THE AFL Players’ Association has today launched the second edition of Many Stories, One Goal – Supporting Indigenous Footballers Best Practice Guidelines, with support from Indigenous Players’ Advisory Board members Shaun Burgoyne, Neville Jetta and Shane Edwards.

The launch took place in a special pop-up gallery in the Melbourne CBD and featured traditional Indigenous paintings by Hawthorn’s Jermaine Miller-Lewis, whose artwork is featured throughout the Many Stories, One Goal publication.

Building on the strong foundations set in the first edition, the updated version of Many Stories, One Goal is again dedicated to providing opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players, improving cultural awareness and shaping an inclusive industry.

Born from discussion at the 2013 Indigenous Camp, these guidelines were the first of their kind in Australian sport and have successfully empowered staff and industry stakeholders with knowledge on how to best support Indigenous players throughout their AFL career.

Recently appointed Chair of the Indigenous Players’ Advisory Board, Shaun Burgoyne, hopes that the second Many Stories, One Goal publication will continue to assist the AFL industry in understanding the varied needs of all Indigenous players.

“At the 2013 Indigenous Camp, it became clear that all Indigenous AFL players come from very different backgrounds and have different cultural obligations, so we took action to ensure that all Indigenous players have the support of the industry and their clubs,” he said.

“With nearly 10 per cent of the AFL’s total playing group identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, it’s more important than ever that the industry as a whole is taking a proactive approach to supporting Indigenous players and these guidelines provide a great foundation for that.”

AFL Players’ Association CEO Paul Marsh is proud of the progress the industry has made to date in supporting Indigenous players but recognises there is still much work to be done.

“The average playing career of Indigenous footballers is only 5.5 years, compared to 6 years for non-Indigenous players, so it’s crucial that we’re always looking to improve programs and services within the industry to allow our players to maximise their time in the game and ensure the transition for Indigenous players in and out of the AFL system as seamless as possible,” he said.

“While the progress we’re making as an industry is outstanding, there is still a lot we can be doing to ensure all Indigenous players are encouraged to grow on and off-field in a supportive and understanding environment.”

Again built on four key pillars – Induction, Our Culture, Personal/Professional Support and Club Requirements – Many Stories, One Goal provides detailed information on developing an inclusive workplace to ensure all Indigenous players are supported consistently, regardless of the club to which they are drafted.

The aim of these guidelines is to assist clubs in understanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture through the eyes of players and Indigenous Australians and to help clubs provide the support required to retain Indigenous players in the AFL system and maximise their careers.