Thompson's selection equals AFL premiership match recordWHEN Wade Thompson took his spot in the Port Adelaide line-up on Sunday against Melbourne, he achieved two things: (1) He made his AFL debut and (2) his presence equalled the record number of Indigenous players in an AFL team playing for premiership points.
Thompson took his place alongside Peter and Shaun Burgoyne, Daniel Motlop, Danyle Pearce and Nathan Krakouer in their clash against Melbourne at AAMI Stadium which meant the Power equalled Fremantle's record of playing six Indigenous players in its team for premiership points, which it did on several occasions, one of which included the Dockers' first and only finals win in 2006, incidentally against Melbourne at Subiaco.
The Power, however, could conceivably top that record with Marlon Motlop, Daniel's cousin, pushing for senior selection with good form in the SANFL.
Historically, the two clubs leave the others in the dust in terms of their relative youth as AFL clubs and the numbers of Indigenous footballers who have played for them in just 14 years at the top level.
Since its admission to the AFL in 1995, Fremantle have had, up to when the 2008 season ended, 20 Indigenous players who had worn the purple jumper. Now we can add two more this season, plus one rookie, for a total of 23 Indigenous Fremantle players in just 14 years.
For Port Adelaide, which joined the AFL in 1997, its number is 14, plus Thompson, this season.
Incidentally, Fremantle have had four players on its list who didn't play a match for premiership points, while all of Port's listed players had played at least one premiership match.
To add some context to those numbers, Essendon, which was formed in the early 1870s, have had 22 Indigenous players represent it; the 140-year-old North Melbourne Football Club has had 19; and the oldest, continuous football club in the world, the 150-year-old Melbourne Football Club, has had 18.
Of the new clubs, West Coast and Brisbane, their numbers stack up favourably. Since joining the V/AFL in 1987, those clubs have had 18 and 16 Indigenous players respectively to the end of the 2008 season.
DARREN MONCRIEFF
Darren@AboriginalFootball.com.au
Monday, April 13, 2009
Last Modified on 13/04/2009 23:37