Bulldogs celebrate NAIDOC Week against Tigers

SOUTH Fremantle could very well have the richest Indigenous heritage of any football club in the country and this Saturday the Bulldogs host Claremont in what has now become the traditional NAIDOC Week match at Fremantle Oval.

South Fremantle's heritage of Indigenous players includes the club having named its own Indigenous Team of the Century in 2009, having four Bulldogs players named in the AFL's Indigenous Team of the Century and had almost 100 players of Aboriginal backgrounds representing the club.

NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islander Day Observational Committee with the committee originally responsible for organising the national celebrations.

South Fremantle and Claremont have set the standard in the WAFL with NAIDOC celebrations largely because of the Indigenous players historically who have come through their ranks, including Stephen Michael, Wally, Phil and Peter Matera, Jeff Farmer, Maurice Rioli, Nicky Winmar (South Fremantle), and Jim and Phil Krakouer, Irwin Lewis and son Chris (Claremont).

South Fremantle will again be represented on Saturday at Fremantle Oval by some Indigenous youngsters as well with Kaiden Matera, Jacob Martinez and Tim Kelly to at least be two Aboriginal players running out there.

Claremont will also likely be represented by Nick Winmar, the cousin of South Fremantle legend Nicky, while Casey Sibosado will play in either the reserves or league side for the Tigers.

The Bulldogs and Tigers have now met in NAIDOC Week clashes each year since beginning the concept in 2007.

Claremont won that first clash at Fremantle Oval but South Fremantle was represented by Keith Pickett, Keren Ugle, Tommy Corbett-Wynne and Peter Narkle.

The Tigers again won by 10 points in 2008 again at Fremantle Oval with Ugle and Shane Tipuamantamerri playing for the Bulldogs before South Fremantle thumped Claremont at the port in 2009 by 78 points.

Ugle, Jeff Farmer and Toby McGrath played that day for South Fremantle with Jayden Woods lining up for Claremont.

Claremont got back to the winner's list in 2010 winning by 27 points with McGrath representing South Fremantle and Jarrod Ninyette lining up for the Tigers.

It was played at Claremont Oval in 2011 with the Tigers winning a thriller by three points with Alroy Gilligan and Gerrick Weedon playing for Claremont, and Woods and McGrath for South Fremantle.

Last year, Claremont also won by 55 points at Claremont Oval with Weeden playing for the Tigers and Woods and Jordan Wilson-King for the Bulldogs.

It has become an annual event for the WAFL to celebrate NAIDOC Week with the clubs wearing special jumpers designed by Aboriginal artist Richard Walley which continue to be a big hit with the artwork made up on them.

The NAIDOC Week celebration only continues to showcase South Fremantle and its rich history with Indigenous footballers.

Back in 2005, four South Fremantle products were given the biggest accolades possible with Stephen Michael, Maurice Rioli, Nicky Winmar and Peter Matera all named in the AFL’s Indigenous Team of the Century which recognised the great Indigenous players from 1904 to 2004 from across Australia. 

The South Fremantle Football Club then followed suit in 2009 and named its own Team of the Century that reads like a who's who of the great Indigenous footballers that the game has seen.

It was far from an easy task to pick the best 22 either from the 78 players at the time that had represented South Fremantle dating back to Jimmy Melbourne who was the first Aboriginal to play senior football in Australia.

As in any such team there are hard luck stories to miss out and selectors Mal Brown, Brian Ciccotosto and Ray Wilson rated life member and premiership player Keren Ugle, Ashley Sampi, Cory McGrath, Warren Campbell, Willie Rioli, Michael Cockie and Shane Tipuamantamerri as the unluckiest casualties.

The quality of those products is highlighted by the fact that some of the team, named at a gala dinner prior to the traditional NAIDOC Week clash against Claremont, are all-time greats of the game.

Ruckman Stephen Michael, the entire centre-line of Peter Matera, Maurice Rioli and Nicky Winmar, and forward pockets Jeff Farmer and Phil Matera, are just some of the names that have been acknowledged as champion players nation-wide.

Current or recently-retired AFL players Ashley McGrath (Brisbane Lions), Shannon Cox (Collingwood), Roger Hayden (Fremantle) and Mark Williams (Hawthorn) all earned a spot.

While Peter and Phil Matera (West Coast) and Winmar (St Kilda and Western Bulldogs) didn’t spend a lot of time in the red-and-white jumper, they all acknowledge the role South Fremantle played in their development up to the AFL ranks.

Former great Bill Hayward was named on the interchange and his career dates back to the 1936 and 37 seasons.

Toby McGrath and Jeff Farmer were both current players named in the team at the time.

It was a real family affair as well with the Matera's (Peter, Phil and Wally), McGrath's (Toby and Ashley), Michael's (Stephen and Clem), Rioli's (Maurice, Sebastian and Dean) and Collard's (Brad and Cliff) all selected.

Stephen and Clem Michael form the father-son combination in the ruck with the legendary Stephen also named captain, with Maurice Rioli his deputy and Mal Brown coach, after being at the helm during the careers of nine of the 22 players selected.

SOUTH FREMANTLE'S INDIGENOUS TEAM OF THE CENTURY

BACKS: Ashley McGrath, Shannon Cox, Roger Hayden

HALF BACKS: Willie Roe, Basil Campbell, Toby McGrath

CENTRE: Peter Matera, Maurice Rioli, Nicky Winmar

HALF FORWARDS: Dean Rioli, Stevan Jackson, Benny Vigona

FORWARDS: Jeff Farmer, Mark Williams, Phil Matera

RUCKS:

Stephen Michael

Brad Collard

Wally Matera

INTERCHANGE: Bill Hayward, Cliff Collard, Sebastian Rioli, Clem Michael

By Chris Pike