Australian Football

Top end triumph - Aboriginal All Stars v Collingwood, 12 February, 1994

Background to the match

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Nicky Winmar at Victoria Park, April 1993.

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In round four, 1993, St Kilda played Collingwood at Victoria Park and won there for the first time in 17 seasons. After the Magpies had led by eight points at the long break the Saints, with the magical aboriginal duo of Gilbert McAdam and Nicky Winmar especially prominent, rattled on 11 second-half goals to seven to get home in the end by 22 points. Collingwood coach Leigh Matthews tried four different players on McAdam, but to no avail; the former South Alice Springs, Claremont (briefly), Waratahs and Central District player did virtually as he pleased in a virtuoso performance that yielded five goals and the sustained, unbridled ire of the Victoria Park faithful.

That ire was also directed at Winmar, and the language in which it was expressed had less to do with football than with the sort of prejudices no intelligent people harbour beyond kindergarten. As the players trooped from the ground after the final siren, Winmar lifted his St Kilda jumper up to expose his torso in a gesture, aimed at the bigots in the crowd, that clearly said "I'm black, and proud - get over it!"

It was later alleged that certain Collingwood players, who ought certainly have known better, had joined in the torrent of racist abuse directed at Winmar and McAdam, while Magpie president Alan McAllister, far from endeavouring to defuse the situation, had reputedly made certain remarks that were the diplomatic equivalent of the Australian government commissioning Elle MacPherson to parade topless down the main street of Mecca during Ramadan.

Eventually, wiser heads than those resting atop shoulders of either the Collingwood president or the moronic minority in the outer prevailed, and the idea was hatched to stage an exhibition match, in Darwin, prior to the start of the 1994 AFL season, aimed at celebrating the rich diversity of Australian football, and of the many races, colours and creeds it envelops, enriches and motivates. The match would be between an 'All Star' team comprised of aboriginal footballers from throughout Australia, and a Collingwood side, aware perhaps of the responsibility attaching to its reputation as 'Australia's most popular club', eager to distance itself from the acrimonious spill-out of the events of the previous April.

The match was scheduled for 12 February 1994 at the NTFL's showpiece venue of Football Park, Marrara, and attracted a near capacity crowd of over 11,000 spectators. The Aboriginal All Stars were coached by former St Marys, South Fremantle and Richmond great Maurice Rioli, two of whose brothers, Cyril and Willie, were in the All Stars squad. All told, that squad comprised 11 players from AFL clubs, six from state League competitions, and nine from the NTFL. Indeed, every state and territory in Australia had at least one representative in the All Stars team, which was selected by Bill Dempsey, Syd Jackson and Barry Cable, along with Rioli. Perhaps the only unfortunate omission was that of St Kilda's Nicky Winmar, who had been a central figure in the controversy which had led to the match being arranged; the Saints had refused permission for Winmar to participate. However, Gilbert McAdam, who during the summer had moved from St Kilda to Brisbane, was there, as were a galaxy of other indigenous champions, some known nationally, others - no less skilled or talented - known only to, and venerated by, a local audience. With the match being transmitted by delayed telecast to the southern states this was a rare opportunity for all to occupy centre stage.

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BACK ROW (L-R): Adam Kerinaiua, Shane Cable, Warren Campbell, Jason Cockatoo, Michael Ratumah, Shane Tongerie, Derek Kickett, Dennis Dunn, Matthew Ah Mat
MIDDLE ROW (L-R): Gilbert McAdam, Russell Jeffrey, Darryl White, Jason Jones, Clinton Wolfe, Joe Smith, Wayne Hogan, Chris Lewis
FRONT ROW (L-R): Willie Rioli, Fabian Francis, Michael McLean (captain), Maurice Rioli (coach), Troy Ugle, David Skuta, Dale Kickett, Jamie Lawson

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Collingwood brought a strong side to the Top End, missing just a handful of first choice players such as Mick McGuane, Tony Francis, Scott Russell and Gary Pert, who were recovering from injuries. Given the intense media focus on the match, there could be little doubt that they would be treating it seriously. Much interest centres in the first 'official' appearance in a Collingwood jumper of former Port Adelaide and Brisbane star Nathan Buckley. The son of former Woodville player Ray Buckley, young Nathan had moved with his parents to Darwin, where his father became heavily involved in local football, at an early age, and had spent most of his formative years there. His first senior football had been played with NTFL side Southern Districts, and there were numerous members of the All Stars team who would be all too ready to remind him, at every opportunity, of his humble beginnings.

