Where are the Indig boys?

[ROK Lobster]

I reckon he's one of the few who could switch.

Goodes is another.

[wedge.maverick]

But doesn't he play Rugby League?

I meant an indigenous boy who's 190+cm and 100kg and runs like the wind.We may have a Canadian similar to that already though but that was what I was suggesting.

[ShockOfHair]

Here's the full AFL list of indigenous players - one in every nine players.

Yep, the Swans have the least. Essendon and Freo have the most, seven each.


Complete list of indigenous players | AdelaideNow

[snajik]

Aboriginal players have reputations of being talented but ill disciplined. Of course not all are, but sadly many seem to have be tarred by the same brush, so to speak.

That reputation may be partly to explain why the club has been reluctant to recruit young indigenous talent.

I would also like to say "sorry" to the stolen generations and all those affected by the travesty that befall them and thank the traditional owners of Driver Avenue for allowing us to enjoy our weekends on their land.

You are a riot. I'm perplexed as to why you don't already host your own television show. A good thing no doubt that your original post was deleted, otherwise I suspect I'd still be rolling about on the floor overcome with stomach cramping laughter.

[ShockOfHair]

Not a bad idea - a "Thank-you for letting us nick your land day".

It would say a lot more, a lot more honestly, about our history than the Rudd apology or the Howard airbrush.

Aborginal kids do come with baggage - but so do the Irish.

[connolly]

Aborginal kids do come with baggage - but so do the Irish.

But with the Irish the baggage is on the plane to Shannon airport. The indigenous kids are at least already home (even if it has been thieved).

[ShockOfHair]

Those Irish boys have a tendency to go walkabout.

[UglyDuckling]

Vespa goes alright. 'Should we have taken X or Y with that pick?' is imponderable and can be controversial even 5 or more years later.

For years the received wisdom from many was that we shoulda taken Steven Salopek with pick 5 in the 2002 national draft, and an excessive bias towards the local boy led us into error in picking Jarrad McVeigh. Come the end of 2008, there aren't so many people saying that any more.

Great point about McVeigh there were quite a few detractors kicking around this website.

Is it possible that the attributes indigenous players posses in particular pace and flair haven't really been a high priority in the Roo's recruiting model? Besides of course Vez who was touted as the most explosive player in his draft.

[ernie koala]

Is it possible that the attributes indigenous players posses in particular pace and flair haven't really been a high priority in the Roo's recruiting model?

I also have long wondered about our non recruiting of indigenous boys over the Roos era. And agree with your muse about Roos's recruiting model.... he seems to like Blondes.

[snajik]

Here's the full AFL list of indigenous players - one in every nine players.

Yep, the Swans have the least. Essendon and Freo have the most, seven each.


Complete list of indigenous players | AdelaideNow

Regardless, having the least number of Indigenous players on our list is a bit strange. Sure clubs need to pick the next best available players through the draft however we seem to have no issue with pursuing players that have a background in a different code - Kennelly, Murphy, Pyke, Orreal, LRT, White just some examples. A number of these players have come through the rookie list as 'experiments' or 'projects' so why no consideration of an Indigenous rookie?

Although NSW is an entrenched RL state, there are more Indigenous people living in NSW than any other state, and more Indigenous People living in the greater Sydney Metro area than elsewhere in NSW which would assuage any perceived homesickness issues real or imagined. So why not look at grooming a local Indigenous player as a rookie? There would have to be some talented players around who aren't fixed on a RL path.

[goswannie14]

I also have long wondered about our non recruiting of indigenous boys over the Roos era. And agree with your muse about Roos's recruiting model.... he seems to like Blondes.

It's pretty hard to disagree with that musing, Roos appears to put no emphasis on players with pace or flair.

[Nico]

It's pretty hard to disagree with that musing, Roos appears to put no emphasis on players with pace or flair.

Roos has gone for white guys with pace eg. Jack and Vespa.

I suspect Roos also takes the hardline discipline appraoch. Interstingly he inherited both Goodes and MOL who are both talls.

[ROK Lobster]

I also have long wondered about our non recruiting of indigenous boys over the Roos era. And agree with your muse about Roos's recruiting model.... he seems to like Blondes.

Are you suggesting that Roos is racist?

Apparently I did in this thread and it was deleted on the grounds of potential legal action against the owners of the site. Of course, all the "experiments" have been boys from white Anglo/Celtic backgrounds. My money is on crazy coincidence.

[ShockOfHair]

They deleted your post? That's ROKist.

[Wardy]

But where in the footy by-laws does it say that a club has to have a certain number of indigenous players? From what I understand it doesnt...Of course there are loads of lads out there who would be fantastic, but I personally think that Roos just hasnt found anyone he considers to have the "it" factor that both MOL & Goodes have in spades. it could be a simple as that. I'm no Fan of Roos & Co with their draft selection criteria, I dont think the selection of any player would hang on the players family/cultural background - I would like to think that they would be considering all players on current ability and future potential. Perhaps thats simplistic, but I'm just a simple gal!