History
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All-indigenous sides have been documented as early the turn of the 20th Century[5] and the first representative teams began playing matches after World War II.[6]
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.[7] Among the aboriginal players was James Murray, Australian Kangaroos rugby league representative. The match drew more than 10,000 spectators.[8]
Nicolls team's matches against the Northcote Football Club became an annual event becoming a regular fixture in 1945 and 1946.[9][10] The match led to a number of similar contests springing up around the country. It played a charity match against VFA club Oakleigh Football Club attracting 2,000 spectators.[11]
One of the first major representative matches was a side's defeat the Australian Capital Territory, one of the strongest sides in the country, at Manuka Oval in Canberra in 1970.[12]
In 1973, a team was assembled from the best indigenous Australians across all states and territories to tour Papua New Guinea and play against the Papua New Guinea team. It was originally also scheduled to play against Nauru's national team. Sir Douglas Nicholls accompanied the side. The Australian side lost narrowly and a return match in Australia was scheduled for an Aboriginal Australian Rules carnival to be hosted by the Australian Capital Territory[13] Papua New Guinea narrowly defeated the Indigenous Australian side at Ainslie Oval.[14][15]
All-Stars take on the VFL
In 1983 the "All-Stars" competed in a once-off post-season exhibition match in Mildura, two games were played in 1985 and another once-off game was played in 1994.
A match between the All-Stars and The Swans was proposed for Canberra in 1984, to be organised by the National Football League[16] but did not go ahead.
All-Stars take on National competition
The 1993 a bi-annual All-Stars vs Collingwood match was proposed.[17]
In 1994 disputes over player releases put the concept into doubt. The St Kilda Football Club refused to release Nicky Winmar and the West Coast Eagles refused to release Chris Lewis to play.[18]
As of 2015, the All-Stars have won six of the ten matches it has played. The record attendance for the match was 17,500, in the 2003 match against Carlton at Marrara Oval.
Uncertain future
The AFL in 2017 committed to holding a match featuring the All-Stars, however reduced its commitment to every four years.[19]
In 2018, the AFL created an All-Indigenous "All-Star" AFLX 8 player team named "Deadly" captained by Indigenous All-Star Eddie Betts. This team played in the 2019 AFLX tournament winning 1 of its 3 matches. However the AFLX format was widely criticised[20][21] as an unsuitable replacement for Australian rules matches and was soon abandoned.
Postponing a proposed 2019 match, the AFL Players' Association's Indigenous members which manage the team decided in 2017 that the match should be scheduled for every 4 years instead of 2.[22]
