SOME of the game’s finest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have played for the Melbourne Football Club.
As of early 2022, 30 Indigenous players have played a VFL/AFL or AFLW match for Melbourne (28 in VFL/AFL, 2 in AFLW).
Indigenous Melbourne players
Listed in alphabetical order, with Melbourne career stats. List only includes players who have played at least one VFL/AFL or AFLW match.
AFL
Les Bamblett (1983, 11 matches, 12 goals)
Convinced to join Melbourne after a chance meeting with Ron Barassi, Bamblett joined the club from Lemnos (Shepparton) and won the 1982 Morrish Medal – the Brownlow Medal equivalent – in the under 19s. He made his debut in 1983, booting two goals. It proved to be his only year with the Demons, after he crossed to the Bulldogs for the 1984 season, where he played 37 games and kicked 59 goals, including 24 matches and 51 goals in 1985 – the year the Dogs made the preliminary final. Injuries interrupted his career. His nephews are Andrew Lovett and Chris Egan, who both played in the AFL.
Dom Barry (2014, 5 matches, 0 goals)
Originally listed by GWS via its Northern Territory zone, Barry was traded to Melbourne in 2012. Barry didn’t play a match with Melbourne in his first season, but he toured Ireland with the Indigenous All Stars, as part of the International Rules Series at the end of 2013. He played five matches for Melbourne in 2014 and although he signed on with the club until the end of 2016, he decided to return to the Territory at the end of the 2014 season, citing family reasons. He re-entered the AFL via the 2017 NAB AFL Draft, being selected by Port Adelaide for the 2018 season. As a 14-year-old, Barry moved to Victoria via an Indigenous tennis scholarship.
Toby Bedford (2020-2022, 2 matches, 0 goals)
Bedford was recruited by the Demons via the 2019 AFL Draft as an Academy Selection. Recruited from the Dandenong Stingrays, Bedford had an impressive first year on the Demons' list in the VFL. A solid pre-season saw Bedford rewarded with selection in Round 1 of 2020 against West Coast. Following the COVID-19 shutdown, Bedford played one more match for Melbourne against Fremantle later in the season.
Harley Bennell (2020, 5 matches, 3 goals)
A former No.2 AFL Draft Pick in 2010, Bennell joined the Demons as a Supplemental Selection before the 2020 season. He had previously played with Gold Coast and Fremantle. Ongoing calf injuries limited Bennell's career and he missed the 2018 and 2019 seasons, before making his Melbourne debut in Round 3 of 2020. He would kick his first goal for the club a few weeks later in a win over Hawthorn at Giants Stadium. Bennell announced his retirement at the end of the 2020 season, after 88 career matches – 5 at Melbourne, 2 at Fremantle and 81 for Gold Coast. He is the cousin of Jamie Bennell.
Jamie Bennell (2009-12, 57 matches, 23 goals)
Bennell played 35 games in his first two seasons, developing as a rebounding defender. He later spent time up forward and in 2010 kicked four goals in Melbourne’s first home and away match in Darwin – a one-point win over Port Adelaide. After more than 50 games with the club, Bennell was delisted at the end of 2012 and later joined West Coast Eagles, where he added 30 games. He is the cousin of Harley Bennell.
Sean Charles (1992-97, 47 matches, 60 goals)
Charles had a dazzling debut with Melbourne, booting five goals against North Melbourne in round 10, 1992. He was just 17 years and five days old. Injuries played a big part in Charles’ career, but he managed to kick 10 goals in consecutive weeks, including five against Carlton in the 1994 qualifying final. He played with Melbourne until the end of 1997, before joining Carlton. Charles suffered a serious leg break in his first game with the Blues in 1998 – his only appearance for the club – and he later joined St Kilda, playing eight matches in 2000.
Scott Chisholm (1999-2000, 18 matches, 8 goals)
A member of Fremantle’s inaugural AFL side in 1995, Chisholm became a fine player with the Dockers, where he notched up 63 matches until the end of 1998. He was noted for his dashing style of play out of defence. Chisholm played 17 matches in his first season with Melbourne – he topped the club’s Brownlow Medal count with six votes – but played just the opening round in 2000, suffering a corked thigh.
