PORT ADELAIDE development coach Jason Williams has been named as part of an all-Indigenous coaching panel for the AFL Indigenous All Stars Team.
Williams will be an assistant to Head Coach, Xavier Clarke, with former Port Adelaide player Jarrod Lienert also among the coaching panel.
The final coaching panel also includes Fremantle NGA and Game Development Coach Roger Hayden and West Coast Eagles First Nations Player Development Manager Chance Bateman.
Williams is in his second season at Port Adelaide and works with the club’s developing forwards as well as coaching the Next Generation Academy.
A proud Noongar man from Narrogin in Western Australia, his coaching experience includes a stint as the head coach of the AFL’s Indigenous Talent Programs.
Lienert currently works as North Melbourne’s Indigenous Player Development Manager after 34 AFL games including 23 for Port Adelaide from 2018-20.
The AFL has also announced that experienced high-performance specialist Darren Burgess has been appointed as the High-Performance Manager for the Indigenous All-Stars.
AFL Executive General Manager Social Policy and Inclusion Tanya Hosch said she was thrilled with final coaching appointments.
“It is fantastic to have an all-Indigenous coaching panel join Xavier for this significant match,” said Ms Hosch
“We want to see Indigenous representation increase across the board in football, including within the coaching ranks, so to have an all-Indigenous coaching panel for this game is terrific.”
AFL Executive General Manager Football, Laura Kane, was pleased to finalise a strong coaching panel and staffing group after receiving a strong list of applicants following the expression of interest.
“Since we announced the match, the buy-in from the clubs, players and coaches, has been exceptional and we were inundated with applications for the various roles within the program,” said Ms Kane.
“We are thrilled to appoint these coaches and give them the opportunity to work with Xavier and in turn gain valuable experience in their coaching pathway.
“We are also delighted to have Darren Burgess join a number of highly experienced club staff across a variety of roles.
“Darren’s experience will help ensure this program is run in line with the expectations of the players’ clubs ahead of the start of the Toyota Premiership season.
“The team that has been announced so far is unbelievable and I know fans are excited to get to Optus Stadium on February 15th.”
Ticket prices start at $10 for a junior under 15, and $35 for an adult, with family tickets (two adults and two juniors) only $70, allowing juniors to attend for free.
The 2025 Toyota AFL Indigenous All Stars match will take place on Saturday, 15 February 2025 at Optus Stadium in Perth, with the Indigenous All Stars taking on Fremantle as part of the AFL pre-season fixture.
For tickets and more information head to afl.com.au/allstars
Indigenous All Stars Coaching Panel
Head Coach Xavier Clarke - North Melbourne
Assistant Coach Jason Williams - Port Adelaide
Assistant Coach Roger Hayden - Fremantle
Assistant Coach Jarrod Lienert - North Melbourne
Assistant Coach Chance Bateman - West Coast Eagles