The AFL will fund Indigenous and multicultural footballers in talent pathways chasing opportunities at the elite level, and support them moving away from home if needed to do so.
On Thursday the league announced $100,000 in funding for a collective 50 players in high performance programs, intended to cover costs such as registration, wellbeing support, uniform, travel and relocation.
An even split of 25 male and female footballers were successful in their nominations for the Indigenous and Multicultural Scholarship Program.
AFL general manager of game development, Rob Auld, said the program will removal hurdles on the players' path, and aligns with the league's First Nations Strategy — aimed at increasing the number on Indigenous players to 81 in the AFL and 29 in the AFLW by 2030 amid a current decades-long low in representation.
Next Generation Academy systems at AFL clubs have assisted similar opportunities for Indigenous and multicultural footballers giving respective clubs draft priority for those in their system.
Underage multicultural and Indigenous selective squads — such as the Flying Boomerangs and World Team — which provide coaching and matchplay, is another existing piece of the pathway.
Auld said the program "has been introduced to empower, progress and inspire our game's next generation of Indigenous and Multicultural talent".
"The 50 players selected for the program have all shown great dedication to pursuing excellence on and off the field. The scholarship will assist them to reach their full potential by helping to remove hurdles as they progress through their football journey," he added.
"The scholarship also supports the AFL's First Nations Strategy, which has set a clear goal to grow First Nations representation at the elite level by 2030."
AFL diversity talent program manager, Narelle Long, said it will help the scholarship members "chase their AFL and AFLW dreams".
"The scholarship reinforces our commitment to nurturing and inspiring talented young footballers from diverse backgrounds and providing an environment which enables them to thrive as athletes and leaders and represent their community with pride," Long said.
In the AFL Players' Association's 2026 Indigenous player map released last week includes 64 men's competition and 21 women's competition listed players.
At Sir Doug Nicholls Round launch last week the league announced its $300,000 First Nations Impact Fund, including intended efforts to increase representation at the top level, create safe environments in the game and addressing racism in the game.
