Indigenous All-Stars (Australian rules football)

All-indigenous sides have been documented as early the turn of the 20th Century,[3] and the first representative teams began playing matches after World War II.

[4] Following his career in the VFA, Doug Nicholls was instrumental in the concept of an All-Aboriginal representative side.

He organised (assembling players mainly from Taree in New South Wales), captained and coached an All-Aboriginal side against the VFA's Northcote Football Club in 1944.

[5] Among the aboriginal players was James Murray, Australian Kangaroos rugby league representative.

[6] Nicholls team's matches against the Northcote Football Club became an annual event becoming a regular fixture in 1945 and 1946.

A match between the All-Stars and The Swans was proposed for Canberra in 1984, to be organised by the National Football League,[14] but did not go ahead.

[20] The AFL scheduled an Indigenous All-Stars match for a pre-season fixture against Fremantle at Optus Stadium in February 2025.

[23] Until 2005, the All-Stars were sponsored by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission, who had naming rights over the team.

Roger Rigney (SA); Michael Mansell (Tas); Anthony Miller (WA); Brian Warrior (SA); Dennis Lewfat (NT); Patrick Purantatameri (NT); Reg Mathews (QLD); Bill Ellis (NT); John McHenry (WA); Leon Wanganeen (SA); Alec Smith (Vic); John Pepperill (NT); Phillip Archer (SA); Ian Charles (VIC); Robbie Muir (VIC); Ken Liddle (NT); Wilfred Wilson (SA); Tim Agius (SA); Garry Murray (VIC); Paul Hansen (WA); Lloyd Bray (NT)[40] In 2013, the Indigenous All-Stars team competed under the Australia banner against Ireland in the International Rules Series, a hybrid sport which consists elements of Gaelic football and Australian rules football.