Re: Indigenous Support at EFC

[Houli_Dooli]

@Dons1984

I believe that having the Dreamtime game is a privilege that comes with obligations to First Nations people. Is the club meeting these obligations at the moment?

No give the game to St Kilda. Maybe even rotate the game to VIC clubs with biggest indigenous lists.

NWM, Hill, Ryan, Keeler, Collard

I would enquire on Collard would add some pace to our list.

[brady]

[dambuster]

Our indigenous draftees haven’t worked out.

The indigenous players that we have been interested in from other clubs (i.e. Bobby Hill, Malcolm Rosa’s) have gone elsewhere.

What are we supposed to do?

[Humble_Minion]

@dambuster

What are we supposed to do?

Be better, try harder, work out what we did wrong and stop doing that?

[Houli_Dooli]

Start by offering Essendon VFL spot to a Tiwi Bombers player every year, even for like 6 game spell.
And recruit an indigenous player if Cat B Spot opens, rather than leave it vacant.
Recruiting a indigenous player who was cut from afl side for the VFL, helped I think, like Narkle. Maybe do that again.

[Aceman]

There absolutely should be a lot more work put into it and I definitely think an extra list spot kept aside for indigenous is a good idea. I’m not sure about a spot on the VFL as I’m not sure someone from the Tiwi’s is coming down to play VFL for $400-500 per game.
I like the idea but doubt it could happen at that level

[Houli_Dooli]

@Aceman

from the Tiwi’s is coming down to play VFL for $400-500 per game.
I like the idea but doubt it could happen at that level

Maybe bring them in for the Queensland games then?
We have had fill ins their before.

[simmo41]

@Dons1984

The irony of essendon having the Dreamtime game is that it feels as though we have the least commitment towards First Nations people of any other club.

broader point accepted and agreed with, but “least” is harsh

[jonovdp]

It would be more about giving them a taste of Melbourne.

[jonovdp]

@dambuster

i.e. Bobby Hill, Malcolm Rosa’s)

Didn’t these 2 players request a trade to us, but we refused to offer true value at the trade table?

Anyway. It pretty much proves a point.

[dambuster]

Hill definitely requested a trade to us. Don’t think Rosas did. Their clubs wouldn’t let them go at the time, as they were still under contract.

My point is, we did actually attempt to bring indigenous talent to the club.

[Houli_Dooli]

We did also talk to Liam Ryan…even though he didn’t fit our rebuilding theme.
Unless that was all made up.

[Saucy]

The lack of indigenous talent is a league wide problem. Unfortunately, it has nothing to do with football and it isn’t something that football can fix.

[jonovdp]

Did we?

[dambuster]

I believe so.

[Dons1984]

Thanks. Reflecting on the situation, you might be right. I was just making the general observation about how little we appear to be doing because I feel that having the Dreamtime game gives us a responsibility to do more than the Hawthorns of the AFL.

And by more, I’m not saying that we need to have more First Nations players on our list. Richmond is a good example with the commitment they show to First Nations players through their academy. This is a real commitment regardless of how many of those players go on to join the Tigers.

The question I’m asking is: Is the Club doing enough? we have such important historical connections with the First Nations community that I feel we are missing an opportunity that could benefit us in the long run.

I find it especially strange that we weren’t represented on that recent AFL panel on increasing First Nations representation. And on that topic, Nathan Lovett Murray would have been the perfect choice to represent us there. It might have been an opportunity to get him more involved with the Club.

[Captain_Jack]

@jonovdp

Didn’t these 2 players request a trade to us, but we refused to offer true value at the trade table?

Not quite. Hill was keen but GWS had Toby Green suspended for the first month or so of the year and refused to let him go. Rosas l don’t know about.

[Ants]

@jonovdp

There’s the rookie B list, which clubs rarely ever fill, specifically for indigenous players

Um, only for players from very specific regions for each club.

But I generally agree. If EFC gave a stuff about this we would either still have Munkara or would be giving someone from Tiwi or Darwin a go.

[Ants]

Firstly, I think our development of indigenous youth has been appalling. There was enough talent out of Mosquito, Davey x2 and Munkara that one of them (at least) should have got further. As it was 3 of them cut after their first contract. Walla also retired early and Wanganeen and Eyre went nowhere.

So, I think our development and handling has SUCKED.

However, from a recruitment perspective, it is far tougher. So many indigenous players are locked to academies or FS. The number available to recruit is far less than in the past. That said, we should do better.

[Ants]

@dambuster

Hill definitely requested a trade to us. Don’t think Rosas did. Their clubs wouldn’t let them go at the time, as they were still under contract.

My point is, we did actually attempt to bring indigenous talent to the club.

We also bid on Coleman. Did we bid on Rioli? And tried to convince Stengle to select us.