Best All-time VFL/AFL Indigenous Player

[westozfalcon]

No room for Barry Cable?

Yeah good point.

I definitely should have had Cable in there.

[JK]

Did Phil Narkle ever amount to much in VFL footy? IIRC he was a pretty prominent player in the WAFL and SOG games?

[Mr Beefy]

Did Phil Narkle ever amount to much in VFL footy? IIRC he was a pretty prominent player in the WAFL and SOG games?

I think he ran around for the saints in a red, white and black helmet but only for a season or 2

[Hondo]

Did Phil Narkle ever amount to much in VFL footy? IIRC he was a pretty prominent player in the WAFL and SOG games?

I think he ran around for the saints in a red, white and black helmet but only for a season or 2

He was also part of the inaugral West Coast Eagle squad in 1987. He played 19 games for St Kilda 1984-1986 then 18 with the WCE 1987 - 1990

From Wikipedia:
Phil Narkle is a former Australian rules football player of indigenous background who played for the Saint Kilda Football Club and West Coast Eagles Football Club in the AFL and Swan Districts Football Club in the WAFL during the mid-late 1970s and early 1990s. Younger brother of Keith Narkle (by 9 years) who also played for Swan Districts, Phil generally played on the wing position. Regarded as a highly skilled and determined footballer with tremendous pace, Phil was perfectly suited to the wing position where he could turn defence into attack. Phil Narkle played colts in 1977 for Swan Districts in the WANFL and was awarded the Medallists Medal for being the fairest and best player for that year. He made his debut for Swan Districts in the league competition the following year.

Narkle had a sensational season in 1982 when he played in the WAFL Premiership for Swan Districts, and during that year he also won the Sandover Medal for the best player in the WAFL. Narkle played one more year for Swan Districts playing in his second premiership for the club. The Grand Final was the last game for Swans. He moved on to St. Kilda in the AFL before returning to Western Australia in 1987 to play for the West Coast Eagles.

[JK]

Cheers guys

[amber_fluid]

Wasnt aware of Greg Williams being indigenous?

Matera for me

I didn't realise either..............

Wanganeen for me.

[Hondo]

Official AFL indigenous team of the cenury:

THE TEAM

Backs: Chris L Johnson, Darryl White, Bill Dempsey
Half-Backs: Gavin Wanganeen, Adam Goodes, Norm McDonald
Centres: Peter Matera, Maurice Rioli, Michael Long
Half-Forwards: Nicky Winmar, Stephen Michael, Syd Jackson
Forwards: Chris Lewis, Michael O'Loughlin, Jim Krakouer
Followers: Graham Farmer, Andrew McLeod, Barry Cable
Interchange: Michael McLean, Byron Pickett, Michael Graham, David Kantilla, Ted Kilmurray, Peter Burgoyne

Captain: Graham Farmer
Coach: Barry Cable
Umpire: Glenn James

[Ruben Carter]

Official AFL indigenous team of the cenury:

THE TEAM

Backs: Chris L Johnson, Darryl White, Bill Dempsey
Half-Backs: Gavin Wanganeen, Adam Goodes, Norm McDonald
Centres: Peter Matera, Maurice Rioli, Michael Long
Half-Forwards: Nicky Winmar, Stephen Michael, Syd Jackson
Forwards: Chris Lewis, Michael O'Loughlin, Jim Krakouer
Followers: Graham Farmer, Andrew McLeod, Barry Cable
Interchange: Michael McLean, Byron Pickett, Michael Graham, David Kantilla, Ted Kilmurray, Peter Burgoyne

Captain: Graham Farmer
Coach: Barry Cable
Umpire: Glenn James

Interchange Steward - Robbie Muir

[am Bays]

Where/when did you see him play am Bays?

As a kid I grew in teh mines in teh back blocks of teh NT so our "TV" was on three weeks delay from WA. Beta tapes flown up and replayed on the local "TV station" . So for three years I got WA footy shoved down my throat and to be honest it was a great era of WA footy. Claremont had both Krackours starting out, Graham Moss, Warren Ralph. Subiaco had Garry Buckanara, East Fremantle had Bryan Peake, West Perth had a young Ross Gibbs. Swan Districts had Phil Narkle and a young Simon Beasley. South Fremantle had Stephen Michael, Tony Vigona, Maurice Rioli (1979) his older brother Sebby (top bloke) and Bard Hardie

Stephen Michael was a Ruckman come power forward. He wasn't overly tall but had a great leap so could dominate the ruck but he was very agile so could also go forward and be a very valuable target. Was a very good follower around the ground too with his speed, agility and endurance. I've tried to pick a modern day player to compare him with but I can't. The closest I can come up with is Dean Cox but about 4-6 inches shorter and much more mobile and just as effective in the Ruck.