Practice match, cultural celebration, football extravaganza, gesture of rapprochement - however you might happen to regard it, it would be hard to deny that the 1994 Aboriginal All Stars versus Collingwood game was a triumph; for football, for the Australian people(s), and most especially - at the risk of becoming sententious - for the human spirit.

On a much more mundane note, the match was one of the first to feature the experimental use of three central umpires, a system which was officially adopted by the AFL the following year. Quarters were of 20 minutes duration, plus time on, prefiguring the arrangement that would apply, for the first ever time, to AFL games in 1994 (prior to this, each quarter had lasted for 25 minutes, plus time on, although the definition of 'time on' that would apply from 1994 was a somewhat more stringent one).

Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating, a Collingwood supporter, tossed the coin prior to the start of the game. The toss was won by All Stars captain Michael McLean, who elected to kick with the aid of a slight breeze. (Much too slight, if you asked most of the players, given that the game was being played in 95% humidity.)

1st Quarter

2 mins Some ferocious early tackling by the All Stars leaves their opponents in no doubt - if indeed there had been any - that this is a serious contest. However, to their credit the Magpies gird up their loins and respond in kind, and in fact it is they who open the scoring courtesy of a 'long bomb' on the run from outside 50 by Jason McCartney. Collingwood 1.0; All Stars 0.0

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4 mins All Stars full forward Dennis Dunn levels the scores from 30 metres out directly in front after being awarded a free kick for being held when not in possession by Magpie full back Craig Kelly (right). All Stars 1.0; Collingwood 1.0

10 mins Playing a slick, cohesive brand of football which belies the short time they have been training together, the Aboriginal All Stars players steadily and purposefully move the ball up field. From half back left, Dale Kickett transfers play to the opposite flank and finds Russell Jeffrey, who perfectly weighted kick hits Fabian Francis on the chest near the centre of the ground. Playing on quickly, Francis handballs to Michael McLean, whose high, thumping kick travels to the front of the All Stars' goal square where Troy Ugle is one on one with Shane Watson. Knocking the ball to ground, Ugle chases after it in the direction of half forward left. Stooping over the ball in order to gather it up, Ugle receives a gentle shove in the back from Watson, but it is enough for the umpire to award the West Coast star a free kick, from which he coolly goals. All Stars 2.1; Collingwood 1.1

20 mins After a ruck contest in the left forward pocket for the All Stars the ball goes to ground and a frantic scrimmage ensues before Derek Kickett manages to get hold of it and maneuver himself into space before firing off a quick, high kick towards full forward. Using his opponent Craig Kelly as a step ladder, Dennis Dunn gets high off the ground and looks well set to mark, only for the ball to bounce off his upper right arm. Recovering quickly, however, Dunn out paces Kelly to the loose ball, and shoots out a low handball to Fabian Francis which enables the Brisbane recruit to run into an open goal and make no mistake. All Stars 3.2; Collingwood 1.1

22 mins Standing near the front edge of the centre square, Mark Fraser accepts a low, stabbing pass from Peter Daicos before running on and firing home from a distance of close to 60 metres. All Stars 3.2; Collingwood 2.2

26 mins After Saverio Rocca is adjudged to have been taken high by Russell Jeffrey the promising Magpie spearhead calmly registers full points from a distance of 45 metres out, directly in front. Collingwood 3.3; All Stars 3.2

The All Stars add a couple of behinds to their tally before the quarter time siren sounds to go into the first interval with a deserved one-point advantage.

QUARTER TIME: Aboriginal All Stars 3.4 (22); Collingwood 3.3 (21)

2nd Quarter

2 mins As players from both teams scramble on hands and knees for the ball near the left half forward flank boundary for Collingwood, it is Magpie centreman Peter Daicos who finally manages to get a handle on it and shoot out a telling handball to Butcher, whose high centering kick is marked, 25 metres from goal, straight in front, by Sanderson. An easy six-pointer ensues. Collingwood 4.4; All Stars 3.4

5 mins Warren Campbell, having marked at half forward left for the All Stars, just outside 50, ignores a couple of leads from Dennis Dunn before - thankfully for him - just squeezing the ball inside the right goal post for full points. All Stars 4.4; Collingwood 4.4

9 mins Hassell's speculative kick toward centre half forward is intercepted by Cyril Rioli who dashes off towards the centre of the ground before finding Joe Smith with a high, looping, 30 metre handball. Weighing his options carefully, Smith floats a high left foot kick into space ahead of the fast leading Warren Campbell who, leaving his opponent a good two metres in his wake, marks easily on the chest. From a distance of 40 metres on a 45 degree angle to the left of goal, Campbell's kick only just makes the distance, but is nevertheless good enough to restore the All Stars' lead. All Stars 5.4; Collingwood 4.5

