Collingwood Indigenous Program?

[LaurieHolden]

Under a broader list management agenda, I would like to see a structured program to develop an indigenous playing list through our VFL team.
If Wells and Varcoe aren't offered contracts in 2019, and they don't have a career to step into, do we consider offering them positions as the football link within a broader indigenous player program to commence in 2021?

Many might view it's burning resources on a social program borne from altruism, maybe. What I would be confident on is the broad reaching legacy impact within our football department and the community.

It's obviously more than just giving the task to a few ex-players. We've Jodie Sizer on the board, that's a good start to ensuring we have the resources to commit from our existing community program.

At a basic level, I'd like to see a 5 year program, committing to 5 players a year with indigenous links to add to our VFL list.
Natural attrition would likely mean we might find 3 players over that period to transition onto our senior list or rookie list category.
If we can turn out 3 or more players within 5 years to play 50 games each I'd go part of the way to being viewed a success.
We burn so many draft picks as it is so I'd prefer we get the considerable resources of the Club behind a fresh approach to an indigenous program and make real progress to finding an un-earthed talent we know is out there.

Surely theres another group of players that with the resources we have available in 2019 and beyond, we can find and improve on the next ~
Wally Lovett (1982), Robbie Ahmat (1995-1997), Leon Davis (2000-2011), Richard Cole (2002-2005), Chris Egan (2005-2008), Brad Dick (2007-2011), Shannon Cox (2007-2009), Sharrod Wellingham (2008-2011),
Anthony Corrie (2009), Kirk Ugle (2011-2012), Andrew Krakouer (2011-2013), Peter Yagmoor (2012),
Tony Armstrong (2014-2015), Travis Varcoe (2015-2018), Daniel Wells (2017-2018), Kayle Kirby (2017-2018)

Over to you CFC.

[What'sinaname]

Do we have the whitest list in the AFL?

For whatever reason, our club doesn't seem to attract or be a destination for indigenous players.

Be interesting to know how many indigenous players every other team has had on their list, say, even tis decade.

Leon seems to be the last indigenous player we've developed and gone on to have a long successful career.

The others were taken late in their career - Varcs, Wells, Krak.

Everyone else has been a strike out.

[sherrife]

Yeah it's embarrassing how white our list is. You can only assume it reflects poorly on our club culture somehow. Whether through recruitment, retention, whatever it is. Very few non-whites generally, but the Indigenous make up is particularly notable given how many most other clubs have.

Great idea.

[RudeBoy]

Kirby looked like he could have become a star. So sad we lost him.

In truth, over our entire club's history, we've really only had Leon, Wellingham, Krakouer (all too briefly) and Varcoe as successful Indigenous players.

The great Premiership sides of the last decade or so have had numerous Indigenous stars in each team. It's without doubt a damning stat that we've had so few.

[watt price tully]

[RudeBoy]

[Mr Miyagi]

There's a big pool of indigenous players in WA, there's a reason West Coast and Freo can recruit and keep their indigenous players. Not many travel to Victoria or stay here long. Hawthorn had the Rioli dynasty.

Currently we have Varcoe, Wells. Kirby is a huge missed opportunity obviously, through no fault of anyone's. Quaynor and Atu bring a bit of diversity.

I really don't understand why, not having many indigenous players on our list, reflects poorly on our club culture? It's a Melbourne thing -- coming from WA, or NT, or QLD, living in Melbourne is extremely bloody hard for indigenous kids, it's massive for them. So unless we recruit local indigenous players, expect the go-home factor. I've asked a couple of indigenous mates in the past, and they all said they'd rather be playing back in WA or NSW or Qld than in Melbourne, they've never felt at home or comfortable here.

It's a lot easier said than done, and I hope we don't draft players for diversity's sake rather than key position needs. Should we overlook the next Pendlebury in favour of an African kid because we don't have any Africans on our list? That African kid might turn out to be a good player, but Pendleburys don't grow on trees.

I was shattered when Kirby had to retire. Shattered. Leon was probably my favourite player to watch, and I had big wraps on Kirby making a similar impact.

Anyway, back on topic -- yes, I would love the club to have an indigenous academy program. Similar to our academy.

[David]

Not a bad idea. For those wondering how we stack up compared to other clubs, here’s a list:

Total Aboriginal 2019 listed players: 84

Fremantle: 9
Port Adelaide: 8
Geelong: 7
West Coast: 6
Adelaide: 5
Carlton: 5
Gold Coast: 5
Melbourne: 5
North Melbourne: 5
Richmond: 5
Essendon: 4
GWS: 4
Hawthorn: 4
St Kilda: 4
Brisbane: 3
Sydney: 3
Collingwood: 2
Western Bulldogs: 0

http://www.aflplayers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Indigenous-Player-Map-Update-2019_LR-1.pdf

Another interesting comparison is the amount of senior games Aboriginal players have collectively played so far this year per club list:

Adelaide: 50
Brisbane: 34
Carlton: 37
Collingwood: 17
Essendon: 22
Fremantle: 120
Geelong: 42
Gold Coast: 46
GWS: 39
Hawthorn: 49
Melbourne: 27
North: 66
Port Adelaide: 79
Richmond: 75
St. Kilda: 55
Sydney: 12
West Coast: 65
Western Bulldogs: 0

[inxs88]

Players such as Rioli and Ryan from the Eagles went deeper in the Draft than their abilities. The Eagles have been rewarded for their bravery. Perth and Adelaide do seem to have a more assimilating environment. Also remember we do have Rendell on our recruiting team whose publicly been reticent in drafting indigenous players (led to his demise from the Crows).

We need to take some controlled chances. How good would we be with a Charlie Cameron, Flying Ryan or a Walters.

[skaman]

Brad Dick, Robbie Armat?

Edit: sorry just read above. Carry on

[LaurieHolden]

[Mr Miyagi]

Does Melbourne have an aboriginal community on par with Adelaide, Perth? We do have a fantastic aboriginal community, but is it harder to be at home here if you're interstate? Melbourne's football bubble doesn't exactly help the shy types either.

Lovett-Murray, another one we had on our list and let go for good reason. It doesn't always work out.

[Mr Miyagi]

Article in today's H-S detailed why the Dogs missed out on a few indigenous stars.

[RudeBoy]

[Mr Miyagi]

Didn't we have a program at one stage?

Is it the Collingwood Bubble? The scrutiny is hard enough for Melbourne-born white players, imagine what it's like for an indigenous kid from Perth. Leon spoke about how much harder it was for him. Channel 7 had a reporter ambush De Goey in Germany, that's how bad it is. I just think the problem of the Melbourne Bubble is times 10 for Collingwood compared to other clubs. Most would choose the Hawks over Collingwood for that very reason.