This week the AFL celebrates the contribution Indigenous athletes have made to our wonderful game.

Today kangaroos.com.au looks at every Indigenous player to have represented the North Melbourne Football Club.

Percy Johnson (1951-1955)
52 games, 4 goals

Debuted at the age of 20 and went on to play 52 games for North Melbourne over five seasons.


Bertie Johnson (1965-1968)
31 games, 5 goals

Remembered as one of the most exciting footballers to watch of his generation, Johnson moved from West Adelaide to North Melbourne in 1965 and was popular with the Kangaroos fans. He would go on to play 31 games over four seasons with the club, and played in North's 1967 Reserves Grand Final. Johnson finished his career with Williamstown in the VFA.


Allan Bloomfield (1970-1971)
13 games, 7 goals

Formerly of Ainslie in the ACT, Bloomfield debuted as a 20 year-old 1970 and played 11 games in his first season.

He would play just two more matches in 1971 to end his stint at North Melbournne.


Barry Cable (1970, 1974-1977) - player profile
115 games, 133 goals

A champion rover, Cable’s impact was immediate with him winning the club best and fairest in his first year. He was a master of disposal, especially by hand. He returned home to WA after that initial season to win his third Sandover Medal, before Ron Barassi lured him back Arden Street.

He played in both premierships, and finished fourth in two Brownlow Medals (1970, 76). He returned to coach the club from mid-season 1981 to 1984. Cable represented Western Australia 22 times throughout his career and was named in the 1966 and 1969 All-Australian teams. Was named in the Indigenous Team of the Century in 2005 as a rover and Coach.


Craig Holden (1982-1983)
29 games, 2 goals

Originally from Swan Districts, Holden debuted at the age of 24 and big things were expected of the talented defender. He would go on to play 29 games for North Melbourne over two seasons, but had more success after moving to Sydney in 1984, representing Australia twice in Gaelic matches and being chosen once in an All-Australian side. Holden was selected in the Swan Districts Team of the Century.


Phil Krakouer (1982-1989) - player profile
141 games, 224 goals
After helping Claremont to the 1981 WAFL premiership, both Phil Krakouer and his brother Jim were recruited by North Melbourne. Noted for his freakish skills and speed, Krakouer would go on to play 141 games and kick 224 goals for the Kangaroos, before ending his career at Footscray. He led the North Melbourne goal kicking list on three occasions. Both Phil and brother Jim had the uncanny ability of being able to find each other in tough situations with the football.


Jim Krakouer (1982-1989) - player profile
134 games, 229 goals
Like his brother, Jim Krakouer had an amazing sense around the goals and was blessed with natural brilliance. He worked hard on his game and became a reliable performer for the Kangaroos over his eight seasons at the club. He was awarded the ultimate reward in 1986 when he won the North Melbourne best and fairest. Was named in the Indigenous Team of the Century in 2005.


Derek Kickett (1989)
12 games, 12 goals
Kickett attracted the attention of North Melbourne's scouts after a record 46 votes in the 1987 Sandover Medal for Claremont. He moved to Central Districts in 1988, before being drafted by North Melbourne with pick 60 in the National Draft. Kickett showed flashes of brilliance for the Kangaroos, but played just 12 games for the club. He would go on to rack up another 140 games with both Essendon and Sydney and became well known for his exceptional skills and ability to turn a match.


Andrew Krakouer (1989-1990)
8 games, 8 goals
The younger brother of Phil and Jim Krakouer, Andrew showed all the traits of his older brothers on debut in 1989. He picked up 15 possessions in two quarters to have the football world talking, but would go on to play only another seven games for the club.


Adrian McAdam (1993-1995) - player profile
36 games, 92 goals
McAdam burst onto the scene after being recruited from the Northern Territory with pick 98 in the 1992 National Draft. He had an amazing first season in which he finished the year with 68 goals from 17 games, and set a record with 23 goals from his first three games. Despite his talents, McAdam would only play for three seasons before his career was effectively over. He moved to Collingwood in 1996, but was unable to register a game.


Warren Campbell (1994-1995)
19 games, 17 goals
Originally from South Fremantle, Campbell was drafted by North Melbourne in 1992 with their second round pick. The forward kicked 17 goals for the club over two seasons, and holds the prestigious honor of scoring a goal with his first touch in league football.

Campbell would go on to play in a premiership for South Fremantle in 1997, and booted two goals in the match.


Byron Pickett (1997-2002) - player profile
120 games, 81 goals
Originally from Port Adelaide, Pickett played just one game in his debut season in 1997, but produced a superb season in 1998, playing all 25 matches and winning the Norwich Rising Star Award.

He would quickly become regarded as one of the toughest players in the league, with his attack on the ball ruthless.

Pickett played mainly in defence in his early years at the club, but bagged 37 goals in 2001, and 40 goals in 2002 to show his ability at either end of the ground. Pickett was traded to Port Adelaide for the 2003 season, and won the Norm Smith Medal for best afield in the 2004 Grand Final. He was named on the interchange bench in the Indigenous Team of the Century.