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Chris Lewis

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21 min Midway between right centre wing and half forward right for the All Stars, Damian Houlihan clambers all over Chris Lewis' back at least a couple of seconds before the ball arrives and the umpire has little option but to award the West Coast wizard a free kick. Spotting a lead from Dunn in the right forward pocket, Lewis spears a pass in his direction which the St Marys spearhead sprints onto and marks safely on the chest, leaving a frustrated Craig Kelly clutching at air. From 30 metres out on a 60 degree angle Dunn's kick swings appreciably from right to left and just manages to squeeze through for a goal. All Stars 6.6; Collingwood 4.6

A couple of minutes later, Dunn misses to the right from almost the same position as his previous effort. This proves to be the last score of the first half.

HALF TIME: Aboriginal All Stars 6.7 (43); Collingwood 4.6 (30)

3rd Quarter

2 mins South Fremantle's Warren Campbell extends the All Stars lead to 19 points after winning a free kick for holding the ball against Brenton Sanderson, 30 metres from goal, almost straight in front. All Stars 7.7; Collingwood 4.6

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Damian Monkhorst

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14 mins With the All Stars players applying intense pressure all over the ground, Collingwood are finding it extremely difficult to obtain clean possessions. A case in point is Butcher's hurried attempt to clear the ball from half back left in the face of vigorous opposition harassment. Butcher finally manages to get boot to ball, but it travels almost as far vertically as it does horizontally, and Jason Cockatoo, soaring high above a flat footed Nathan Buckley, marks well. Before Buckley is fully aware what has happened, Cockatoo has scampered on to just outside 50 and hit Chris Lewis on the chest with a textbook 'grass burner'. From 30 metres out only the slightest of angles the West Coast champion is never going to miss. All Stars 8.8; Collingwood 4.6

18 mins Shane Tongerie gains possession in heavy traffic near the centre circle but is immediately flung to the ground by Peter Daicos, dislodging the ball. Paul Williams, who has just entered the fray from the eight-man interchange bench, is first upon it, and runs onward to just outside 50 before sinking his boot into a prodigious drop punt that has 'goal' written over it all the way. All Stars 8.8; Collingwood 5.6

19 mins Within a minute the All Stars have restored their 26-point advantage. With the ball midway between right centre wing and half forward right for the All Stars Warren Campbell, 20 metres from goal, is awarded a free kick after allegedly being held. A 'gimme' six-pointer ensues. All Stars 9.8; Collingwood 5.6

20 mins The Magpies' response is equally unequivocal as they run the ball in numbers through the centre of the ground before Paul Williams, having been released by a Damian Houlihan handball at half forward left, runs just inside 50 before firing home. All Stars 9.8; Collingwood 6.6

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23 mins Fabian Francis (left), having marked at half back right for the All Stars, kicks toward half forward right where an aerial contest ensues which sees the ball tumble to ground before being soccered 15 metres forward by Matthew Ahmat. Skuta collects the ball just inside 50 and, despite being almost immediately claimed in a tackle, manages to squeeze off a tumbling kick in the direction of goal. Almost unbelievably, All Stars full forward Dennis Dunn has been left unmarked by Craig Kelly, who had followed the play up field in the expectation of contributing to a Collingwood counter thrust. As a result, Dunn has plenty of time to gather up the bouncing ball, swing 'round onto his left foot, and snap truly for his third major of the game. All Stars 10.8; Collingwood 6.6

25 mins The All Stars are 'killing' Collingwood at ground level, and when the Magpies do gain possession they are being forced into elementary errors by the vigour and ferocity of their opponents' attack both ball and body. When a hasty clearing kick by Michael Gayfer is marked on right centre wing by Dale Kickett Collingwood are forced to pay the ultimate price as Kickett successfully picks out Dennis Dunn, who yet again has broken clear of the attentions of Craig Kelly. Having marked 40 metres out on a 45 degree angle to the right of goal, Dunn makes no mistake to put the All Stars 32 points to the good. All Stars 11.8; Collingwood 6.6

27 mins Nathan Buckley gathers the ball on right centre wing and, for possibly the first time n the match, has sufficient time and space to measure his options before delivering a perfectly weighted foot pass to Damian Houlihan on the right half forward flank, 45 metres from goal. As the siren sounds, Houlihan's towering drop punt gives the 'Pies a much needed lifeline going into the final quarter.

