Working into space : agency, motivation, identity : Indigenous players in the Australian Football League

The code of Australian Football has a unique place in Australian society. It is, by far, the most popular winter football code in Australia, which sees people from across different social, economic and ethnic sectors participate at all levels, from grassroots community organisations right through to the elite level. However, despite the success there is schism between Indigenous AFL success stories and socio-economic outcomes for Indigenous Australians generally. This is important to acknowledge because the AFL is often seen as being at the vanguard of social reform and progressive programs in Australia, but one only has to recall the issue of racialized booing towards Sydney Swans player Adam Goodes for nearly two seasons (2014- 2015) to understand just how far Australia and the code needs to go if issues of coexistence and reconciliation are to improve. It is in the space of social cohesion and welfare that this chapter will engage with and explore the issues of agency, motivation and identity when it comes to Indigenous players wanting to aspire to the AFL and those already playing in it.