2015 Indigenous Round

Collingwood News

Collingwood v N. Melbourne Sunday May 31, 3:20pm MCG 7mate / Fox Sports 3:00pm Weather: Min 9 Max 13 Chance of rain 80%: 1-5mm Wind: WNW 27kph Betting: Collingwood $2.20 North Melbourne $1.67

Collingwood will join the AFL community in celebrating the culture and players who have helped shape Australia’s game when it meets North Melbourne during Indigenous Round at the MCG on Sunday afternoon.
Established in 2007, Indigenous Round was established to acknowledge the individuals, moments and stories woven into the rich tapestry of the game.
Fourteen Indigenous players have donned the Black and White throughout the club’s 112-year history, with Wally Lovett holding the honour of being the first native Australian to represent the club, playing 15 VFL games in 1982.
It was previously believed that Norm Le Brun, who featured in 19 games for the Black and White between 1933 and 1934, held that particular distinction.
However, research by the grand-daughter of Le Brun’s first cousin established his heritage to differ greatly from that previously assumed, with the investigation uncovering a diverse background, featuring familial links to Cape Verde, Jamaica, Scotland and Jersey.
Indigenous players have played a more prominent role for the club since Lovett’s pioneering efforts, with Leon Davis becoming the first native Australian to play 200 games for the Magpies before his retirement in 2011.
 Grand Final glory though ultimately eluded Davis, allowing Sharrod Wellingham to become the club’s first Indigenous Premiership player when he starred in Collingwood’s 2010 triumph, booting two goals in the Grand Final replay.
Recruited in 2010, Andrew Krakouer’s three goal performance in the 2011 Grand Final almost proved the catalyst to drive the Magpies to back-to-back Premierships, but the side’s last quarter fade out denied them the chance to claim a history equalling 16th flag.
Tony Armstrong and Travis Varcoe are the two Indigenous players on the club's playing list in season 2015. Varcoe won two premierships in 138 games for Geelong before making the switch to Collingwood at the end of last season.
The Collingwood players will wear a special guernsey to celebrate Indigenous Round in the round nine clash against North Melbourne.
The circles within circles represent Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, as they come together to celebrate the Indigenous Round.
The football motif is depicted, as they are coming together for the love of the game. The hands depict Collingwood's athletes reaching high.
The semi-circles depict our old people (ancestors) guiding them on their journey. The boomerang shapes are placed to mimic the fast-paced high energy movement in the game of football.
The guernsey was created by Indigenous designer Dixon Patten.
Established in 2012, the Barrawarn Program is an initiative of the CFC Foundation and AFL Sportsready, supporting young Indigenous people through education and employment opportunities, empowering youth by providing career pathways.
Barrawarn is a woi wurrung, the language of the Wurundjeri people, word for Magpie.
Barrawarn Program participants develop vocational skills and attain nationally recognised qualifications, with trainees working within AFL Victoria’s regional development areas, making a significant impact on the elite development pathway for young Indigenous people.
School based participants are placed with a range of different organisations within the cities of Yarra and Darebin in areas such as sports and business administration, and hospitality.
Recently expanded after garnering the support of the Victorian Government, the Barrawarn Program has already placed 35 Indigenous jobseekers into full-time employment at partner organisations, including Linfox, Westpac and the Peter McCallum Cancer Centre, a figure poised to grow in the year ahead.

Featuring in four AFL Grand Finals, including 2010’s drawn decider against St Kilda, Davis established himself among the upper echelons of the competition’s elite, twice earning All-Australian recognition as well as winning the Goal of the Year award in 2008.

Roll call of Indigenous footballers to have played for Collingwood
Click on each player's name to view their profile.

Travis Varcoe

Wally Lovett (1982)
Robbie Ahmat (1995-1997)
Leon Davis (2000-2011)
Richard Cole (2002-2005)
Chris Egan(2005-2008)
Brad Dick (2007-2011)
Shannon Cox (2007-2009)
Sharrod Wellingham (2008-2011)
Anthony Corrie (2009)
Kirk Ugle (2011-2012)
Andrew Krakouer (2011-2013)
Peter Yagmoor (2012)
Tony Armstrong (2014-2015)
Travis Varcoe (2015)