The Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round has become everything the AFL have hoped to get out of their various attempts at
themed rounds. Much more than a contrived theme, the Indigenous Round has become a supreme celebration of the impact the Indigenous community have had on the game, as well as the culture of the First Nations people.
As a small way of celebrating this very important week of football, I've decided to pick my own Indigenous Team of the Era. I've decided to define the "era" as 1990 to the present day, the AFL years. Thus, players available for selection are those that played the majority of their careers, or their best footy, in the 1990s and beyond. Sadly, this made players like Maurice Rioli, Jim & Phil Krakouer and Michael McLean ineligible (just!). There is also a great number of eligible players that just couldn't quite be squeezed into the team. You'll see why when you have a look at who they would have to push out. This team contains 32 AFL Premierships, three Brownlow Medals, four Norm Smith Medals, and three Coleman medals. Its a handy team.
Check it out and let us know what you think in the comments or on Facebook or Twitter
From the backline....
themed rounds. Much more than a contrived theme, the Indigenous Round has become a supreme celebration of the impact the Indigenous community have had on the game, as well as the culture of the First Nations people.
As a small way of celebrating this very important week of football, I've decided to pick my own Indigenous Team of the Era. I've decided to define the "era" as 1990 to the present day, the AFL years. Thus, players available for selection are those that played the majority of their careers, or their best footy, in the 1990s and beyond. Sadly, this made players like Maurice Rioli, Jim & Phil Krakouer and Michael McLean ineligible (just!). There is also a great number of eligible players that just couldn't quite be squeezed into the team. You'll see why when you have a look at who they would have to push out. This team contains 32 AFL Premierships, three Brownlow Medals, four Norm Smith Medals, and three Coleman medals. Its a handy team.
Check it out and let us know what you think in the comments or on Facebook or Twitter
From the backline....
 | Back Pocket Byron Pickett (Nth. Melbourne, Port Adelaide, Melbourne) AFL Debut: 1997 Games: 204 Recruited from: Port Adelaide (SANFL) Accolades: 1999, 2004 Premiership player 2004 Norm Smith Medallist 1999 All-Australian Team 1998 Rising Star Winner 2005 Indigenous Team of the Century |
 | Full Back Darryl White (Brisbane Bears, Brisbane Lions) AFL Debut: 1992 Games: 268 Recruited from: Pioneer (CAFL, NT) Accolades: 2001, '02, '03 Premiership player 1994, 2003, '05 Indigenous All-Stars Team 2005 Indigenous All-Stars Captain 2005 Indigenous Team of the Century 2016 Northern Territory Team of the Century |
 | Back Pocket Gavin Wanganeen (VC) (Essendon, Port Adelaide) AFL Debut: 1991 Games: 300 Recruited from: Port Adelaide (SANFL) Accolades: 1993, 2004 Premiership player 1993 Brownlow Medallist 2003 Port Adelaide Best & Fairest 1992, '93, '95, 2001, '03 All-Australian Team 2005 Indigenous Team of the Century 1997 Essendon Team of the Century |
 | Half Back Flank David Wirrpanda (West Coast) AFL Debut: 1996 Games: 227 Recruited from: Healesville (Yarra Valley, Vic.) Accolades: 2006 Premiership player 2005 All-Australian Team 1999, 2000, '02, '03, '04, '05 Top 10 West Coast B&F |
 | Centre Half Back Michael Johnson (Fremantle) AFL Debut: 2005 Games: 219* Recruited from: Perth (WAFL) Accolades: 2013 All-Australian Team 2006 Runner-Up Fremantle B&F 2008, '12, '13 Top 5 Fremantle B&F 2005 Indigenous All-Stars Team |
 | Half Back Flank Shaun Burgoyne (Port Adelaide, Hawthorn) AFL Debut: 2002 Games: 329* Recruited from: Port Adelaide (SANFL) Accolades: 2004, '13, '14, '15 Premiership player 2006 All-Australian Team 2005, '07 Indigenous All-Stars Team 2009 Indigenous All-Stars Vice-Captain 2015 Indigenous All-Stars Captain 2006 Runner-Up Port Adelaide B&F 2002 Port Adelaide Best First Year Player |
 | Wing Nicky Winmar (St. Kilda, Western Bulldogs) AFL Debut: 1987 Games: 251 Recruited from: South Fremantle (WAFL) Accolades: 1989, '95 St. Kilda Best & Fairest 1988 St. Kilda Leading Goalkicker 1991, '95 All-Australian Team 2005 Indigenous Team of the Century 2003 St. Kilda Team of the Century |
 | Centre Chris Lewis (West Coast) AFL Debut: 1987 Games: 215 Recruited from: Claremont (WAFL) Accolades: 1992, '94 Premiership player 1990 West Coast Best & Fairest 1989, '92 '94 Top 10 West Coast B&F 1994 Indigenous All-Stars Team 2005 Indigenous Team of the Century |
