Aboriginal Influence On Australian Sport

Aboriginals have inhabited Australia tens of thousands of years before any European powers had reached the land. Aboriginals lived simply lives and valued the lands which they lived on. Lifestyles of Aboriginals were threatened with the arrival of British colonizers in the late 1700s and early 1800s, who tried to integrate them into their society. The colonizers also saw the Aboriginals as a backwards, inferior people who were unable to develop. The notion that Aboriginals are inferior to whites may have caused the impacts Aboriginals have had in shaping modern Australia to be overlooked. This effect appears to be apparent in the development of Australian sport, however, Aboriginals have played a significant role in shaping Australian Rules

Marn-grook was a sport played by the some Aboriginal tribes, which had a number of similarities to Australian Rules football including the size of the field, the use of hand and foot, and the distinctive overhead mark (Hallinan 977). It was also reported that Tom Wills, who played a significant role in developing the game, played marn-grook with Aboriginal children, but this claim is unsubstantiated (Hibbins 8). While there is no certain evidence marn-grook influenced the game, it is still possible that precolonial Aboriginal traditions, notably the games they played may have influenced the game. Considering Aboriginal games tested their athleticism and dexterity, skills that are also showcased in Australian Rules football, it could be inferred that the creators of Australian Rules football may have taken this into consideration when creating the sport. The overall lack of support for claims of Aboriginal influence on the sport may be a result of the Aboriginals being seen as lesser than whites; it is possible they did not want the first authentic Australian sport to be associated with the Aboriginals. Recent efforts such as the Mabo case have been made to restore Aboriginal traditions (Hirst 11), which may have spurred recent discussion that Australian Rules football has Aboriginal influence. Even though the claims of Aboriginal influence on Australian

Racism as a result has progressed in Australian society and Australian sport in particular. Doug Nicholls, one of the first prominent Aboriginal players in the sport, was a constant target of racial abuse from his teammates which led to him transferring clubs six weeks into his career (Warren 33). Nicholls ultimately played 54 matches between 1932 and 1937, and it may be argued that his career was shortened as a result of racial abuse from fans and fellow players (Warren 33). The case of Nicholls demonstrates the intensity of race relations among whites and Aboriginals during this time period, considering efforts had not yet been made to promote equality among races. Despite the instance of bravery displayed by Nicholls, the overall lack of Aboriginal players entering the league prior to the 1980s can be attributed to discrimination against Aboriginals and Aboriginals fearing potential racial abuse. Efforts made to promote Aboriginal equality in the 1960s and 1970s (cite?) can explain the influx of players who joined the league in the late 20th century, but these players were still subject to racial