David Cockatoo-Collins (1996-97, 2 matches, 0 goals)
The younger brother of Che Cockatoo-Collins and twin brother of Donald Cockatoo-Collins made his AFL debut in its opening round of the 1996 season against Geelong, where the Demons were smashed by 127 points. His only other appearance was against Collingwood in round 17, 1997.
Donald Cockatoo-Collins (1996-98, 9 matches, 3 goals)
Donald made his AFL debut in the same match as his twin brother David – in Melbourne’s 127-point loss against the Cats in round 1, 1996. His four games in 1997 was his best return in a season. He was delisted at the end of the 1998 season.
Aaron Davey (2004-13, 178 matches, 174 goals)
Davey came to Melbourne after impressing in the VFL for Port Melbourne, where he won the Fothergill-Round Medal for the best young player. He made his debut in the first round of 2004 and immediately had an impact, with his livewire style of play and his defensive pressure. He played 19 games in his first season – finishing runner-up in the NAB AFL Rising Star – and finished third in the best and fairest in 2005. Davey represented Australia in the International Rules Series in 2005-06, he also kicked 37 majors for the Demons in 2006. In 2009, he won Melbourne’s best and fairest award, and became a member of Melbourne’s leadership group in 2010. In 2013, Davey was again named in the Indigenous All Stars team against Ireland in the International Rules Series. Injuries played their part in the latter stage of his career, but he became one of Melbourne’s best – and most popular – players of the 2000s. He is the brother of Alwyn, who played for Essendon and is cousins with 1993 Brownlow Medal winner, Gavin Wanganeen.
Phil Egan (1991, 1 match, 0 goals)
Egan played 125 games with Richmond from 1982-90, before crossing to Melbourne for the 1991 season. He played his only game for the Demons in round 1, 1991 against West Coast, where Melbourne was defeated by 79 points.
Jeff Farmer (1995-2001, 118 matches, 259 goals)
‘The Wizard’ was an electrifying player for Melbourne. Originally tied to Fremantle’s inaugural list, he was swapped to Melbourne and made his debut in round 1, 1995. He booted a goal with his first AFL kick and quickly became a favourite with the demon faithful. In 1998, he provided two great highlights – a brilliant, running goal against Hawthorn and a screamer against Richmond. Farmer spent seven seasons with the Demons, kicking 76 goals in Melbourne’s 2000 Grand Final year. In the same year, he bagged a nine-goal haul against Collingwood – all in the second half – and booted eight goals in the preliminary final against North Melbourne. In the Grand Final, he kicked an equal team-best three goals. Farmer was named All-Australian in 2000. At the end of the 2001 season, he returned to his native Western Australia and played for Fremantle from 2002-08, playing 131 games and kicking 224 goals.
Fabian Francis (1991, 1 match, 0 goals)
‘Flash’ made his AFL debut with Melbourne, playing one game against Fitzroy in 1991, before adding 22 games with the Brisbane Bears from 1993-94 and 86 matches with Port Adelaide from 1997-2001.
Jeff Garlett (2015-2019, 78 matches, 138 goals)
Garlett crossed to Melbourne after 107 games at Carlton, playing 78 games in the red and blue. He kicked 39 goals or more in a season five times, including 40 in 2015 and 42 in 2017 for Melbourne. His 48 goals for the Blues in 2011 remain his best haul in a year, while he topped Carlton’s goalkicking in 2013. He was also a NAB AFL Rising Star nominee in 2010 at Carlton. In 2017, he led Melbourne’s goalkicking and was named in the All-Australian squad. Garlett was delisted by Melbourne at the end of the 2019 season.
Colin Graham (1975-78, 35 matches, 32 goals)
Graham, a left-footer with a long kick, played 20 of his 35 matches with Melbourne in 1977 and was rewarded with 13 Brownlow Medal votes (one of the two seasons when both field umpires awarded votes on a 3-2-1 basis). He also kicked 20 goals in 1977.
Eddie Jackson (1947-52, 84 games, 10 goals)
The second Indigenous person to play for Melbourne, and the first Indigenous Melbourne premiership player. Club great Jack Mueller helped lure Jackson over to the club, after he initially was set to join Richmond. He was named Melbourne’s best first year player in 1947, was a member of the 1948 drawn Grand Final against Essendon, and played in Melbourne’s premiership win the following week. His 17 matches in 1951 was his best return in a season. His son Steven later played for Melbourne’s under 19s in 1981.
