The number of Indigenous players in the AFL has dropped to its lowest level in two decades, prompting concern among league officials and advocates. In 2020, there were 87 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players in the men's competition; by 2025-26, that figure had fallen to 62, a decline of approximately 30%.
Sean Gorman, a former AFL employee who worked on the league's vilification rule and led research on racism in the sport, said the decline was exasperating. He noted that the AFL's First Nations Strategy appeared to overlook previous work on Indigenous welfare and football history.
Gorman attributed part of the decline to the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted junior competitions, particularly in regional and remote areas. He also highlighted the challenges Indigenous players face when transitioning into the professional system, including disconnection from community, country, and kinship networks.
He argued that the issue is not a lack of skill or desire among Indigenous players, but insufficient support at club level and a lack of coordination between the AFL administration and the players' union. When players feel unsupported or unsafe, they disconnect, leading clubs to become reluctant to recruit Indigenous players.
Gorman called for clubs, recruiters, coaching staff, the AFL, and the AFL Players' Association to work more cohesively on support and cultural safety. He urged the AFL commission to demand measurable outcomes to address the decline.