[Dutchy]

As a kid I grew in teh mines in teh back blocks of teh NT

LMAO Spell Check! Wheres R & B when you need him 3 times in one sentance

[am Bays]

[Wedgie]

Farmer then daylight, he revolutionalised the game.

[Interceptor]

Stephen Michael was a Ruckman come power forward. He wasn't overly tall but had a great leap so could dominate the ruck but he was very agile so could also go forward and be a very valuable target. Was a very good follower around the ground too with his speed, agility and endurance. I've tried to pick a modern day player to compare him with but I can't. The closest I can come up with is Dean Cox but about 4-6 inches shorter and much more mobile and just as effective in the Ruck.

How would Adam Goodes compare to him then?

[acockfromwayback]

Andrew McLeod(at his best was genuine class, pace and game breaking)

Gav Wanganeen( I missed most of his "best" games but he rates up there highly with me)

Adam Goodes(I haven't seen enough great games from him to deserve 3rd but brownlows would
have to count for something)

apologies. Rioli, Long, Farmer (all were before my time except Long whose best days were behind him by the time i was old enough to understand).

Lance Franklin showed last season he can dominate, until he does it game in game out season after season i won't put him in that list.

[Pup]

Andrew McLeod(at his best was genuine class, pace and game breaking)

Gav Wanganeen( I missed most of his "best" games but he rates up there highly with me)

Adam Goodes(I haven't seen enough great games from him to deserve 3rd but brownlows would
have to count for something)

apologies. Rioli, Long, Farmer (all were before my time except Long whose best days were behind him by the time i was old enough to understand).

Lance Franklin showed last season he can dominate, until he does it game in game out season after season i won't put him in that list.

As a key forward it will never ever happen.

Matera not good enough to join McLeod and Wanganeen in your eyes?

[ORDoubleBlues]

Official AFL indigenous team of the cenury:

THE TEAM

Backs: Chris L Johnson, Darryl White, Bill Dempsey
Half-Backs: Gavin Wanganeen, Adam Goodes, Norm McDonald
Centres: Peter Matera, Maurice Rioli, Michael Long
Half-Forwards: Nicky Winmar, Stephen Michael, Syd Jackson
Forwards: Chris Lewis, Michael O'Loughlin, Jim Krakouer
Followers: Graham Farmer, Andrew McLeod, Barry Cable
Interchange: Michael McLean, Byron Pickett, Michael Graham, David Kantilla, Ted Kilmurray, Peter Burgoyne

Captain: Graham Farmer
Coach: Barry Cable
Umpire: Glenn James

If that's the case the AFL obviously didn't realise Williams is apparently of Aborigional heritage either.

[Pag]

Richard Tambling. End of discussion.

[ezydoesitbigfella]

I think Syd Jackson must rate very highly - he played in an era where racial vilification was committed, but never admitted. Although I was a quite young when he played, he came across as a skillful, hardworking and respected player.

It is just great to see the skills of the indigenous players - I watch plenty of junior football and no matter what grade - they are wonderful to watch.

[JK]

It is just great to see the skills of the indigenous players - I watch plenty of junior football and no matter what grade - they are wonderful to watch.

Agreed, in the skills department they have it all ... The ability to take the ball at pace (which is generally greater than their opponents') is eye catching but their foot disposal is nearly always precise.

[dedja]

It is just great to see the skills of the indigenous players - I watch plenty of junior football and no matter what grade - they are wonderful to watch.

Agreed, in the skills department they have it all ... The ability to take the ball at pace (which is generally greater than their opponents') is eye catching but their foot disposal is nearly always precise.

I played against and saw some amazing young indigenous players years ago ... absolute freaks. One was an very young Eugene Warrior (junior) who unfortunately squandered the opportunities he had and never realised his true potential. BTW, his dad was bloody good as well and a hell of a nice bloke. The sad part though was the amount of racism that these fellas had to endure.