Neville Jetta (2009-2021, 159 matches, 24 goals)
Jetta made his AFL debut in round one, 2009, playing 15 matches in his first season, before injuries interrupted the early part of his career. He played 43 games in his first five seasons and was delisted at the end of the 2013 season. After being redrafted as a rookie in the lead-up to the 2014 season, it was from that season that he transformed his game, under then-coach Paul Roos. He reinvented himself and soon became one of the best small defenders in the game. In 2017, he was named in the All-Australian squad and represented Australia in the International Rules Series. Jetta was a highly respected player at Melbourne for his work both on and off the field, and he left the club in a better place than where it was at when he started.
Liam Jurrah (2009-11, 35 matches, 81 goals)
Hailing from Yuendumu in Central Australia, Jurrah made his AFL debut in 2009 and quickly became a favourite among the Melbourne faithful and the football community. He gained a NAB AFL Rising Star nomination in 2009 and kicked three bags of four goals in his first nine games that year. A shoulder injury ruined the start to the 2010 season, but he managed 21 goals in the last eight games of the season, which included the Mark of the Year in round 21. His best effort was five goals, which he achieved twice in 2010 and 2011. He led Melbourne’s goalkicking in 2011 with 40 goals from 18 games. Jurrah managed one more match in 2012, but injuries and personal issues forced him to finish with the club at the end of that season, having provided plenty of excitement during his time in the AFL.
Jay Kennedy Harris (2014-2019, 39 matches, 12 goals)
JKH was drafted by the Demons at pick No. 40 in the 2013 National Draft, going on to play 39 matches across six seasons at the club. Playing as a small forward and midfielder, he burst out of the blocks in his first pre-season game in 2014, kicking three final quarter goals to help Melbourne secure an unlikely victory against Richmond. He was also selected to play for the Indigenous All-Stars in a 2015 pre-season fixture against West Coast. Injury saw Kennedy Harris miss large portions of the season and he was delisted by the club at the end of 2019.
Andy Lovell (1988-95, 121 matches, 146 goals)
Affectionately known as ‘Chopper’ – he was a star woodchopper as a teenager and his father was a champion axeman – Lovell made his debut for Melbourne as a 17-year-old, playing 22 games in his first year, including the 1988 Grand Final. Injuries interrupted his second season – he played one game in 1989 – while he added 12 matches in 1990 and five in 1991, including both finals. He kicked four majors in Melbourne’s elimination final win over Essendon in 1991. In his last four seasons at Melbourne, from 1992-95, he became an integral part of the side, playing 81 matches. In round 21, 1993, he kicked a career-best eight goals against Richmond. He also had an outstanding finals series in 1994 – one of Melbourne’s best sides since its most recent premiership in 2021. At the end of the 1995 season, he crossed to West Coast. Lovell played 43 games for the Eagles from 1996-98. He was later an assistant coach at Geelong and the Gold Coast Suns.
Steven May (2019-present, 48 matches, 2 goals)*
May crossed to Melbourne in a high-profile trade in 2018 after 123 games at the Gold Coast Suns. The big-bodied defender co-captained the Suns alongside Tom Lynch in the 2017 and 2018 seasons. His first season at the club didn't go to plan, as he managed just eight games due to groin and hamstring injuries. May put that behind him in 2020, completing a superb year in which he finished second in the club's Best and Fairest. His 2021 campaign was equally as impressive, where the key defender earned All-Australian honours for the first time and overcame a hamstring strain to be a part of Melbourne's drought breaking premiership of 2021.
Shannon Motlop (2005-06, 10 matches, 5 goals)
Motlop arrived at Melbourne following the tragic passing of Troy Broadbridge in the Indian Ocean Tsunami. A member of the Kangaroos’ premiership side in 1999 – he played 54 matches with the Roos from 1999-2003 – Motlop joined Melbourne from North Adelaide, where he played in 2004. Although he battled hamstring injuries in his first year with Melbourne, he played in the club’s elimination final. After notching up seven matches for the Demons in 2005, he added three more in 2006. During his time at Melbourne, he played in consecutive Sandringham premierships in 2005-06 – the club’s former VFL affiliate. His brother Daniel played for Port Adelaide and North Melbourne, while his younger brother Steven played with the Cats before crossing to the Power for the 2018 season.
