Xavier Clarke to coach Indigenous All Stars, big names expected to take part in exhibition match

The head coach of the Indigenous All Stars has been locked in for next year’s match against the Dockers. Plus see the big guns expected to line-up here.

North Melbourne assistant coach Xavier Clarke has been locked in to coach the AFL Indigenous All Stars against Fremantle early next year as chairman of selectors Michael O’Loughlin forecast a massive buy-in from the players for the February 15 clash.

It’s the first time in 10 years that an Indigenous All-Stars side will play an exhibition match, with the AFL keen to make it an annual event.

The star-studded All-Stars line-up is likely to include Brisbane premiership star Charlie Cameron, Bulldogs young gun Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Adelaide excitement machine Izak Rankine and Collingwood’s Norm Smith medallist Bobby Hill.

O’Loughlin told the Herald Sun the All-Stars will also likely select big-name Fremantle recruit Shai Bolton, club skipper Alex Pearce and forward Michael Walters as part of their All-Stars team to take on their Dockers’ teammates.

Xavier Clarke will coach the Indigenous All Stars. Picture: Getty Images

Clarke crossed from Richmond to North Melbourne last off-season. Picture: Getty Images

Cameron, Pearce and Walters were members of the 2015 AFL Indigenous All-Stars squad, but O’Loughlin said it was important that the next wave of players have their chance to represent their people.

“These guys now get to write a little piece of their own history,” O’Loughlin said. “They might have seen this game growing up as kids; now they get the chance to participate in an All-Stars game.”

“They are going to be representing their people and their community. It’s going to be a blast.”

O’Loughlin said Clarke - who has built a strong assistant coaching portfolio that included three flags at Richmond - can further his own senior coaching aspirations by coaching this side against Fremantle.

“We are going over there to win; we are not going to mess around,” he said. “We are going to select the best possible team and we are very fortunate to have an experienced football person like ‘X’ (Xavier Clarke) who is going to coach the team.

“Footy is all about preparation and he’s been there and done that in his (coaching) journey,” he said.

“I’ll be helping him select the side, but this is X’s team.”

AFL Executive General Manager Social Policy and Inclusion Tanya Hosch played a key role in the push for the All-Stars’ game return.

She will form part of the selection committee alongside O’Loughlin, former Hawk and Power player Chad Wingard, AFL Executive General Manager of Football Laura Kane, AFL General Manager Football Operations Josh Mahoney, and AFL Indigenous Player Engagement Manager Pauly Vandenbergh.

Michael Walters & Jordan Clark of the Dockers are set to be on opposing sides in February. Picture: Getty Images

“I’ll be more of a silent observer (than selector),” Hosch said. “I’m keen to see how the process works.”

“The excitement of the players (already tells us) how much it has been missed. It means a lot to them. The brothers often connect on the field before they come off (when on opposite teams), so this will mean a lot to them.

“We are very fortunate to have a coach like Xavier Clarke who is dedicated and who has been hoping for this opportunity. Anything we can do to support him in his aspirations is important as well.

“I was talking to one senior club coach and he said he remembered in his playing days a lot of his teammates came back to their clubs (after All-Star games) so much better for the experience.”

She said the AFL looked forward to a time when an AFL Indigenous All-Stars AFLW clash could also take place.

Originally published as Xavier Clarke to coach Indigenous All Stars, big names expected to take part in exhibition match