Flair. Instinct. Pride. Passion.
The Indigenous All Stars promised all of the above and delivered in Saturday’s entertaining pre-season game at Optus Stadium, opening with a war dance before bouncedown and expressing themselves with quick feet, sure hands and inventive minds.
On the land of the Whadjuk people of the Noongar Nation, the All Stars played with an impressive symmetry for a team that was combining for the first time against a well-drilled unit, albeit missing some key parts, that is expected to push the top four this season.
The All Stars shuffled, shimmied and surged and played with the connectivity Indigenous footballers are famous for. They burnt Fremantle with speed and finished full of running, winning by 43 points, 16.12 (108) to 9.11 (65), Yothy Yindi’s Treaty blaring over the speakers at the final siren.
What a pity AFL fans don’t get to watch this team every week because it would be one …