Karl Amon calls for change as Indigenous AFL player numbers decline

The number of Indigenous players in the AFL has seen a considerable drop in the last few years. Hawk Karl Amon has a few ways the league could turn the decline around.

Karl Amon opens up on his Indigenous culture. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Karl Amon feels a sense of pride playing in Sir Doug Nicholls Round.

But the Noonuccul man can’t shake the elephant in the room: the decline of Indigenous players in the AFL.

In 2020, 87 Indigenous AFL players were in the game. Just four years later there are 71 on AFL lists.

And it might be getting worse before it gets better.

Three players from Indigenous backgrounds were part of AFL Talent Ambassador Kevin Sheehan’s top 75 prospects for 2024.

They are AFL Academy prospects Ricky Mentha and Malakai Champion, tied to Melbourne and West Coast respectively, and Rome Burgoyne, the son of Port Adelaide great Peter.

This publication revealed last month that just four Indigenous players were selected for Victoria (three), Western Australia (one) and South Australia (zero) at last year’s under-16 championships.

Karl Amon is concerned about the decline in Indigenous playing numbers. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Amon doesn’t feel integration once in the system is the issue. He should know, given his mother, Aunty Katrina Amon, works as an Indigenous development manager at St Kilda.

The 28-year-old also shares a personal relationship with AFL Diversity Talent Lead Paul Vandenbergh through their time at Port Adelaide together.

As Indigenous programs director at Port Adelaide (who will be known as their Indigenous name Yartapuulti in Sir Doug Nicholls Round), Vandenbergh helped mould Amon into the person he is today.

Amon along with fellow First Nations teammates Jarman Impey and Chad Wingard have raised their concerns with the AFL, and the playmaker is eager to play a role in creating change.

“I think there’s a lot of network around the clubs these days, and they make the transition (into AFL life) really easy. But I think our problem at the moment is that the numbers in the AFL are dropping, and that’s a real concern for us players and, you know, what can we do as an industry to help grow that and get the numbers back up?” Amon said.

“At Hawthorn we’ve got Chad Wingard, Jarman Impey and myself, I’d like to think are senior figures in the industry and we have catch ups with Paulie and the AFL every now and then.

“So we voiced that concern earlier this year and the AFL they have taken notice of that and we just want to see change in the best way possible.

“I think the AFL they have obviously noticed it and they’re looking at certain situations that they can help fix that. Whether it is rookie spots or NGA Academies, or just trying to promote the game in the areas where we can get these kids into AFL systems and get them in early as possible and make them feel comfortable as early as possible as well.”

Indigenous players at the Sir Doug Nicholls Round launch Picture: Michael Klein

INDIGENOUS CULTURE

Amon didn’t know much about his Indigenous culture before entering the AFL ranks.

The smooth-mover grew up playing in Hampton and for the Sandringham Dragons, roughly 1800 kilometres away from Noonuccul Country in North Stradbroke Island.

In an interview with the AFL Players Association in 2022, Amon and his mother Katrina revealed that Katrina’s great grandmother, Lucy and her daughter, Mabel, were part of the Stolen Generation.

While at the Power, Amon spoke in front of the group in 2022 about changing the date of Australia Day – a stance that most clubs in the AFL are now vocal on.

Amon looks up to Vandenbergh and credits him for the knowledge he now has about his background.

Port Adelaide Indigenous players in 2019 with Paul Vandenbergh. Back: Sam Powell-Pepper, Paddy Ryder Front: Tobin Cox, Joel Garner, Steven Motlop, Karl Amon, Aidyn Johnson., Jarrod Lienert with Paul Vandenbergh. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

“The programs that Port had in place through Paul Vandenbergh, teaching it to students at schools and stuff and I guess it just grew from there. Obviously being in the system I thoroughly enjoyed it, we could learn about it, and teach others it the same time,” Amon said.

“I guess moving over at such a young age, not really knowing anyone in Adelaide he was a real father figure for me. His family I’m still in touch with today and his wife Emma.

“He was a massive inspiration for me for what he does, but also he was a real warming figure as well.”

MOVE FROM PORT

It is fitting that Amon comes up the former side, where he learnt so much about his culture, in Sir Doug Nicholls Round.

Amon joined the Hawks at the end of 2022 as a free agent and he was under no allusions of where Hawthorn’s list was at.

As he watched his former side win 17 games before bowing out in straight sets, the rebuilding Hawks finished third last and won one of their first nine games in 2023.

But Amon was buoyed by the positive signs they showed after that point, including upset wins over grand eventual finalists Brisbane and Collingwood.

“I knew that Hawthorn were, I guess, in a rebuilding phase, but I feel like the list that we have, we can match it with the best. For us we just need to play consistent footy,” Amon said.

“We’re building confidence and I think that’s what we needed as a young group – the more confidence you have, the better you’re going to play.

“So we’re just trying to be predictable to each other …. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my move being back home and closer to family, it’s been awesome.”

Karl Amon gets a kick away. Picture: Steve Bell/Getty Images

Amon did a hell of a lot of unrewarded running up and down the Adelaide Oval wing in his 124 games for the Power. and he was targeted by Hawthorn with the same role in mind.

But late last year the elite ball-user was shifted into defence with great effect.

Amon conceded he has been slightly less consistent down back this year, but he produced his best performance in the role in their win over St Kilda.

The rebounder was awarded the Silk-Miller Medal for best afield, finishing with 31 disposals — hitting the target with 29 of those — and 711 metres gained.

“In the back half of last year, moved back there for the last six weeks and enjoyed it and probably this year, it’s a little bit up and down,” Amon said.

“Still playing wing here and there and obviously have played that position a fair bit in my career so that’s familiar to me, but enjoying being back at half-back.”

Originally published as Karl Amon calls for change as Indigenous AFL player numbers decline