Indigenous All Stars’ roaring success after game’s biggest names help put exhibition games back on the agenda

Representative football is only as strong as the buy-in from players. By that metric, the Indigenous All Stars have put forward a pitch to make exhibition games a permanent AFL fixture.

Representative football is only as strong as the buy-in from players.

And thanks to captain Michael Walters, the Indigenous All Stars put forward a compelling pitch to make exhibition games a permanent fixture on the AFL calendar.

As skipper, Walters made it his personal mission to attract the best of the best.

The return of the Indigenous All Stars, a decade since their last match, was first floated back in December 2022, at the AFLPA Indigenous and Multicultural Player Summit.

Fast forward two years and Walters, having missed the last two games in 2015 and 2013 due to injury, ensured that the players followed through on their promise.

Alongside AFL Indigenous and Multicultural Engagement Manager Pauly Vandenbergh, the 34-year-old helped rally the league’s biggest names. When it came to picking a captain, the selection panel was unanimous in their belief it had to be Walters.

Michael Walters was the unanimous skipper of the All Stars. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images.

In the past, the Indigenous All Stars have been robbed of some all-time greats.

Lance Franklin only suited up once in five games on home soil across the course of his career. He did feature in the International Rules series when the All Stars played Ireland.

Adam Goodes represented the All Stars once, winning the Polly Farmer medal in 2003. He was due to captain the side in 2011 only for the game to be cancelled after heavy rain saturated TIO Stadium.

Cyril Rioli was named twice. So was Eddie Betts. There are also well-documented instances of clubs initially refusing to release players, headlined by Nicky Winmar (St Kilda) and Chris Lewis (West Coast) in 1994.

If the All Stars’ return was to be permanent, then that had to change.

The squad was stacked. No one said no and those who didn’t play fell victim to injury or personal circumstances.

Under Walters’ leadership, the All Stars defeated Fremantle by 43 points to move to a 7-7 overall record. And the 17-year veteran of the competition was bursting with pride.

“You can put us all in a room, we’re from all over Australia but we’re united,” Walters said post-game. “It’s about us coming together, united, playing the game we love.

“Football wins.”

Bobby Hill of the Indigenous All Stars celebrates a goal with teammates. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

The feedback from players has been overwhelming. Four-goal forward Bobby Hill can’t remember having so much fun playing football.

“When we play a brand of football like that, we’re unstoppable,” he said. “It was great to play in. It was one of the most fun games ever.

“When we had meetings, they were never quiet meetings. It’s something I’ll cherish forever. To only have one training and then go out and play like that was great.”

Justin Longmuir’s Dockers were on the receiving end of the Indigenous All Stars’ flair. But the Fremantle coach has joined calls for the tradition to continue.

“How often? I’m not sure,” he said post-game.

“This was player-led. I know Sonny had a big say in wanting to get one of these games under his belt. It probably fits in Perth every couple of years.”

Originally published as Indigenous All Stars’ roaring success after game’s biggest names help put exhibition games back on the agenda