 | Wing Michael Long (Essendon) AFL Debut: 1989 Games: 190 Recruited from: St. Mary's (NTFL) Accolades: 1993, 2000 Premiership player 1993 Norm Smith Medallist 1988, '95 All-Australian Team 2005 Indigenous Team of the Century 1997 Essendon Team of the Century 2016 Northern Territory Team of the Century |
 | Half Forward Flank Jeff Farmer (Melbourne, Fremantle) AFL Debut: 1995 Games: 249 Recruited from: Tambellup (GSFL, WA) Accolades: 2000 All-Australian Team 1997, '98, 2000 Melbourne Leading Goalkicker 2005 Indigenous All-Stars Team |
 | Centre Half Forward Adam Goodes (C) (Sydney) AFL Debut: 1999 Games: 372 Recruited from: North Ballarat Rebels (TAC Cup, Vic.) Accolades: 2005, '12 Premiership player 2003, '06 Brownlow Medallist 2003, '06, '11 Sydney Best & Fairest 2009, '10, '11 Sydney Leading Goalkicker 2003, '06, '09, '11 All-Australian Team 1999 Rising Star Winner 2005 Indigenous Team of the Century 2003 Indigenous All-Stars Team 2014 Australian of the Year |
 | Half Forward Flank Michael O'Loughlin (Sydney) AFL Debut: 1995 Games: 303 Recruited from: Central District (SANFL) Accolades: 2005 Premiership player 1998 Sydney Best & Fairest 2000, '01 Sydney Leading Goalkicker 1997, 2000 All-Australian Team 2005 Indigenous Team of the Century |
 | Forward Pocket Eddie Betts (Carlton, Adelaide) AFL Debut: 2005 Games: 259* Recruited from: Calder Cannons (TAC Cup, Vic.) Accolades: 2010, '12 Carlton Leading Goalkicker 2014, '15, '16 Adelaide Leading Goalkicker 2015, '16 All-Australian Team 2016 Runner-Up Adelaide B&F 2005 Carlton Best First Year Player 2007, 2013 Indigenous All-Stars Team |
 | Full Forward Lance Franklin (Hawthorn, Sydney) AFL Debut: 2005 Games: 257* Recruited from: Perth (WAFL) Accolades: 2008, '13 Premiership player 2008, '11, '14 Coleman Medallist 2008 Hawthorn Best & Fairest 2007, '08, '09, '10, '11, '12 Hawthorn Leading Goalkicker 2014, '15, '16 Sydney Leading Goalkicker 2008, '10, '11, '12, '14, '16 All-Australian Team 2013 Indigenous All-Stars Team |
 | Forward Pocket Phillip Matera (West Coast) AFL Debut: 1996 Games: 179 Recruited from: South Fremantle (WAFL) Accolades: 2000, '02, '03, '04, '05 West Coast Leading Goalkicker 2003 All-Australian Team 1999, 2000, '03, '04 Top 10 West Coast B&F 2007 Italian Team of the Century |
 | Ruck Paddy Ryder (Essendon, Port Adelaide) AFL Debut: 2006 Games: 190* Recruited from: East Fremantle (WAFL) Accolades: 2007, '13 Indigenous All-Stars Team 2009 Anzac Day Medal |
 | Ruck-Rover Peter Matera (West Coast) AFL Debut: 1990 Games: 253 Recruited from: South Fremantle (WAFL) Accolades: 1992, '94 Premiership player 1992 Norm Smith Medallist 1997 West Coast Best & Fairest 1991, '93, '94, '96, '97 All-Australian Team 2005 Indigenous Team of the Century 2007 Italian Team of the Century |
 | Rover Andrew Mcleod (Adelaide) AFL Debut: 1995 Games: 340 Recruited from: Port Adelaide (SANFL) Accolades: 1997, '98 Premiership player 1997, '98 Norm Smith Medallist 1997, 2001, '07 Adelaide Best & Fairest 1998, 2000, '01, '06, '07 All-Australian Team 2005 Indigenous Team of the Century 2003, '07, '09 Indigenous All-Stars Captain 2005 Indigenous All-Stars Team 2016 Northern Territory Team of the Century Captain |
 | Interchange Chris Johnson (Fitzroy, Brisbane Lions) AFL Debut: 1994 Games: 264 Recruited from: Northern Knights (TAC Cup, Vic.) Accolades: 2001, '02, '03 Premiership player 2002, '04 All-Australian Team 2005 Indigenous Team of the Century 2003, '07, '09 Indigenous All-Stars Team 2005 Indigenous All-Stars Vice-Captain |
 | Interchange Daniel Wells (Nth. Melbourne, Collingwood) AFL Debut: 2003 Games: 249* Recruited from: Peel Thunder (WAFL) Accolades: 2011, '13 Nth. Melbourne Best & Fairest 2003 AFLPA Best First Year Player 2004 AFLCA Best Young Player 2005, '07 Indigenous All-Stars Team |
 | Interchange Peter Burgoyne (Port Adelaide) AFL Debut: 1997 Games: 240 Recruited from: St. Mary's (NTFL) Accolades: 2004 Premiership player 2003, '07 Indigenous All-Stars Team 2005 Indigenous Team of the Century 2003, '07 3rd Place Port Adelaide B&F |
 | Interchange Cyril Rioli (Hawthorn) AFL Debut: 2008 Games: 185* Recruited from: St. Mary's (NTFL) Accolades: 2008, '13, '14, '15 Premiership player 2015 Norm Smith Medallist 2012, '15, '16 All-Australian Team 2004 AFLCA Best Young Player 2007, '09 Indigenous All-Stars Team 2009, '15 Runner-Up Hawthorn B&F 2016 Northern Territory Team of the Century |
RSS Feed