The landscape of Australian football is undergoing a significant shift, with the National Rugby League (NRL) embracing a growing multicultural identity while the Australian Football League (AFL) appears to be becoming increasingly homogenous, sparking concern at AFL headquarters.
The NRL has been on a trajectory towards greater diversity for some time. Currently, a substantial 51 per cent of its playing population identifies as Pasifika or Maori, with an additional 12 per cent being of Indigenous Australian heritage. Examining the broader player base, approximately 27 per cent of the 550-odd NRL players were born overseas. This multicultural influence extends to their families, with 57 per cent having a father born overseas, 47 per cent a mother born overseas, and a significant 68 per cent having at least one grandparent born overseas.
In stark contrast, the AFL is facing a different reality. The elite level of the game is experiencing a noticeable trend towards a more “white” demographic. Only about 14 per cent of the 800-odd AFL players are classified as “multicultural,” meaning they were either born overseas or have at least one parent born overseas.
While there has been a positive increase in players of African descent, the numbers remain modest, with an average of only about one such player per club. Hopes are high that this figure will see substantial growth over the next decade or two.
More alarmingly, the representation of Indigenous Australians in the AFL is in decline, a situation that has thrown the league into a state of panic. Currently, only 62 listed players, or a mere 7.5 per cent of the playing group, are Indigenous. This represents a significant drop from 86 Indigenous players in 2020 and marks a 20-year low. The situation is even more concerning when considering the expansion of the league, which now comprises 18 clubs, up from 16 just two decades ago. Despite an overall increase in the number of players in the league, the number of Indigenous players has unfortunately decreased.
The trend is underscored by recent draft figures. In 2025, a mere nine First Nations players were selected in the AFL draft, while 11 Indigenous players retired from the league. To address this worrying trend, the AFL has set an ambitious target of having 81 Indigenous players by 2030 and is exploring radical incentives for clubs to recruit First Nations talent. One proposed measure includes mandating dedicated Indigenous list spots for each club.
Taryn Lee, the AFL’s general manager for First Nations engagement, acknowledged the challenge, stating, “We will work with clubs to better understand what other incentives will be meaningful and aligned to KPIs.” However, critics argue that such management speak often masks the core issues. The fundamental question facing the AFL is why clubs appear to be overlooking highly talented Indigenous players, some of whom may come from challenging backgrounds, in favour of readily available private school graduates who can more easily integrate into established club structures.
The numbers provide a stark illustration of this phenomenon. An astonishing 70 per cent of all AFL players have received a private school education. In 2024, a significant 24 of the top 30 draft picks attended private schools, with many hailing from Melbourne-based institutions like Xavier College and Caulfield Grammar.
Professor John Funder AO, a distinguished Victorian scientific and medical researcher, conducted an extensive study into the educational backgrounds of AFL players. His research revealed a “four times rule,” indicating that a young player’s chances of being drafted are four times higher if they attended a private school compared to a public school. This situation is attributed to an “arms race” among private schools, fueled by substantial funding, elite sporting facilities, and aggressive scholarship programs.
Outstanding junior athletes are actively recruited by private schools, where they receive top-tier coaching and access to first-class facilities. Within these school programs, Indigenous players are a minority. A notable example is Cyril Rioli, who left the Tiwi Islands as a teenager to pursue a scholarship at Scotch College. Consequently, AFL clubs are more inclined to recruit players emerging from these established systems, as they are perceived to be well-drilled, expertly coached, and “push button ready” for the demands of an elite professional environment. In contrast, Indigenous players from remote Australian communities may face more complex life circumstances than their private school counterparts from affluent Melbourne or Geelong Grammar.
Recent race-related controversies at clubs like Hawthorn, Adelaide, and Collingwood have brought these cultural issues to the forefront. The net result for the AFL is an increasing number of elite private school graduates entering the league, coupled with a concerning decline in Indigenous representation. This cycle begins with elite schools actively seeking out talented young athletes, as football success often pleases their well-resourced “old boys’ networks.” The satisfaction of these former students can translate into greater donations, leading to even better gym facilities and coaching staff. For instance, former Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd coaches at Haileybury, where he has led the First XVIII to multiple premierships.
Melbourne Grammar boasts the “Marn Grook club,” a group formed by old boys and parents with the sole purpose of boosting the school’s football program. Similar dynamics are observed in Brisbane and Sydney, where GPS schools pursue rugby success, recognising that First XV glory often leads to increased generosity from their alumni.
While the AFL may implement various incentives and programs to address its First Nations issue, it must first confront this fundamental problem of how talent is identified and nurtured.
Meanwhile, the NRL, while rightly celebrating its growing multiculturalism, also faces its own set of challenges. Some parents are hesitant to have their children participate in age-group competitions where children of Polynesian backgrounds may be physically larger than their Caucasian counterparts of the same age. Polynesian communities are naturally drawn to rugby league for several reasons: the sport is deeply ingrained in their island cultures, and upon migrating to Australia, they often settle in Queensland and New South Wales, regions geographically closer to their homelands than the southern states. Furthermore, their natural physiques are often perceived as being more suited to the demands of rugby league than Australian Rules football.
The sheer size of some Polynesian youngsters can be intimidating for both parents and potential young players, leading some to opt for sports like soccer to avoid physical confrontation. This is a solvable issue, and weight-based competitions could offer a viable solution, but progress in this area has been notably slow from officials.
