Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program by Wayne and Vicki McGeoch. National Museum of Australia
This painting by Rocky Porter shows two teams playing Aussie Rules at the oval in Warakurna. Many people believe some rules for AFL came from an Aboriginal game called Marngrook.
Marngrook was played with a ball made from possum skin, filled with charcoal and tied with kangaroo-tail sinew.
There are no goals in Marngrook. Instead, the ball is kicked high into the air and the teams compete to catch it. One aim is for players to jump the highest and take the best mark.
Today, the AFL has a strong commitment to First Nations communities and delivers a number of targeted programs to engage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people around Australia.
Questions
How is it similar to Aussie Rules?
What was the First Nations football made from?
Many people believe some rules for AFL came from an Aboriginal game, what was that game called?
Rocky Porter
Born 1973, Purungu skin group
Rocky Porter only recently started painting shortly before the Warakurna exhibition in 2011. He plays Australian Rules football and has been involved in Ngaanyatjarra Media. Porter is a great singer and big fan of Elvis Presley.
He has been a DJ for CAAMA (Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association) Radio and is involved in organising concerts in Warakurna.
