TOPIC:

As this is reconciliation week, I was thinking are the numbers of Aboriginal footbllers as high as they were in the 80s and 90s, it seems to me at WAFL and AFL level they dont seem to have the same numbers playing. I remember the 80s WAFL there seemed to be a lot more.

At Swans our indigenous boys in the League squad include- Jetta, Reidy, Wilson, Waite, Cox, Farrant, Saylor off the top of my head (there could be more) plus another handful or more in the Colts squad.
Im not sure how that compares to other eras but we have had a strong indigenous list in past decades-

1980s- P.Narkle, K.Narkle, Ware, Caton, Holden, K.Taylor, T.Ugle, Penny, Ahmat....
2000s- Krakouer, Yarran, Walters, Pearce, G.Taylor, L.Jetta, G.Jetta, N.Jetta, J.Garlett, K.Ugle, Cameron, Wilson...

Also at Steel Blue Bassendean Oval we have recently renamed both ends of the ground in traditional Noongar language-

Derbarl Yerrigan- (Guildford/Swan River End)
Boorloo- (Bassendean/City End)

Beasley Hutton wrote:

At Swans our indigenous boys in the League squad include- Jetta, Reidy, Wilson, Waite, Cox, Farrant, Saylor off the top of my head (there could be more) plus another handful or more in the Colts squad.
Im not sure how that compares to other eras but we have had a strong indigenous list in past decades-

1980s- P.Narkle, K.Narkle, Ware, Caton, Holden, K.Taylor, Ugle, Ahmat....
2000s- Krakouer, Yarran, Walters, Pearce, G.Taylor, L.Jetta, G.Jetta, N.Jetta, Cameron, Wilson...

Also at Steel Blue Bassendean Oval we have recently renamed both ends of the ground in traditional Noongar language-

Derbarl Yerrigan- (Guildford/Swan River End)
Boorloo- (Bassendean/City End)

A few from the 1990s:
Ian & Cameron Bennell, Greg Councillor, Damian Dimer,  Danny Penny, Garth Taylor and  Ashley Williams
 

Beasley Hutton wrote:

At Swans our indigenous boys in the League squad include- Jetta, Reidy, Wilson, Waite, Cox, Farrant, Saylor off the top of my head (there could be more) plus another handful or more in the Colts squad.
Im not sure how that compares to other eras but we have had a strong indigenous list in past decades-

1980s- P.Narkle, K.Narkle, Ware, Caton, Holden, K.Taylor, Ugle, Ahmat....
2000s- Krakouer, Yarran, Walters, Pearce, G.Taylor, L.Jetta, G.Jetta, N.Jetta, Cameron, Wilson...

Also at Steel Blue Bassendean Oval we have recently renamed both ends of the ground in traditional Noongar language-

Derbarl Yerrigan- (Guildford/Swan River End)
Boorloo- (Bassendean/City End)

Overall the numbers dont seem to be as strong as 80s/90s. Claremont and SFFC in particular had a very large number during the period, East Perth as well.

The players I have posted above from SD would suggest otherwise.
We have always had a high proportion of indigenous players at our club for the 40+ years I have been following and continue to including in our current Colts programme.
I cant comment on the other clubs as I dont take as much notice or interest of their lists and priorities!