Richmond to face Indigenous All-Stars in exhibition match in Alice Springs Al Paton
Herald Sun
December 15, 2012 THE AFL will use the Indigenous All-Stars' clash against Richmond to help clubs improve their understanding of issues facing Aboriginal players.
The Tigers will face the All-Stars in Alice Springs in February.
The match will be followed by the AFLPA Indigenous Player Camp, which brings together all indigenous players on AFL lists.
“In addition to the All-Stars program, we are again inviting key staff from AFL clubs to attend to further develop their capacity and cultural understanding of Indigenous people,” AFL national community engagement manager Jason Mifsud said.
Mifsud has come under fire for his lack of engagement with Indigenous players at junior levels who are may be struggling with the professionalism required to make it in the AFL.
It is the second time the Tigers have scheduled a match against the Indigenous All-Stars and they will be hoping to actually take the field this time.
The two sides were scheduled to play in February this year but the match was moved from Darwin to Alice Springs to dodge tropical storms then abandoned because of severe weather in the red centre.
Next year's match will be played on February 8 at Traeger Park, Alice Springs.
“We are proud to be involved in the Indigenous All-Stars match. It’s important that we celebrate the outstanding contribution the Indigenous community has made to our game and the All-Stars game is a great way to do that," Richmond CEO Brendon Gale said.
The Tigers were already planning to fly to Alice Springs for their community camp.
Stars Jack Riewoldt and Brett Deledio had a distraction from usual tough pre-season training today when they joined players from Big Bash League sides Melbourne Stars and Hobart Hurricanes for a hit in the MCG nets.
The Indigenous All-Stars have not played since 2009, when they defeated Adelaide by 54 points.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/afl/richmond-to-face-indigenous-all-stars-in-exhibition-match-in-alice-springs/story-e6frexx0-1226536946065Indigenous All Stars to play Tigers in Red CentreABC Updated December 14, 2012, 3:55 pmThe AFL has confirmed an Indigenous All Stars team will play Richmond at Alice Springs next year.
The match will be staged at Traeger Park in February.
Former Sydney Swans star Michael O'Loughlin will coach the All Stars and will be assisted by Roger Hayden, Troy Cook and Andrew McLeod.
The match will be part of a biennial event and 67 Indigenous AFL players will take part.
AFL Central Australia chief Andy Hood says a football clinic being hosted during the game week will be a "once in a lifetime" opportunity for the region's footballers.
Mr Hood says the game and players camp will provide a boost for football in Central Australia.
"We have actually got about 120 AFL players in Alice Springs from Tuesday right through to Saturday," he said.
"Both the All Stars and the Richmond Tigers have got their community camps in Alice Springs and there's a big super-clinic on the Wednesday.
"I don't think there will be an opportunity like this again.
"To have both these teams for a super clinic on Traeger Park is just amazing."
Tickets for the match are on sale.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/latest/a/-/article/15639145/indigenous-all-stars-to-play-tigers-in-red-centre/
