themselves, we didn’t have to choose them. It’s pretty powerful. It’s pretty relentless and skillful, and it has incredible aiming power.
« You have Buddy as a striker and when he drops the ball you have the best drop rovers in Betts, Rioli, Farmer and Walters. You don’t want to make too many mistakes as a defender.
« The greatest challenge for the indigenous people is now. It is unique that players like Dan Rioli from the Tiwi Islands in Melbourne can be successful in football.
« So that the community sees this and our children see this … they need role models.
« I think we are at a crossroads with Aboriginal issues like health and education and we need these role models.
« We need more winners from our community, we need people who do well, either in business or in football. It’s hard to explain, but the players play a huge role in the challenges we face. »
« There are only a small number of indigenous players, but there are many problems we face and these players can play a small role that can lead the way. »
« I love Gavin. He could play anywhere, the elastic man. He had the courage to go into the pack in front of the pack, he was not afraid, just as Mark Harvey was not afraid.
« Gavin was so skilled on both sides of the body, a handsome guy. He had it all.
« I don’t blame him for returning to Port Adelaide, but he was a great loss.
« I picked him because I played next to him and saw what he did every week. You know what? He had timing. »
« A lot of players went for you when you picked the team and in the end, as you did in any coach selection, there were few who were the most difficult to choose.
« Look at a player like Phil Matera, for example. He was a good player, but he has Betts and Farmer in his pockets. Farmer has scored over 400 goals.
« What they do, local players, is bring their own highlights to the game, and the game is bigger for that. »
« You could have a highlight from each of these boys and you would have a special highlight.
« The things they can do. It’s an instinctive thing. Indigenous players have this special gift of reflex and it shows in everything they do. »
Cable, who rose to Legend status in the Hall of Fame in 2012 and is the top honored player to have played the Australian rules, became the first player to play 400 senior games.
« Shaun Burgoyne is close to his 400th game, hopefully this year, and that’s something in itself. He’s a great player. He’s versatile, he was such a gem of the game and certainly worthy of the 400 games. »
« Most of them will likely be selected for the Hall of Fame, but over time only a few are destined for legendary status.
« Franklin would definitely be one and Goodesy the other. I think two would get in in time, but of course they will play against other players of the era like the young Ablett.
« A lot will depend on what they did and how they did it. What I see is longevity, so Burgoyne is good and what they achieved.
« You are fortunate enough to have played in a Grand Final, and if you win the Grand Final, and one of the top three players in a Grand Final because that is what sets you apart because you are a Grand Final . » Big game players.
« Are you the player who can really move up to the next level of real champion quality and be absolutely at the top of a top page? Andrew McLeod comes to mind. »
« Now you’re asking the hard questions. Let’s put it this way, I love seeing them all, but I’d probably pick Franklin just because of the things he can do.
« You see Eddie and Rioli, Farmer, Leon Davis, McLeod … they are beautiful players. And Byron Pickett the way he played. Really rock and he never let anyone pass him. »
« It would be between Goodes and Burgoyne. I would probably choose Burgoyne for all of the reasons I have said. »
« I see we have Daniel Wells on a wing, but there were so many little guys like Rioli, Walters, Betts, Farmer who were all forward. And I had Byron on a back flank and he landed on the wing and he had to be in the team. ‘
Matera selected his brother Phil on the bench, even though the other three selectors couldn’t find a place for him.
« I had to put my brother there because his pressure on the forward line was crucial to keep the ball in the forward line.
He also named Andrew McLeod in the middle while the other three selectors had him in the halfback.
« With the guys I had at halfback (Chris Johnson and Pickett), I thought McLeod would be more valuable in the center, » he said.
« I like Michael Johnson as a player. I’ve watched him over the years and he would be valuable there with Whitey and Steven May. His skills were very good and I think he was just so consistent.
« Goodes is called Ruck-Rover and I had him in the middle of the striker and he could play anywhere. »
« It represents all of the people who have played a game or 100 games in the AFL and what they have done over the years. I don’t have one in my closet, but I bring my hat to the AFL to introduce it and it is great appreciation from the indigenous people and what they did when the game started. »
« Andy McLeod. Just his skills. Left and right sides of the body and exactly what he could do in a footy game and he showed it in two big finals. If you had to look back and say who was the best player . » In this Adelaide era, it has to be said that it was him. He’s a great guy, great friend. »
« Goodesy. It speaks for itself. For what he’s done for the game, his achievements, a very proud Aboriginal person, and he’s helped put Sydney back on the map as he has done in big games He’s a player you wanted your side because he was so versatile and could win a game on his own. »
Eddie Betts is the third player after Tony Lockett and Buddy Franklin to have scored 300 goals in two clubs. Enjoy a handful of his best from an insane highlight role. pic.twitter.com/r7VtjbLeUM
B: Gavin Wanganeen (from 2000 an average of 17 departures, nine undisputed possessions and a step performance of 81%), Darryl White (White from 2000 on average 12 disposals, four marks and a step performance of 85 %), David Wirrpanda (Wirrpanda from 2000 on average 17 disposals, 11 undisputed possessions and four rebound 50s)
HB: Andrew McLeod (McLeod average of 22 disposals from 2000, 14 undisputed possessions and a disposal efficiency of 79%), Michael Johnson (Johnson average of 17 disposals, 11 undisputed possessions and six marks in his career), Chris Johnson (Johnson from 2000 an average of 15 sales, nine undisputed possessions and five marks)
C: Daniel Wells (Wells averaged 19 disposals, 13 undisputed possessions, and four within the 1950s in his career), Shaun Burgoyne (Burgoyne averaged 18 disposals, 10 undisputed possessions and four tackles in his career), Byron Pickett (Pickett averaged from 2000) 12 exits, four points and one goal)
HF: Cyril Rioli (Rioli scored an average of 15 departures, seven contested properties, two goals and five tackles in the course of his career), Michael O’Loughlin (O’Loughlin from 2000 averaged 13 departures, five points and two goals ), Michael Walters (Walters has recorded an average of 17 departures, 10 undisputed possessions and six point participations in his career to date).
Q: Eddie Betts (Betts has averaged 12 retirements, two goals and six points in his career), Lance Franklin (Franklin has averaged 15 retirements, six points, three strikers 50 points and three goals in his career so far ), Jeff Farmer (farmer since 2000 an average of 12 departures, five controversial possessions and two goals)
Foll: Patrick Ryder (Ryder has scored an average of 11 departures, 20 hits and five points in his career so far), Adam Goodes (captain) (Goodes average of 18 departures since 2000, eight controversial possessions and four within the 50s) , Shane Edwards (Edwards has averaged 17 exits, six ground ball gets and five point engagements in his career to date.)
Exchanges: Leon Davis (Davis had an average of 14 disposals, eight undisputed possessions, and one goal in his career), Steven May (May had an average of 15 disposals, six interceptions, and seven loots over the course of his career), Brad Hill (Hill had an average of 19 disposals, Chad Wingard (Wingard averaged 18 disposals, 11 undisputed possessions, and six points over the course of his career) won 15 undisputed possessions and 379 yards.
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