North Melbourne assistant coach Xavier Clarke has been officially announced as the senior coach of the 2025 Toyota Indigenous All Stars team.

A proud Larrakia and Amrreamo/Marritjavin man, Clarke joined North Melbourne as assistant coach in 2023 and prior to this was senior coach for the NT Thunder in 2014, coaching the side to a premiership in 2015, before he joined Richmond as development coach in 2016.

He played 106 games for St Kilda and the Brisbane Lions from 2002-2010 before retiring in 2011.

As part of Wednesday morning’s announcement, the AFL have also confirmed Hall of Famer, two-time All Australian and proud Kaurna/Ngarrindjeri/Narungga man Michael O’Loughlin has been appointed as chair of selectors.

Other members of the selection panel will include Clarke, AFL Indigenous and multicultural player engagement manager Pauly Vandenbergh, former Hawthorn and Port Adelaide player Chad Wingard, AFL executive general manager social policy and inclusion Tanya Hosch, AFL executive general manager of football Laura Kane and AFL general manager football operations Josh Mahoney.

“Xavier is a highly regarded assistant coach in the Toyota AFL Premiership competition and has been a part of three premierships when he was with the Richmond Football Club,” Hosch said.

“I know Xavier has future ambitions to be an AFL senior coach and we are thrilled to provide him with this opportunity to be the head coach of the Indigenous All Stars in February as he continues in the coaching pathway.”

The Indigenous All Stars will take on Fremantle at Optus Stadium in Perth on February 15.