Indigenous Sports Book Display 2025

A new book display exploring the powerful connection between Indigenous identity and AFL, a sport that has long been a space for First Nations excellence, resilience and pride, is now featured on level 3 of Fisher Library. Curated by Tanisha Naylor-Moran, the Library’s Indigenous Events and Engagement Trainee and proud Aniwan woman, the display celebrates the legacy and cultural strength of Indigenous athletes in AFL.

Inspired by her love of sport and culture, Tanisha’s vision brings together stories, materials and voices that highlight how AFL continues to be a vessel for storytelling, connection and legacy. Having spent most of her time on Gadigal Country, this display is her way of honouring how Indigenous athletes have shaped AFL and continue to inspire through their connection to community, identity and legacy.

The display features a range of materials that explore the history and significance of Indigenous involvement in AFL, from books and journal articles in print and digital formats. It celebrates the legacy of First Nations athletes and the powerful role sport plays in strengthening cultural identity and community connection.

This project is a celebration of mob who had a dream and stuck with it, and a tribute to the oldest living culture in the world. It’s about walking in the footsteps of those who came before and leaving a legacy for those to come.

The display is located in the Fisher Library Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student Space, with posters and QR codes linking to online resources for deeper exploration. The exhibition will run from late September to November 2025, inviting all students, staff and visitors to engage with the stories, voices and cultural pride that make AFL a powerful space for Indigenous identity. For those unable to visit in person, many of the featured resources are accessible online. Please see full list below.  

Note: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are advised that this display may contain images or names of people who have passed.

Below is a complete resources list currently on display:

- Gorman, S. (2011). Legends : the AFL Indigenous Team of the Century. Aboriginal Studies Press.

- Hylton, K. (2018). ‘Race’, sport coaching and leadership. In Contesting “Race” and Sport: shaming the colour line (1st ed., pp. 24–41). Routledge.

- Winmar, N., & Hardy, M. (2023). Nicky Winmar : my story : from bush kid to AFL legend. Allen & Unwin.

- Heiss, A., Goodes, A., & O’Loughlin, M. (2016). Kicking goals with Goodsey and magic. Piccolo Nero.

- Maynard, N., & Melbourne Theatre Company. (2024). 37. Currency Press.

- Dempsey, B., & Hawke, S. (2021). The boy from Birdum : the Bill Dempsey story. Magabala Books.

- Lawrence, D., & Ware, S. (2017). Japarrika. Indigenous Literacy Foundation.

- Lawrence, D., & Ware, S. (2020). Ngiya Yintanga Japarrika. Indigenous Literacy Foundation.

- Birdum, C., Brooking, B., Driver, H., Gill, J., Joshua, D., Lawrence, D., Maxwell, L., Nuggett, K., Wing, T., Hachette Australia, sponsor, Hawthorn Football Club, sponsor, Indigenous Literacy Foundation, issuing body, & Katherine High School, author. (2018). Damo makes his mark (J. Gill, Ill.). Indigenous Literacy Foundation.

- Seden, P. (2014). Kick with my left foot (K. Briggs, Ill.). Allen & Unwin.

- Betts, E. (2022). The boy from Boomerang Crescent (A. Clarke; J. Latimore, Ed.). Simon & Schuster.

- Bamblett, L. (2013). Our stories are our survival. Aboriginal Studies Press.

- Phi Epsilon Kappa. (1940). Teaching Australian Indigenous Games and Sports Post-Pandemic: Reimagining and Reforming. The Physical Educator, 80(5), 508–526. Georgakis, S. (2023).

- Sartori, A., Stoneham, M., & Edmunds, M. (2018). Unhealthy sponsorship in sport: a case study of the AFL. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 42(5), 474–479.

- Tatz, C., & Tatz, P. (2018). Black pearls : the Aboriginal and Islander sports hall of fame. Aboriginal Studies Press.

-  Tatz, C., & Tatz, P. (2000). Black gold : the Aboriginal and  Islander sports hall of fame. Aboriginal Studies Press.

- Spaaij, R. F. J. (2011). The social impact of sport : cross-cultural perspectives. Routledge.

- O’Neill, T., & Jager Productions. (2012). Barassi. Currency Press in association with Jager Productions.

- Harris, B. (1989). The proud champions : Australia’s Aboriginal sporting heroes. Little Hills.

- Kell, P. (2000). Good sports : Australian sport and the myth of the fair go. Pluto Press.

- Kilvington, D., & Price, J. (2017). Sport and discrimination ([1st ed. 2017. P 44-55].). Routledge.

- Hallinan, C., & Judd, B. (2012). Duelling paradigms: Australian Aborigines, marn-grook and football histories. Sport in Society, 15(7), 975–986. Routledge.

- Gorman, S., & Oliver, P. (2018). Working into space: Agency, motivation, identity: Indigenous players in the Australian Football League. In C. Acton & D. Hassan (Eds.), Sport and Contested Identities (1st ed., pp. 209–227). Routledge.