Aboriginal Players

[1908]

Who was the first Aboriginal player, and in what year, to play in the VFL?

 

[Demonstone]

Doug Nicholls first played in 1932 for Fitzroy. Don't reckon there would have been too many before him.

 

[- PC -]

Who was the first Aboriginal player, and in what year, to play in the VFL?

Try this site..extensive records of all aborigine footballers

Says Aboriginal footballers have been involved since 1904.

Joe Johnson from Fitzroy was first

An Aboriginal: Fitzroy’s Joe Johnson became the VFL’s first Aboriginal player. He had 55 games from 1904-05, including the 1904-05 flag sides and was the first Aboriginal premiership player.

 

[Kildonan]

Try this site..extensive records of all aborigine footballers

Says Aboriginal footballers have been involved since 1904.

Joe Johnson from Fitzroy was first

An Aboriginal: Fitzroy’s Joe Johnson became the VFL’s first Aboriginal player. He had 55 games from 1904-05, including the 1904-05 flag sides and was the first Aboriginal premiership player.

55 games in just two years - that doesn't sound right to me.

 

[- PC -]

55 games in just two years - that doesn't sound right to me.

Your right , it doesnt read too good at all.

This might help

The first known player of Aboriginal descent to play at AFL level was Fitzroy’s Joe Johnson, who played 55 games, including premierships in 1904 and 1905.

I think the word ''from'' in the first link may have meant that these were the years he started or the years the historian had any records from.

 

[D/MoN]

Your right , it doesnt read too good at all.

This might help

The first known player of Aboriginal descent to play at AFL level was Fitzroy’s Joe Johnson, who played 55 games, including premierships in 1904 and 1905.

I think the word ''from'' in the first link may have meant that these were the years he started or the years the historian had any records from.

Stkildonan, the Book of VFL Finals (1981 ed.) on pages 26, 29 and 31 lists Joe Johnson as having played in three of Fitzroy's grand finals – the two winning ones in 1904 (vs. Carlton) and 1905 (vs. Collingwood), and the losing one (vs. Carlton) in 1906. So from this it looks like he's played at least three seasons of VFL footy.

Can't be stuffed right now to check for those years' teams, but in 1908 Richmond and Melbourne Univeristy joined the VFL to make it a 10-team comp. So perhaps in Joe's era there were eight (8) teams? If so, 55 games div. by 3 seasons = 18.33 games per season seems about right, ie: 16 games per season (teams playing each other twice) plus finals, allowing for some games missed through injury and/or suspension.

 

[Johnson#26]

There was a large article on Johnson in the AFL Record, Round 22 2000 - I might have another look at it.