Decline in Indigenous Players in Aussie Football League

0:00It's March 27th. I'm Corey with The Story, and this is Sydney News today, your AI-powered local news. The number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men playing in Australia's top Australian football league has dropped sharply. Back in 2020, there were 87 Indigenous players. Now in 2025-26, that figure sits at just 62, the lowest in two decades, and down about 30%. These points to the pandemic as a big factor, hitting junior competitions hard, especially in regional and remote areas. Boredom and disruptions there made it tougher to keep kids in the game from the start. On top of that, the author, who worked on racism reviews and Indigenous welfare at the league, says, past efforts get overlooked in new strategies. For these players, the move to pro football means huge sacrifices, like leaving family, community, and cultural ties behind. Indigenous family structures carry extra weight from history, including the stolen generations,

1:02so obligations pull strong. Players weigh if the game is worth that toll. Clubs, recruiters, coaches, the league, and players union need to unite on better cultural support and safety. The story of Adam Goods, booed out after winning two brown low medals, still haunts players, making them feel vulnerable without real backing. Robless data and deep cultural work could turn this around. Honoring players who paved the way and building a stronger future for Indigenous talent in. The sport.