The AFL will again celebrate the unique contribution Indigenous athletes have made to Australian football by nominating round 9 as Indigenous Round.

Today on kangaroos.com.au, we look at the Indigenous players 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. Was a fine player for East Fremantle and played in their 1957 premiership side, before being honoured with life membership.


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.


Barry Cable (1970, 1974-1977)
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 would go on to be selected in the Swan Districts Team of the Century.


Phil Krakouer (1982-1989)
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)
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 7 games for the club.


Adrian McAdam (1993-1995)
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)
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 won 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 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.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 58 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 would return to North Ballarat and after a strong season in 2006 recruited by North Melbourne to its rookie list for 2007. 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-)
127 games, 68 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.

At the start of 2008, Wells was urged by his coach Dean Laidley to use his pace to challenge the opposition which resulted in him taking his game to a new level. The exciting midfielder averaged 22 possessions a game throughout 2008 and was instrumental in North Melbourne’s strong late season form.

He finished sixth in the Syd Barker Medal and represented Australian in the International Rules series against Ireland.


Matt Campbell (2007-)
40 games, 50 goals

Recruited from North Adelaide, Campbell was elevated from the rookie list toward 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.

A regular starter in North’s 2008 campaign, Campbell was generally used in the forward pocket and rewarded the coaches’ faith by snaring 32 goals from 22 matches. He kicked at 65 per cent accuracy through a total of 45 opportunities to score. Again he turned defence into attack and ranked equal second at the club with 73 tackles. There was also a dramatic improvement in his ability to share the ball with team-mates highlighted by 15 goal assists throughout the year.


Lindsay Thomas (2007-)
43 games, 52 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 worked hard to keep the ball in attack racking up 63 tackles for the year and ranked 10th for North Melbourne in kicks.

With the right work ethic and improved endurance, Thomas is expected to play more of a role through the midfield in the coming years.