Indigenous All-Stars Team Finalised

Some of the AFL’s finest talents are set to don the Indigenous All-Stars colours as they face Fremantle in Perth on Saturday, February 15.

Highlighted among the extended roster are former No.1 draft pick Jason Horne-Francis, two-time All-Australian Charlie Cameron, Norm Smith medallist Bobby Hill, triple premiership player Bradley Hill, and young star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera from St Kilda. The final playing squad will be confirmed leading up to the event.

Three players from Fremantle are included in the All-Stars as they prepare to face their own team, featuring new Docker Shai Bolton, Freo captain Alex Pearce, and 2019 All-Australian Michael Walters.

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Voicing their support for the Indigenous All Stars exhibition match, which is taking place for the first time in a decade, Jy Simpkin and Jade Gresham have advocated for it to become an annual event.

North Melbourne’s captain Simpkin and Essendon forward Gresham are part of an extended squad consisting of 31 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players representing 16 clubs.

This group comprises seven All-Australians, ten premiership winners, seven top-20 national draft selections, and three mark-of-the-year champions.

“It’s a real privilege. I’m really looking forward to stepping out with Indigenous players from other clubs and showcasing our culture,” Gresham expressed.

“All the boys are chomping at the bit to play, so it would be fantastic if we could make this a yearly occasion.

“To represent your culture is both an honour and a privilege. You’re standing for your culture, your family, and your friends, which makes it really significant. I believe we should certainly do this more often.”

Notable inclusions from Geelong are the exciting duo Tyson Stengle and Lawson Humphries, alongside Carlton’s Zac Williams and Jesse Motlop.

West Coast standout Tim Kelly and rising ruckman Coen Livingstone, along with established player Liam Ryan, who has already been selected, will be competing against Fremantle, their local rivals.

A proud Yorta Yorta man, Gresham is confident that the exhibition clash will be fiercely contested.

“The lads will go in hard,” he said. “Once we hit the field, it gets quite competitive, so I’m sure we will put on a great display for the fans.”

Gresham, in his second year with Essendon, is particularly keen to reunite with his former St Kilda teammate Bradley Hill.

The experienced speedster from the Saints will face one of his previous teams in the All-Stars match against Fremantle.

“I really miss playing with him and being around him,” Gresham expressed. “I love him, and I can’t wait to share the field with him again.”

Sydney and Greater Western Sydney are the only two clubs without players represented in the All-Stars squad.

Port Adelaide leads in representation with four players: Jase Burgoyne, Jeremy Finlayson, Willie Rioli, and Horne-Francis.

Veteran defenders Steven May from Melbourne and Liam Jones from the Western Bulldogs are also in the squad after last playing for the All Stars in 2013; however, Jones’s participation is uncertain due to a hamstring complaint.

“Growing up in Darwin, being part of this was always a dream of mine,” May reflected. “I was fortunate to play back in 2013, and it’s surreal to have this chance again.

“It’s a privilege to represent our culture on such a prominent stage. It also represents a fantastic opportunity for us to unite, despite our differing backgrounds, to enjoy the game we all love.”

Fremantle captain Alex Pearce (ankle), goal sneak Michael Walters (knee), and new recruit Shai Bolton (calf) are all nursing fitness concerns ahead of facing their Dockers teammates.

Simpkin is “buzzing” to wear the All-Stars jersey after a lengthy wait.

“As a kid, you grow up watching these games—seeing icons like Cyril Rioli, Buddy Franklin, Adam Goodes—and it’s something you aspire to be a part of,” said the 26-year-old on Monday.

“The last time I played alongside a group of brothers was likely back in under-16s for the Flying Boomerangs nearly a decade ago. It’s incredibly special, and I am very proud to be involved in this game.

“I hope that moving forward with the AFL it can become a more regular event rather than an occasional occurrence.”

The All Stars have played six matches this century, achieving four victories and two losses, with their most recent encounter being a narrow loss to West Coast at Leederville Oval in 2015.

All Stars coach Xavier Clarke has been closely following the NRL’s equivalent showcase and is hopeful that the forthcoming AFL match sparks discussions about making such events more regular for the Indigenous team.

“They do a fantastic job, and if we can reach that level, it would be wonderful,” Clarke remarked. “Players are keen to participate, and the enthusiasm has been gratifying for us while organising the game.

“I would love to see this become a more consistent aspect of our calendar.”

The Indigenous All-Stars have recorded four wins and two losses in six matches so far this century, with their latest clash resulting in a close defeat to West Coast at Leederville Oval back in 2015.

Indigenous All-Stars Squad

Callum Ah Chee – Noongar, Palyku and Nyikina, Yawuru
Karl Amon – Noonuccal
Shai Bolton – Minang and Wilman
Jase Burgoyne – Kokatha, Larraki, Warai
Charlie Cameron – Waanyi and Lardil
Jeremy Finlayson – Yorta Yorta
Jade Gresham – Yorta Yorta
Bobby Hill – Whadjuk, Ballardong, Noongar
Brad Hill – Wilmen, Noongar
Jason Horne-Francis – Wardaman
Lawson Humphries – Nyul Nyul, Oomiday, Worrora
Jarman Impey – Yorta Yorta
Joel Jeffrey – Kukatj, Wulwulam
Ash Johnson – Jaru, Kija
Liam Jones – Kija
Tim Kelly – Noongar, Wongi, Yamatji
Coen Livingstone – Balardong, Noongar
Ben Long – Anmatjerre
Steven May – Larrakia
Jesse Motlop – Larrakia
Alex Pearce – Palawa
Kysaiah Pickett – Yamatji, Noongar
Willie Rioli – Tiwi
Maurice Rioli jnr – Tiwi
Liam Ryan – Yamatji
Izak Rankine – Kokatha and Ngarrindjeri
Tyson Stengle – Wirangu
Jy Simpkin – Yorta Yorta
Michael Walters – Whadjuk, Wilmen and Ngarrindjeri
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera – Kokatha, Narangga
Zac Williams – Wiradjuri