THREE QUARTER TIME: Aboriginal All Stars 11.8 (74); Collingwood 7.7 (49)

4th Quarter

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Sav Rocca

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1 min Collingwood secure a vital early goal after working the ball purposefully along the right hand side of the ground via Watson, Fraser, Hassell, Richardson and McCartney, the last named of whom holds up play before off loading by hand to Buckley. As has happened all afternoon, Buckley's proximity to the ball attracts a swarm of All Stars jumpers, whose inhabitants all seem equally desperate to be the one to 'get' him. Wise to this ploy by now, Buckley, after an initial fumble, promptly returns the ball to McCartney on the 'one-two' before disappearing under a deluge of bodies; the upshot of this 'Buckley obsession' is that McCartney is now a good 10 metres in the clear, and he makes the most of his opportunity by running on to within about 40 metres of goal before firing home. All Stars 11.8; Collingwood 8.7

3 mins At a boundary throw in on left centre wing for the All Stars, Derek Kickett leaps high above both ruckmen and thumps the ball back towards the boundary line. Before it can cross over, however, Shane Tongerie intercepts it and pumps a high left foot kick towards half forward left where All Stars forward Campbell outmarks Kerley. From just inside the 50 metre arc and on a 60 degree angle Campbell kicks truly to register his fifth major of the game. All Stars 12.8; Collingwood 8.7

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Michael McLean

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8 mins With much of the pace now having seemingly drained out of the game, Gayfer is able to amble through the centre of the ground before sending a high, floating handball to Ryan, who kicks in the direction of full forward. Despite being led to the ball by Jeffrey, Rocca gets a good deal higher off the ground than his opponent, and takes a spectacular mark form behind, before nonchalantly notching full points. All Stars 12.8; Collingwood 9.7

10 mins Willie Rioli crashes through a wall of players at right centre wing before meeting the ball and launching a high centering kick in the direction of centre half forward where Dunn and Gayfer, who has replaced Kelly at full back, contest, with the Collingwood man being adjudged to have illegally interfered with his opponent. From the resultant free kick the sinewy St Marys full forward makes no mistake to join Warren Campbell on five majors for the day. All Stars 13.8; Collingwood 9.7

21 mins After a concerted 10 minutes or so of exhilarating, Harlem Globetrotters style exhibition stuff by the All Stars, the Magpies peremptorily bring proceedings back to a kind of normality by taking route one down the middle of the ground and adding the final six-pointer of the afternoon courtesy of Rocca, who goals from 40 metres out directly in front after taking a diving mark. All Stars 13.8; Collingwood 10.7

Both sides register only minor scores during the remaining six minutes of the game.

FINAL SCORE: Aboriginal All Stars 13.10 (88); Collingwood 10.8 (68)

Aftermath

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As soon as the final siren sounded, the entire All Stars squad, proudly carrying the aboriginal flag, embarked on a lap of honour to tumultuous acclaim. There then followed a somewhat farcical awards ceremony which saw five-goal All Stars full forward Dennis Dunn and goalless centre half back Darryl White presented with commemorative didgeridoos as 'the game's joint top goalkickers', and Nathan Buckley (right) controversially given the nod as Collingwood's best player. "I agree with you," he sheepishly admitted to the booing hordes.

Less controversially, former Southern Districts and Melbourne (three games) player Fabian Francis was awarded the prize as best for the All Stars. Francis had just joined Brisbane, but would fail to settle, and would end up enjoying the best years of his career at Port Adelaide. By coincidence, both Francis and Buckley, the two 'official' best players in the game, had commenced their senior football careers in Darwin with Southern Districts, which was coached by Nathan Buckley's father, Ray.

Collingwood went on to win 12 out of 22 home and away games in 1994 to squeeze into the finals, on percentage, in eighth place. However, a trip to Subiaco to meet minor premiers West Coast quickly put paid to the Magpies' season. The club would not contest the finals again until 2002.

Instances of racial abuse still arise in football, but the AFL has done much to address the issue, and there are now more aboriginal players than ever before competing on football's highest stage.

Match summary

BEST
All Stars: Francis, Dale Kickett, Tongerie, Campbell, W.Rioli, Dunn, Lewis
Collingwood: Butcher, Houlihan, Williams, Fraser, Buckley

GOALS
All Stars: Campbell, Dunn 5; Francis, Lewis, Ugle
Collingwood: Rocca 3; McCartney, Williams 2; Fraser, Houlihan, Sanderson

Attendance: 11,000 approx. at Football Park, Marrara