Footy's Indigenous Greats

May 17, 2010. Job Anderson heraldsun.com.au.
Image - Sam Ruttyn. Dual Brownlow Medalist Adam Goodes grabs a mark against Essendon at the SCG last year.

In the week where Essendon and Richmond pay homage to the indigenous contribution to our great game, Jon Anderson selects the finest of them all.


Few would argue with the incomparable “Polly” Farmer retaining his position as the best Aboriginal footballer ever to pull on a boot at the top level, but there are several rivals to Barry Cable as next best.
It comes down to what you are looking for in a player.
For what it's worth , here are my top six.
1: Graham “Polly” Farmer, MBE: Remains the benchmark for all Indigenous players. Played a total of 356 games with East Perth (176) Geelong (101) and West Perth (79), winning Premierships with each team and six in total. He also won 10 club best and fairests, three Sandover medals as best in the WAFL, four Simpson medals, a Tassie medal and is in teams of the century for the AFL, plus Indigenous, East Perth, Geelong and West Perth teams.
2: Barry Cable: As dominant as Farmer was in the ruck, so was Cable as a rover in 384 matches for Perth (225) North Melbourne (116) and East Perth (43). He won seven best and fairests with Perth and one at North Melbourne, three premierships at Perth and two at North Melbourne. Like Farmer he won three Sandovers but managed one extra Simpson medal with five.
3: Adam Goodes: In 260 matches with Sydney, Goodes has established himself as a player capable or turning a match in a short period of time. He has won two club best and fairests in the same years that he won the Brownlow (2003-2006). An All-Australian three times, Goodes can play any role on the field.
4: Peter Matera: Five times All-Australian, a best and fairest with the Eagles in 1997 and 253 games with 216 goals. But Matera will forever be remembered for his 1992 performance in the West Coast Premiership win over Geelong. Five goals from a wing turned the game. Good enough later in his career to re-invent himself from a wingman into a fine half back flanker.
5: Andrew McLeod: Two Norm Smith medals when he changed Grand Finals into Premierships for Adelaide in 1997-98. Has played more AFL games (335) than any other indigenous player. Has won three best and fairests at Adelaide and finished second five times. Also has won All-Australian selection five times.
6: Jim Krakouer: Krakouer, 51, was a rover in the truest sense of the word. He kicked 229 goals in 134 games with North Melbourne, winning the goalkicking in 1983-86-88 and best and fairest in 1986. He and younger brother Phil shared a unique understanding on the field. Jimmy was named rover in the Indigenous team of the century.
Unlucky to miss: A number of highly skilled players including Michael Long, Maurice Rioli, Syd Jackson, Phil Krakouer, Michael O’Loughlin, Chris Lewis, Stephen Michael, Chris Johnson, Darryl White, Gavin Wanganeen, Nicky Winmar, Cyril Rioli, Adam Davey, Michael McLean, Byron Pickett, Bill Dempsey, Norm McDonald, Chris Johnson and the Burgoyne brothers, Peter and Shaun.
 
Great story - love the pic!