As the AFLW’s Indigenous Round highlights the remarkable stories and designs representing Australia’s First Nations communities, questions are being raised about the league’s commitment to Indigenous female talent. Tanya Hosch, the AFL Executive General Manager of Inclusion and Social Policy, is urging the AFLW to do more to develop pathways and support systems for Indigenous women in football.
Declining Numbers Spark Concern
Currently, only 20 Indigenous players are represented across the AFLW’s 18 teams, a concerning drop from 26 in 2023. The men’s AFL is experiencing a similar trend, with projections suggesting Indigenous player numbers could hit their lowest point since 2014. Hosch emphasizes that while the covid lockdowns certainly interrupted participation, the core issues lie in the league’s talent development structures.
Gaps in the Next Generation Academies
A glaring oversight, according to Hosch, is the complete absence of women in the AFL’s Next Generation Academies (NGA) system. “There’s been recent changes to the NGA for which women don’t have a place at the moment so there will be a review and some strategy work to really have a good look at that,” she revealed. This lack of early talent identification and development for young Indigenous girls is a major barrier to progression.
Listening to Indigenous Communities
Hosch also stressed the importance of actively engaging with Indigenous communities to understand their unique needs and cultural considerations. “A lot of that work needs to be done by non-Indigenous people to make sure that they’re doing that listening and learning and adapting and accommodating for that cultural difference,” she explained. This includes recognizing the diversity within Indigenous cultures and tailoring support accordingly.
What clubs have done to support the careers of indigenous men isn’t going to be the same as what we need to do to support indigenous women.
– Tanya Hosch, AFL Executive General Manager – Inclusion and Social Policy
Harnessing the Power of Role Models
Events like the Dreamtime game between Essendon and Richmond in Darwin provide powerful inspiration for young Indigenous girls to pursue their football dreams. Seeing elite Indigenous women on the big stage in their own community sends a strong message. However, Hosch cautions against making assumptions about what those communities need and instead advocates for creating space for them to voice their own requirements.
The Untapped Potential of Indigenous Talent
Despite the current challenges, Hosch remains optimistic about the incredible potential of Indigenous women in the AFLW. “There’s so much talk about the incredible talent of the Indigenous women… they’re already boxing above their weight in terms of making an impact in the game but we do really need to put in a lot more work to make sure that those pathways are easy for people to navigate so that they can reach their potential and fulfill their aspirations,” she affirmed.
A Call to Action
As the AFLW looks ahead to its 10th year in 2025 under new leadership, the time is ripe for a comprehensive review and overhaul of Indigenous talent pathways. Hosch’s powerful words serve as a rallying cry for the league to step up its commitment to Indigenous inclusion and empowerment. With focused efforts on early talent identification, culturally sensitive support, and amplifying Indigenous voices, the AFLW has the opportunity to harness the immense untapped potential of Indigenous women’s football and create a more equitable and representative future for the game.