Byron Pickett (2006-07, 29 matches, 16 goals)
Named in the Indigenous Team of the Century, Pickett was a hard-at-it, yet outstanding player, notching up 204 AFL games from 1997-2007. He played 120 matches with the Kangaroos from 1997-2002, 55 games with Port Adelaide from 2003-05 and made 29 appearances with Melbourne from 2006-07. In 1998, he won the NAB AFL Rising Star and played in the Roos’ Grand Final loss to Adelaide. He then played in a premiership with the Kangaroos, when they beat Carlton to win the 1999 Grand Final. In 2004, he played in Port Adelaide’s inaugural flag and won the Norm Smith Medal. At the end of the 2005 season, he crossed to Melbourne and was part of the Demon’s 2006 finals campaign. He is the uncle of current player Kysaiah, and cousin to Eddie Betts.
Kysaiah Pickett (2020-present, 39 matches, 47 goals)*
The nephew of Byron Pickett as well as Neville Jetta, Kysaiah 'Kozzy' Pickett joined the Demons with pick No.13 in the 2019 AFL Draft. The small-forward earned a debut straight away, travelling west to face the Eagles in Round 1 of the 2020 season. Pickett has had a blistering start to his AFL career, earning a NAB Rising Star nomination in 2020, while playing every match in Melbourne's 2021 AFL Premiership season. He kicked 40 goals in the 2021 campaign and was awarded the Harold Ball Memorial Trophy as the club's best young player.
Isaac Weetra (2008, 2 matches, 0 goals)
Weetra made his AFL debut in the opening round of the 2008 season against Hawthorn and played the following week against Western Bulldogs – both significant losses by 104 and 95 points respectively. It was his only season at the Demons.
Matthew Whelan (2000-09, 150 matches, 15 goals)
A much-loved player among the Melbourne faithful throughout the 2000s, Whelan played 16 games in his first season and was on track to play in the club’s 2000 finals series and Grand Final but suffered a neck injury in round 19. Although injuries interrupted his second season, and the latter part of his career, he played 63 games from 2002-04 and was an integral part of Melbourne’s team for much of the 2000s. He played in Melbourne’s three consecutive finals series from 2004-06. Noted for his fierce tackling, courage and ability to rebound from defence, Whelan now works at the club as its Indigenous Project Officer.
Austin Wonaeamirri (2008, 2010-11, 31 matches, 37 goals)
Making an immediate impact in his first season and playing 18 of his 31 matches in 2008, Wonaeamirri kicked three goals in his fourth match against the Brisbane Lions and four majors the next round against Fremantle. He played a crucial role in Melbourne’s remarkable comeback win against the Dockers in round seven, 2008. He didn’t play a game in 2009, after hamstring and knee injuries sidetracked his season, while he added 13 games in 2010-11. ‘Aussie’, as he’s affectionately known, was the first Melbourne player to come from the Tiwi Islands.
AFLW
Aliesha Newman (2017-2020, 25 matches, 11 goals)
An electrifying forward, Newman was the first Indigenous women to play for Melbourne in the AFLW competition in their inaugural match against Brisbane at Casey Fields in 2017. With a background in athletics and soccer, Newman joined Melbourne as a free agent in October 2016. She was the recipient of the AFLW Goal of the Year award in 2018 for her brilliant, running goal scored against Adelaide at Casey Fields. Newman left the Demons in 2020 to join Collingwood.
Krstel Petrevski (2020-2022, 3 matches, 2 goals)
Hailing from Halls Creek - a small WA town located eight hours inland from Broome - Petrevski was selected by the Demons with Pick No. 78 of the 2019 AFLW Draft. Petrevski is the cousin of ex-AFL Demon Toby Bedford as well as Carlton's Sam Petrevski-Seton. Petrevski's first game for the Dees came in unique circumstances, as she not only debuted in a Semi Final, but also had to play in front of an empty Giants Stadium due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Petrevski added two games to her total in 2021, before a hamstring injury cut her campaign short. Acknowledging her culture and journey, Petrevski designed Melbourne's 2021 AFLW Indigenous Guernsey. She was also approached by the NRL's Melbourne Storm to design their 2021 Indigenous Jersey.
Please note: a * denotes a currently listed player
