Big Big call by Choco....

[Dutchy]

On tonights news they had an article about the 5 Aboriginal players from the Power and how good they are etc etc...anyway they talk to Choco about them and he says

"There is no doubt that some teams in the past have had a set policy not to draft any Aboriginal players"

How can he get away with saying that? How does he know its been their policy? I would think other clubs would resent this comment...could he get in trouble for it? or is it just his dumb, pathetic public speaking skills blurting something out before the head computed it?

[bayman]

i would doubt that teams would have that policy as staff from the coach down changes every now & then, so different philosophies in different years depending on who is on the staff at that time, the only policy i know that clubs have is when drafting players & that is if there is a 50-50 call on two players they'll go for the local lad everytime

will chocko get a please explain ??

[McAlmanac]

Any Aboriginals at Hawthorn before Chance Bateman?

Name the first Aboriginal player at Melbourne. Probably Jeff Farmer.

[dinglinga]

wonder what darrell hart would say at this comment????

[mal]

Its just unbelievable the skills the Aboriginal players have.

Fremantle has a few.

[Hondo]

He has been around the traps for a while so there must be something in what he says. Some clubs such as Essendon, Port and WC seemed to have more aboriginal players than other teams in the past. It doesn't have to be a racial query .... maybe he thinks some clubs have questioned the temperament & commitment - Shane Tongerie anyone? (think it was Shane). Some of the most highly skilled players in history have been aboriginal, seem to have a higer % of very good players out of the group that are on club lists if you know what I mean.

[smac]

I reckon your point regarding temperament is spot on hondo. I reckon in the past it was a genuine concern when drafting an aboriginal player as quite often they were drafted/recruited from obscurity. By no means is this a racist post, just my observations of players who were 'thrown in' at a high level without the required education to perform successfully for a long time. Hondo mentions Tongerie - a perfect example of this (top bloke though).

Now (almost) every player who has been drafted has been on an elite pathway for several years and issues, whilst not eliminated, are less likely to present themselves.

IMO, the same stands for all kinds of issues relating to all cultures/races/religions, not just aboriginals.

[Dutchy]

understand what you are saying however....he said "set policy"....

[JK]

Any Aboriginals at Hawthorn before Chance Bateman?

Name the first Aboriginal player at Melbourne. Probably Jeff Farmer.

Gary Dhurrkay (sp?)

Hawks is an interesting one, I can't recall too many indigenous lads playing there (in fact at the moment I can't recall any)

[Booney]

Harry Miller of late.Buddy Franklin.

[Dutchy]

Chisholm played at Melbourne also

[JK]

Sean Charles also at the Dee's

[scoob]

What about the Footscray/Bulldogs, how many do they have / had?

[Leaping Lindner]

AFL's Black Stars which was published in 1997 lists only two Aboriginal as having played at Hawthorn to that date.
Cyril Collard (13 Games 57-58) and Percy Cummings (5 Games 64-65). I'd imagine that Collard was originally a WA lad. Also there is a Colin Graham listed as playing for Melbourne in the 70's. I do recall him having been reminded. Wasn't he related to Michael in some way?

[JK]

What about the Footscray/Bulldogs, how many do they have / had?

Currently Cam Faulkner is there ... Michael McLean who was exceptionally talented and holds iconic status amongst the indigenous community started his VFL career with the Dogs from memory.

[doggies4eva]

I see a big difference between the players who have come from an urban background and those that have been raised on a community. The community aboriginals have come from a very different culture and will find it harder to adjust. They have close family ties and this needs to be understood and managed. I don't think Choco was being racist.

[our_longreach]

What about the Footscray/Bulldogs, how many do they have / had?

Nicky Winmar

[westozfalcon]

What about the Footscray/Bulldogs, how many do they have / had?

Nicky Winmar

Les Bamblett is another

[rod_rooster]

What about the Footscray/Bulldogs, how many do they have / had?

Nicky Winmar

Nicky Winmar played for the Saints.

[rod_rooster]

AFL's Black Stars which was published in 1997 lists only two Aboriginal as having played at Hawthorn to that date.
Cyril Collard (13 Games 57-58) and Percy Cummings (5 Games 64-65). I'd imagine that Collard was originally a WA lad. Also there is a Colin Graham listed as playing for Melbourne in the 70's. I do recall him having been reminded. Wasn't he related to Michael in some way?

As a Hawthorn supporter the Hawks immediately sprung to mind when reading this. I knew there have been very few Aboriginal players in the past but i wasn't aware of the exact figures. I would be absolutely appalled if there was a set policy in place though.