Winston Abraham (1998-2001)
72 games, 104 goals
An early draft pick for Fremantle in 1994, Abraham was inconsistent for the Dockers over 38 games, and eventually traded to North Melbourne at the end of 1997. He would become a solid forward for the Kangaroos, and was part of the club's 1999 premiership win.

Abraham became known for his silky skills and goal kicking knack, and took the Mark of the Year in 1998 for a high flying grab against Port Adelaide. In the opening round of 2001, he injured his knee and did not return to AFL ranks again.


Gary Dhurrkay (1999-2000)
21 games, 20 goals
Formerly from East Fremantle, Dhurrkay was renowned for his kicking and looked set to be a long term player after joining Fremantle in 1995. He played 51 games for the Dockers, before joining North Melbourne in 1999, where he excelled at times with his speed and silky skills. He would go on to play 21 games for the Kangaroos over two seasons, then retired in the middle of the 2000 season.


Shannon Motlop (1999-2003)
54 games, 31 goals
Recruited from North Adelaide, Motlop played primarily as a midfielder and small forward and was a key figure in North Melbourne's premiership win of 1999 in just his seventh game for the club, kicking two goals. After becoming a regular in the Kangaroos' team in the following two years, Motlop fell out of favour in 2002 and moved back to North Adelaide at the end of year. He was given a second chance in 2005 by Melbourne, and added another ten games to his tally over two seasons.


Daniel Motlop (2001-2005)
47 games, 53 goals
North Melbourne's first pick in the 2000 National Draft, Daniel is the younger brother of premiership player Shannon Motlop, and played 47 games for the club over five seasons.

Despite being a handy goal kicker for the Kangaroos, Motlop was traded at the end of the 2005 season to Port Adelaide where he has gone on to play a further 76 games and become one of the Power's strongest forwards.


Eddie Sansbury (2004-2008)
40 games, 21 goals
Debuted in 2004 at the age of 21 after being recruited from Central Districts in South Australia. Showed plenty of potential in his five seasons with the club, but was unable to hold down a regular spot in the North Melbourne team, subsequently being delisted at the end of 2008. In 2007, Sansbury kicked five goals on the following year's Brownlow Medalist, Adam Cooney.


Djaran Whyman (2007)
3 games, 4 goals
Whyman was first rookie-listed by Hawthorn in 2002 but returned to country football. He then played for North Ballarat and after a strong season in 2006 was recruited by North Melbourne to its rookie list. After bags of five and four goals for the Kangaroos' affiliate, Whyman was promoted to the senior list and played three games before being delisted at the end of that year.


Daniel Wells (2003-) - player profile
156 games, 93 goals
After being selected with pick two in the 2002 National Draft, Wells had a huge weight of expectation on his shoulders in the early part of his career but has been able to play a significant role through the midfield since his debut in 2003.

Possessing an elite skill-level and plenty of flair, Wells endured recurring injuries throughout 2009, but has played his best football over the past two seasons.

In 2011 he has averaged close to 25 possessions a game and even become dangerous around the goals.


Matt Campbell (2007-) - player profile
59 games, 62 goals
Recruited from North Adelaide, Campbell was elevated from the rookie list towards the end of the 2007 season. The small forward played 13 games and kicked 10 goals in his debut year. Nicknamed ‘Flash’, Campbell excited fans with his blistering speed and ability to crumb goals but just as important was the defensive pressure he applied in the forward fifty.

Campbell had his best season in 2008 when he and Lindsay Thomas become a formidable attacking combination, but injuries haven't been kind to the number 33 since.

When he's up and running, Campbell can be one of North's most important players.


Lindsay Thomas (2007-) - player profile
79 games, 100 goals
Drafted with North Melbourne’s fourth-round pick (no.53) in the 2006 National Draft, Thomas was seen as one of the best pick-ups that year after his impressive first season in 2007. The former Port Adelaide Magpie burst onto the scene, kicking four goals in his first pre-season game for the Kangaroos and went on to play 12 games for the year.

2008 saw another strong year from the exciting small forward - combining with Matt Campbell, a new structure was brought to the North Melbourne forward line, as the pair booted 64 goals for the season.

Thomas has copped the 'inconsistency' tag at times, but he kicked goals in 28 of 37 games throughout 2009 and 2010, including a memorable bag of seven against Carlton on a Friday night.

Only inaccuracy in front of goal has stopped him from becoming a dangerous goal-kicker in 2011.


Cruize Garlett (2009-) - player profile
21 games, 3 goals
Rookie-listed by North Melbourne in 2008, Garlett debuted the following season and quickly earnt a reputation as a more than capable ball-winner.

Possessing a terrific knack to get the ball out quickly in a contested situation, he has been in and out of the side, mainly due to the Kangaroos' depth in the midfield area as well some frustrating injuries.

Now in his fourth season at the club, Garlett is aiming to cement his spot and be a key part of a developing midfield brigade.