Indigenous All Stars arrive in Sydney

Elite Indigenous AFL footballers from across the country gathered in Sydney on Sunday for the biennial AFL Players’ Association Indigenous Camp.

The camp is designed to bring Indigenous players together from all 18 AFL Clubs to discuss common experiences, learn new skills, and allow older players to establish mentoring relationships with newly drafted players.

While in Sydney, the players will also undertake training in preparation for the Indigenous All Stars game against Richmond on Friday in Alice Springs.

Watch the All Stars rehearse their war cry they’ll perform prior to their match against Richmond.

Captain of the All Stars, dual Brownlow Medallist Adam Goodes, said the camp is something to look forward to during the pre-season.

“Now that we’ve coincided it (the camp) with the All Stars game, I think it’s a fantastic week that we get to spend all together,” Goodes said.

“Knowing that I’ve got nine days with up to 30 blokes is fantastic. We’ve got 70 Indigenous boys in camp at the moment, it’s just a great camp, it’s fantastic work by the AFL and the AFL Players’ Association to make it happen.”

The arrival of the All Stars camps participants in Sydney has also paved the way for locals to meet and interact with some of the biggest names in the game – including Lance Franklin, Aaron Davey, Daniel Wells and Travis Varcoe.

On Sunday, local Western Sydney kids played a game to remember against Hawthorn trio Buddy Franklin, Chance Bateman and Shaun Burgoyne while at Blacktown Olympic Park for a NAB Auskick clinic.

Franklin, who became the first player to kick 100 goals in a season since Tony Lockett achieved the ‘ton’ in 1998, said one highlight of the week is interacting with the fans of the game.

“The significance of the week is getting around the community – especially in western Sydney where there’s a lot of Indigenous people – so to come out and see a lot of the kids and have a kick and have good fun with them is what it’s all about,” Franklin said.

The arrival of the Greater Western Sydney GIANTS in the national competition has resulted in a record 86 Indigenous players on AFL lists in 2011.

Typically, the rigours of Australian Football and the sheer competitive nature of the sport have made it challenging for players to interact between clubs.

Although, the Indigenous All Stars camp is helping to bring players together for the very first time.

“It’s good to meet the other guys from the other teams, the other Indigenous boys from the other side of the country,” Franklin said.

“We don’t get much of a chance to meet the other Indigenous boys so it’s a great opportunity to touch base with a lot of them and over the years most blokes will always come back to these camps and from there you build relationships.”

One player looking to impress during the camp is GIANTS’ young gun, Curtly Hampton. The 17-year-old has made an immediate impact since signing with GWS in 2010, and is hoping his familiarity with the Alice Springs football ground will play in his favour.

“I played all of my junior footy [at Traeger Park] before I moved to Adelaide [for school],” Hampton said. “I’ve got plenty of experience on that oval and it’s a good oval.”

The All Stars match is now in its tenth year with the side only recording one loss – against Essendon in 2007. The All Stars match against Richmond on Friday, February 4 will be held at Traeger Park in Alice Springs.