First Nations teams to help bridge talent dearth as football codes grapple with falling Indigenous numbers

Australia Broadcast Center

28-05-2025

Gumbainggir woman and former Matilda Gema Simon says she would have benefited from an Indigenous pathway program when she was a kid aspiring to reach the top level.
"I didn't really play a lot of soccer with other Indigenous kids (growing up). There wasn't a lot within the pathways that I kind of came up in," Simon told ABC Sport.
"I feel like I had to adjust from how I was at home around my family to then going and playing in teams that didn't have other Indigenous players."
Simon said when she did get the privilege to play with other First Nations players in her 16-year career in the A-Leagues and national side, it felt like family.
"It gives you the opportunity to just be yourself in an environment that you might not have been able to be as comfortable in anywhere else," she said, which is why she wanted to give back through the governing body's Indigenous programs.
The 34-year-old, along with former Socceroo David Williams, has been named a head coach for Football Australia's Invitational XI Girls and Boys First Nations teams, set to compete in the Emerging Matildas and Emerging Socceroos Championships in July.
It comes as codes across Australia grapple with how to increase Indigenous representation at their top levels, with many putting together youth representative sides to try to foster new talent coming through their respective pathways.
Last week, two Indigenous AFL greats, Michael Long and Stephen Michael, called on the AFL to address the falling numbers of First Nations players on AFL club lists.
There are just 63 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander AFL players in the men's competition, down from 87 in 2020.
In last year's national draft, Hawthorn's Cody Anderson was the only Indigenous player selected.
In rugby union, there have been just 15 First Nations Wallabies since the team's introduction in 1899.
Meanwhile, in Super Netball, there is just one contracted First Nations player across all eight teams, Sunshine Coast Lightning's Leesa Mi Mi, a Wakka Wakka woman.
For the past two seasons, there has also been Donnell Wallam, a high-profile Diamonds player and Noongar woman, but she now plays in the New Zealand premiership.
To foster more Indigenous talent through its pathways, Netball Australia introduced the Black Swans in 2024, a First Nations national team, who now compete in the Pacific Netball Series.
Simon said she wished everyone could see the impact these Indigenous sides had on the players.
'We're all working for the same thing," she said.
"It is really awesome to see the girls embrace their culture and be a part of it and be around other Indigenous players.
"I only last year played in my first Indigenous team then, which is pretty special for me, even like at my age. So I'm glad that the girls have that opportunity at at such a young age."
Biripi girl Andie Chaseling, who led last year's Invitational XI girls' side as captain, said being able to play in the National Youth Championships and represent their backgrounds and Indigenous culture was a huge deal.
"I think it's really great how we can all come together from all over Australia," Chaseling told Football Australia.
"And because we've got that connection through our backgrounds we just gel straight away and play the game we love."
Williams added that these programs were more than just about football.
'I'm proud to be part of an initiative that doesn't just talk about pathways but builds them," Williams said.
"I've seen the quality and potential in these young players. Now, it's about giving them the environment and the belief to thrive.'