When Crows High Performance Manager Darren Burgess looked at the bench during the Indigenous All Stars game on Saturday, he could hardly believe the talent available

Burgess led a team that looked after the All Stars’ nutrition, training and recovery needs, and was tasked with managing the side’s rotations on game day at Optus Stadium.

“I was looking at the bench and a small forward needed to come off… I had Liam Ryan, Izak Rankine, Kozzie Pickett, Bobby Hill, Tyson Stengle, Charlie Cameron, Willie Rioli, all these guys could come on, and I had to pick one,” Burgess said.

“There was pressure on who to put on and where and when because they all wanted to go out there and have fun and display their skills.

“We had 156 rotations and there’s normally 75 in a game, and having 12 on the bench all looking back at you saying ‘get me on Burgo, get me on’, was challenging.

“But it was really special seeing how much the game meant to the players, then after the game, seeing all the kids, both kids from the players’ families and kids from around the stadium, just smiling at the unique group of superstars was great.”

Burgess was one of eight Crows staff members involved, while star Adelaide forward Izak Rankine featured in the match, finishing with 20 disposals, five score involvements and five marks.

Burgess spoke to AFC Media after the All Stars team, made up of the League’s best Indigenous players, cruised to a 43-point victory against Fremantle.

He said mitigating the risk of injuries occurring was another big focus.

“Fortunately we had no injuries from the game and everybody got back to their club safe and sound,” Burgess said.

“In that situation it’s ‘do no harm to the players’, so you’re certainly not doing much of a training session, working closely with Xavier Clarke, we just had a really light Captain’s run.

“I was in communication with all of the clubs about a month beforehand, asking them to provide me with anything I need to know about their players, if they wanted them to do extra or less.

“It was a logistical puzzle to put together, but it was great.”

AFLW star Danielle Ponter was one of 11 Indigenous women’s players who travelled to Perth with the All Stars team.

Ponter, a proud Anmatyerre, Marranunggu and Tiwi woman, said the players wanted to be role models for other Indigenous youngsters and show there were pathways available.

“Visiting the schools and speaking to the young girls was the most important part of it all, for me,” Ponter said.

“It’s not only about playing a game of football, but it’s showing and telling young, Indigenous people that there are opportunities out there for them and it’s something they can aspire to do.

“It was a very special moment for all of us girls.

“Watching the game was a real proud moment for me. I was just really happy for all the boys and super proud they could all be together and play alongside each other.”

Ponter said she was inspired by listening to AFL Diversity Talent Manager Paul Vandenbergh talk about what the game meant to future generations.

“Pauly spoke to this photo of Bradley Hill and Bobby Hill and it was taken 10 years ago, so Bobby was young, but he said ‘this is what the game represents, it’s about the next generation and how do we get them aspiring to want to follow in our footsteps’,” Ponter said.

“When I heard him speak about that story, I was so happy that Bobby is now able to have this opportunity, but I sit there and say ‘now what about the girls?’

“The ultimate goal for us is to have one for the girls one day. That’s why we wanted to be a part of the weekend as well, we want to be able to play in a game one day.

“We want to be able to get up on the stage and in 20 years time somebody tells the story of DP taking a photo of someone and now this young girl is playing AFLW. That’s the goal for me and I think that’s the goal for a lot of the other girls, too.”

Ponter said the All Stars’ strong performance was unsurprising, despite the side only having one training session together.

“We speak about it all the time, the bond we share as brothers and sisters is special. It doesn’t matter where we are in Australia, when we see each other, we connect on a deeper level straight away," Ponter said.

“We just respect each other so much, it’s an instant connection, so I wasn’t surprised that it came together like that so quickly on the field.

“At moments I just sat back and thought ‘I would absolutely hate to be Freo right now’. 

“There was just so much talent in the All Stars team, it was unbelievable to see.”