AFL Victoria congratulates Victorian-born talents Jy Simpkin, Jarman Impey, Jade Gresham (pictured left to right as juniors) and Karl Amon on their well-deserved selection in the 2025 Toyota Indigenous All-Stars side, set to take place in Perth on Saturday, February 15 against the Fremantle Dockers.
A total of 31 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander AFL players from 16 clubs will take part in Saturday's match, including proud Yorta Yorta men Jy, Jarman and Jade, and proud Noonuccal man Karl Amon, who grew up playing their junior footy in Victoria.
Jarman Impey has also been named in the extended leadership group for the Indigenous All Stars side, alongside Charlie Cameron and Brad Hill, with the side to be captained by Fremantle veteran Michael Walters.
Jade Gresham (Essendon) played his junior career at South Morang in Melbourne's Northern Football Netball League, winning a Best & Fairest for the Northern Knights and the Most Valuable Player for Vic Metro as a junior.
Gresham was drafted to St Kilda with Pick 18 in the 2015 National Draft, where he made club history, becoming the first South Morang player to be recruited to an AFL club since the competition became national in 1986.
In 2017, Gresham, alongside his mother Michelle, played a key role in designing St Kilda's Indigenous Round guernsey (pictured below).
“The Yorta Yorta people traditionally lived in the area surrounding the junction of the Goulburn and Murray Rivers,” Michelle said.
“Now we’re spread right across north-eastern Victoria and southern New South Wales, but the Murray and the long neck turtle will always represent our heritage.
“To have this shown on the guernsey that my son and his teammates will wear is incredibly special; it means so much to my family and I.” Michelle told St Kilda FC in 2017.
Gresham was traded from St Kilda to Essendon for the 2024 season.
Jarman Impey (Hawthorn) grew up playing for Shepparton Swans and the Shepparton Football Club, representing Vic Country in 2013 and playing for the Murray Bushrangers.
Impey was drafted to Port Adelaide with Pick 21 in the 2013 National Draft, before being traded to Hawthorn for the 2018 season.
In 2023 he helped design Hawthorn's Indigenous Round guernsey (pictured below).
North Melbourne Captain Jy Simpkin grew up in Shepparton's neighboring town of Mooroopna, playing for the Mooroopna FNC before moving to Melbourne for boarding school.
Selected with Pick 12 in the 2016 National Draft, Simpkin is a leader on and off the field, and made North Melbourne history as the first Indigenous man to captain the club when he was first appointed co-captain alongside Luke McDonald in 2023. Now the club's sole captain, he is currently one of two Indigenous captains in the league.
Proud Noonuccal man Karl Amon (Hawthorn), grew up in Victoria playing his junior footy for the Hampton Rovers in the South Metro Junior Football League.
Amon was drafted to Port Adelaide with Pick 68 in the 2013 AFL draft, and played 124 games for the Power before returning home to Victoria to play for Hawthorn for the 2023 season.
Indigenous All Stars Head Coach Xavier Clarke told afl.com.au that the selection committee were fortunate with so many talented Indigenous players available.
“It was fantastic to see so many players available to play in the game. It’s an exciting squad and I can’t wait to coach such a great list of players against Fremantle,” Clarke said.
“I am in a fortunate position of having so much talent to work with and I can’t wait to see the boys put on a show.”
The 20 players announced last week joined Fremantle’s Shai Bolton, Alex Pearce and Michael Walters, Adelaide Crows young gun Izak Rankine, 2015 Indigenous All Stars team member and current Hawthorn player Jarman Impey, Brisbane premiership players Charlie Cameron and Callum Ah Chee, West Coast premiership player Liam Ryan, 2023 Norm Smith Medallist and Collingwood Premiership player Bobby Hill, three-time Premiership player for Hawthorn and now St Kilda star Bradley Hill and Melbourne Premiership player, Kysaiah Pickett.
Tickets are on sale now and prices start at $10 for a junior under 15, and $35 for an adult, with family tickets (two adults and two juniors) only $70, allowing juniors to attend for free.
The 2025 Toyota AFL Indigenous All Stars match will take place on Saturday, 15 February 2025 at Optus Stadium in Perth, with the Indigenous All Stars taking on Fremantle as part of the AFL pre-season fixture.
For tickets and more information head to afl.com.au/allstars
Full Indigenous All Stars Squad
Callum Ah Chee – Noongar, Palyku and Nyikina, Yawuru
Karl Amon - Noonuccal
Shai Bolton - Minang and Wilman
Jase Burgoyne – Kokatha, Larrakia, Warai
Charlie Cameron – Waanyi and Lardil
Jeremy Finlayson - Yorta Yorta
Jade Gresham - Yorta Yorta
Joel Hamling - Yorta Yorta *injury replacement for Alex Pearce
Bobby Hill – Whadjuk, Ballardong, Noongar
Brad Hill – Wilmen, Noongar
Jason Horne-Francis - Wardaman
Lawson Humphries - Nyul Nyul, Oomiday, Worrora
Jarman Impey - Yorta Yorta
Joel Jeffrey – Kukatj, Wulwulam
Ash Johnson – Jaru, Kija
Liam Jones - Kija
Tim Kelly – Noongar, Wongi, Yamatji
Coen Livingstone – Balardong, Noongar
Ben Long – Anmatjerre
Steven May - Larrakia
Jesse Motlop - Larrakia
Alex Pearce - Palawa *INJURED - WILL NOT PLAY
Kysaiah Pickett – Yamatji, Noongar
Willie Rioli – Tiwi
Maurice Rioli - Tiwi
Liam Ryan – Yamatji
Izak Rankine - Kokatha and Ngarrindjeri
Tyson Stengle – Wirangu
Jy Simpkin - Yorta Yorta
Michael Walters – Whadjuk, Wilmen and Ngarrindjeri
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera – Kokatha, Narangga
Zac Williams - Wiradjuri