AFL mulls Indigenous list spot after CEO consultation

The AFL is weighing two options for a dedicated Indigenous list spot following a meeting led by chief executive Andrew Dillon with senior Indigenous players and club staff this week.

Clubs were subsequently briefed on Friday on possible timelines and implementation details.

Key Points

Mr Dillon chaired an online meeting earlier this week with Indigenous players and staff from across the competition as part of the AFL CEO’s regular engagements with the group. The discussion followed the conclusion of the Sir Doug Nicholls Rounds over the past fortnight.

Current and former players took part. Represented among current players were Kysaiah Pickett, Karl Amon, Toby Bedford, Charlie Cameron, Jy Farrar, Arthur Jones, Jarman Impey, Maurice Rioli, Zac Williams, Jack Martin and Lawson Humphries. Former players involved in club roles also attended, including Chance Bateman (West Coast), Shaun Burgoyne (Port Adelaide), Anthony Corrie (Brisbane), Jarrod Harbrow (Gold Coast), Shane Edwards (Adelaide) and Brett Goodes (Geelong). Indigenous player development managers from nearly all clubs were present.

AFL executives chief operating officer Tom Harley and general manager of First Nations engagement and inclusion Taryn Lee joined the session. The League used the forum to brief participants on a range of topics, including the ongoing work to develop an additional list spot for Indigenous players.

The article also referenced cultural celebrations during Sir Doug Nicholls Round, noting Arthur Jones, Zac Williams, and debutant Jack Ison joining in a cultural dancing ceremony to mark the occasion.

Two pathways for an Indigenous list spot

Following the player and staff consultation, a working group of club representatives — including list bosses, football bosses and chief executives — was briefed on Friday about two options under consideration for additional Indigenous list spots.

• Option 1: Introduce an additional category B rookie list position in either the 2027 or 2028 season. The League indicated this position would carry strict eligibility criteria
• Option 2: Establish a trial program during the 2026-2027 summer, allowing each club to invite one Indigenous player to the pre-season and then retain pre-listing rights to that player for the 2028 season

The second option is contingent on the AFL deciding to wait until 2028 to introduce the additional list spot. Under either approach, the extra list position would be optional rather than mandatory for clubs.

The concept of adding a category B rookie list spot would apply to both the AFL and AFLW competitions. The development aligns with new AFL targets aimed at increasing the number of Indigenous players in both leagues by 2030.

Timelines, participation and next steps

While the League has not finalised a start date, the timing windows discussed were the 2027 or 2028 seasons for a new category B rookie position, with the possibility of a 2026-2027 pre-season trial tied to 2028 pre-listing rights if the later introduction date is chosen. The AFL advised that any additional list spot would not be compulsory, leaving uptake to the discretion of individual clubs based on their list strategies and development pathways.

The latest meeting with players and club staff formed part of Mr Dillon’s ongoing series of engagements with Indigenous leaders within the game. Participants from across the competition — including player development managers and former players now embedded in club structures — were briefed on the evolving framework and the potential mechanisms to pilot or implement an additional list position. The Friday follow-up with list and football managers, as well as chief executives, focused on the technical and timing considerations that would guide any eventual roll-out.

The League’s communication emphasised that both options remain under active consideration and that the selection between them will hinge on final decisions about timing. If the AFL proceeds with a 2028 start, the pre-season trial would provide a bridge for clubs to identify and work with prospective Indigenous talent ahead of the list mechanism’s introduction, while preserving pre-listing rights through to the 2028 season. If the AFL opts for a 2027 start, the category B position could be activated without the intervening trial phase.

Clubs now have further clarity on the pathways being explored, the prospective windows for adoption, and the voluntary nature of any additional Indigenous list position. The AFL indicated that eligibility rules would be carefully defined, with the category B designation signalling a structured approach to how clubs could recruit and develop Indigenous talent under the proposed spots.