The AFL will divert approximately £300,000 from Indigenous guernsey sales towards initiatives addressing culturally unsafe environments and racism, as the league grapples with a decline in First Nations players.
The number of Indigenous players has dropped every year since a peak of 87 in 2020, now sitting at 62. The AFL's five-year strategy targets an increase to 89 by 2030.
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon noted that while nine Indigenous players were drafted last year, 11 were delisted, contributing to the net decline. The typical career for an Indigenous player is about one year shorter than for non-Indigenous players.
The newly-launched First Nations impact fund will receive around £300,000 this season. Clubs can access funding by proposing initiatives to create culturally safe environments and address racism.
St Kilda's Bradley Hill, a Noongar man and three-time premiership player, acknowledged the challenges young Indigenous players face, including financial and travel barriers. He described a recent 'casual racism' incident involving coach Ross Lyon as having a 'positive outcome' but declined to elaborate.
