From the moment the first West Coast Eagles squad was assembled there has been a deep connection between the club and Indigenous players.

That initial 35-man list included three first Australian descendants – Wally Matera, Phil Narkle and Chris Lewis. Exceptional young men and immensely talented players.

Narkle was already recognised as an all-Australian and Sandover medallist, a gifted wingman from Bunbury who was a wonderful contributor to Swan Districts and was then recruited by St Kilda.

Matera was the first of three exceptional brothers to play for the club. A plucky rover he later played with distinction at Fitzroy and like those who followed his pathway to elite football, first played with great success at South Fremantle

Lewis was one of the outstanding young players of his generation, a personification of skill and class. In 1990 he was probably the best player in the competition, when he won both the Club Champion Award and all-Australian selection.

He was just 21 at the time and played in two premierships and 215 games for the Eagles – the second Indigenous player behind Nicky Winmar to play 200 AFL games – and was both a wonderfully balanced and natural footballer.

From the time that Lewis debuted in the club’s first game in March 1987 against Richmond, to last Saturday when Jamaine Jones stepped out for the first time in Eagles colours 34 Indigenous players have represented the club.

Many more have been on the club’s list without cracking a game, but we have been gloriously entertained by all of them. 

Lewis was player No.12 in the order of representation, while Jones became No.250 when he played against Port Adelaide.

Seven Indigenous players are premiership heroes – Lewis (1992 and 1994), Peter Matera (1992 and 1994), Shane Bond (1994), David Wirrpanda (2006), Lewis Jetta (2018), Liam Ryan (2018) and Willie Rioli (2018).

Lewis, Matera (253) and Wirrpanda (227) are 200 game players for the club, while Jetta played his 200th AFL game last Saturday, 127 with Sydney and 73 with the Eagles. Significantly, in Jetta’s milestone match, the club had a record-equalling five Indigenous players in the same game.

Joining Jones and Jetta in the team were Tim Kelly, Brendon Ah Chee and Ryan. It was the 10th time in the 33-year history the club has been so strongly represented by its Indigenous culture. 

Against the Swans at Metricon Stadium on Saturday afternoon, the West Coast Eagles will wear an Indigenous guernsey designed by Darryl Bellotti, a cousin of former player Laurie, who hailed from Carnarvon and played under Mick Malthouse in the 90s.

The guernsey will be worn in recognition of NAIDOC week and provides the club with the opportunity to recognise its Indigenous players both past and present.  

Player No.

Name

Games

Player No.

Name

Games

12

Lewis, Chris

215

145

Sampi, Ashley

78

15

Matera, Wally

24

184

Cockie, Adam

7

17

Narkle, Phil

18

194

Stevens, Koby

11

37

Ugle, Troy

43

200

Weedon, Gerrick

1

42

Caton, Kevin

1

202

Hill, Josh

107

51

Jackson, Stevan

38

205

Newman, Murray

6

54

Cable, Shane

1

208

Wellingham, Sharrod

79

58

Matera, Peter

253

214

Bennell, Jamie

30

72

Kickett, Dale

2

226

Jetta, Lewis

73

87

Bond, Shane

34

229

Karpany, Malcolm

7

95

Blurton, Ashley

10

235

Ryan, Liam

41

98

Lovell, Andy

43

238

Rioli, Willie

38

101

Matera, Phil

179

240

Ah Chee, Brendon

13

102

Wirrpanda, David

227

247

Cameron, Jarrod

7

108

Cummings, Trent

2

248

Watson, Francis

2

110

Marshall, Neil

4

249

Kelly, Tim

4

119

Bellotti, Laurie

24

250

Jones, Jamaine

1

 

Highest Indigenous representation in a game throughout West Coast Eagles history

Game

Opponent

    Players

ROUND 10, 1990

North Melbourne

Chris Lewis

Peter Matera

Phil Narkle

Stevan Jackson

Troy Ugle

ROUND 3, 1997

Fremantle

Andy Lovell

Chris Lewis

David Wirrpanda

Peter Matera

Phillip Matera

ROUND 5, 1997

Melbourne

Andy Lovell

Chris Lewis

David Wirrpanda

Peter Matera

Phillip Matera

ROUND 8, 1997

Richmond

Andy Lovell

Chris Lewis

David Wirrpanda

Peter Matera

Phillip Matera

ROUND 10, 1997

North Melbourne

Andy Lovell

David Wirrpanda

Peter Matera

Phillip Matera

Trent Cummings

ROUND 3, 2000

St Kilda

Chris Lewis

David Wirrpanda

Laurie Bellotti

Peter Matera

Phillip Matera

ROUND 16, 2019

Fremantle

Brendon Ah Chee

Jarrod Cameron

Lewis Jetta

Liam Ryan

Willie Rioli

ROUND 18, 2019

Melbourne

Francis Watson

Jarrod Cameron

Lewis Jetta

Liam Ryan

Willie Rioli

ROUND 19, 2019

North Melbourne

Francis Watson

Jarrod Cameron

Lewis Jetta

Liam Ryan

Willie Rioli

ROUND 4, 2020

Port Adelaide

Brendon Ah Chee

Tim Kelly

Lewis Jetta

Jamaine Jones

Liam Ryan