AS THE AFL celebrates Indigenous Round this weekend, it’s an opportune time to reflect on the contribution Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have made to the Melbourne Football Club.

Overall, 21 indigenous players have played a VFL/AFL match for Melbourne.

The first indigenous player to represent Melbourne was George ‘Nugget’ Simmonds, from Kerang, in 1924. He played four matches for the club.

It wasn’t until Eddie Jackson made his debut for Melbourne in 1947 that the club had its next indigenous player.

Jackson was regarded as one of the most skillful players of his time - his ball-handling and kicking were features of his game.

He remains the club’s only indigenous player to feature in a Melbourne premiership. He was 19th man in the 1948 flag.

Hailing from Echuca, Jackson played 84 matches for the Demons in six seasons.

Colin Graham became Melbourne’s third indigenous player, when he debuted in 1975. He notched up 35 matches in four seasons.

Next was Les Bamblett, who played 11 for Melbourne in 1983, before he crossed to the Bulldogs in 1984. Bamblett also won the Morrish Medal in 1982 - the Browlow Medal equivalent - in the now defunct under 19s.

In 1988, Andy Lovell made his debut for the Demons and played 22 of a possible 25 matches in his first year, including the grand final. He then became a fine player for the Dees.

Since Lovell’s debut, Melbourne has had 17 indigenous players represent the club in 24 years.

The Demons had seven indigenous players debut for the club in the 1990s: Phil Egan, Fabian Francis, Sean Charles, Jeff Farmer, David Cockatoo-Collins, Donald Cockatoo-Collins and Scott Chisholm.

In the 2000s, Matthew Whelan, Aaron Davey, Shannon Motlop, Byron Pickett, Isaac Weetra, Austin Wonaeamirri, Jamie Bennell, Neville Jetta and Liam Jurrah all debuted for the Dees.

Four indigenous players have played 100 or more matches for Melbourne, with Aaron Davey, currently with 156 games to his name, at the top.

Matthew Whelan, who became the first indigenous Dee to play 150 matches, is next in line.

Lovell played 121 matches for the club, before moving to West Coast, and Farmer chalked up 118 matches, before switching to Fremantle.

Pickett, who won the 2004 Norm Smith Medal with Port Adelaide, was also named in the Indigenous Team of the Century.

He is the only player in that team to have played for Melbourne, although it must be noted that when he was selected in that side, he was in his final season with the Power.

Jackson, Lovell and Farmer were also named in Melbourne’s 150 Heroes in 2008.

And Davey remains the only indigenous player to win the club’s best and fairest award - the Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott Memorial Trophy. Farmer (1997-98 and 2000) and Jurrah (2011) are the only two indigenous players to win Melbourne’s goalkicking.

Farmer kicked 76 goals in 2000, the club's most recent grand final season.

Melbourne favourite son Chris Connolly, who coached Farmer at Fremantle, said 'The Wizard' was an outstanding AFL player.

"Jeff Farmer was an amazing footballer, who kicked and created goals in many different ways," Connolly said.

"What is underestimated is his brilliant defensive skills - his chasing, tackling and ability to create turnovers."

In 2009, the club had six indigenous players on its list: Whelan, Davey, Wonaeamirri, Bennell, Jetta and Jurrah.

The sextet never played together in the one match, as Wonaeamirri didn’t play a match in 2009, as injury ruined his season. But in round 12 that year - when Liam Jurrah made his AFL debut against Essendon - Melbourne fielded five indigenous players for the first time.

In 2012, the Demons have five indigenous players on their list: Davey, Bennell, Jetta, Jurrah and rookie Kelvin Lawrence, who has yet to make his AFL debut.

It highlights the significant contribution made by indigenous players at Melbourne.

From Simmonds to Jurrah, the Demons have had some outstanding indigenous talent represent the red and blue.

Indigenous Melbourne players
(Inc. Melbourne career, matches and goals only)
1 - Les Bamblett (1983, 11 matches, 12 goals)
2 - Jamie Bennell (2009-12, 53 matches, 20 goals)
3 - Sean Charles (1992-97, 47 matches, 60 goals)
4 - Scott Chisholm (1999-00, 18 matches, 8 goals)
5 - David Cockatoo-Collins (1996-97, 2 matches, 0 goals)
6 - Donald Cockatoo-Collins (1996-98, 9 matches, 3 goals)
7 - Aaron Davey (2004-12, 156 matches, 157 goals)
8 - Phil Egan (1991, 1 match, 0 goals)
9 - Jeff Farmer (1995-01, 118 matches, 259 goals)
10 - Fabian Francis (1991, 1 matches, 0 goals)
11 - Colin Graham (1975-78, 35 matches, 32 goals)
12 - Eddie Jackson (1947-52, 84 games, 10 goals)
13 - Neville Jetta (2009-11, 30 matches, 18 goals)
14 - Liam Jurrah (2009-11, 35 matches, 81 goals)
15 - Andy Lovell (1988-95, 121 matches, 146 goals)
16 - Shannon Motlop (2005-06, 10 matches, 5 goals)
17 - Byron Pickett (2006-07, 29 matches, 16 goals)
18 - George Simmonds (1924, 4 matches, 4 goals)
19 - Isaac Weetra (2008, 2 matches, 0 goals)
20 - Matthew Whelan (2000-09, 150 matches, 15 goals)
21 - Austin Wonaeamirri (2008, 2010-11, 31 matches, 37 goals)