FIVE indigenous players were among the "excitment machines" at the MCG on AFL grand final day - Adam Goodes and Lewis Jetta from the Swans and Lance Franklin, Cyril Rioli and Shaun Burgoyne for the Hawks.
But their success is in stark contrast to the often grim reality of grassroots sport in many remote indigenous communities in Australia, where some kids are forced to play on salt pans.
The federal government has been keen to piggy back on the popularity of sport Aboriginal communities to achieve its closing the gap target of overcoming disadvantage - particularly in health and education.
A federal parliamentary inquiry in Canberra is looking at the impact of indigenous sports participation and mentoring, and the Department of Indigenous Affairs is considering whether to renew its financial contribution next year for AFL and NRL indigenous sport and mentoring programs.
Professor Colin Tatz, a visiting fellow at ANU, will tell the inquiry that where sport flourishes in remote Aboriginal communities "delinquency rates drop sometimes to almost zero".
"Where sport is not a presence rates are alarmingly high," he says in his submission.
"Sport is most likely an alleviator or inhibitor of suicide and it certainly is a major regimen for the diabetes so rampant in Aboriginal lives."
Barriers to progress were the "almost total absence of sports facilities in many remote communities", Prof Tatz said.
"Salt pans and sticks in the ground are what pass for football arenas, no gyms or indoor courts, no lights, no showers, no coaches, no equipment are the order of the day," he said.
The AFL, NRL, soccer, rugby union and Tennis Australia have received millions of dollars in taxpayer money to run indigenous sports and mentoring programs, which involve elite players encouraging kids to go to school or get a job, when they visit communities and schools.
Since 2008, the AFL has received $1.5 million taxpayer dollars for indigenous youth mentoring programs.
In rugby league, the Gold Coast Titans, Brisbane Broncos and North Queensland Cowboys shared $4.2 million in federal funding to run programs.
However, there are problems with the way some programs are run.
An independent report on the AFL's youth mentoring programs, released under freedom of information, said the football code's mentoring efforts were "incoherent" and there was a lack of "understanding of the meaning of mentoring or the skills to undertake it".
Communities were upset about a lack of high-profile players making visits, the report also said.
AFL clubs involved in the program are supposed to visit communities in their designated region a minimum of three times a year.
But there is a huge disparity between the numbers of communities that have relationships with AFL clubs.
Essendon has four communities whereas Richmond has 42 communities, excluding outstations.
Meanwhile, a separate AFL development program in Wadeye, 10 hours south of Darwin, has received mixed marks in an independent evaluation.
The program, which included the formation of the Wadeye Magic to play in the Northern Territory Football League, was established five years ago after an escalation in anti-social behaviour and gang violence.
Taxpayers fork out $91,000 a year, or 70 per cent of the program's cost, with the remainder coming from the AFL and ENI Gas.
The report says although the program is strengthening ties in the community, the AFL could consult better with locals, engage women, and establish a junior league.
Unintended consequences of the program had included reports of community members travelling to Darwin to watch the Wadeye Magic, and having "extended drinking binges in the long grass".
The report raised duty of care issues for spectators, saying facilities should be upgraded at the oval to provide shade, running water and a toilet block.
"A few stakeholders were highly critical of what they see as a wealthy organisation like the AFL trying to run a program in one of the most disadvantaged communities in Australia on a shoestring budget," the report says.
"They question why AFL representatives are forced to sell unhealthy, sugary, soft drinks out of the boot of a car on match days in Wadeye just so they can raise enough funds to keep the program operational."
It said there was a spike in the number of babies needing medical treatment from being in the hot sun on match days and an increase in sexually transmitted diseases after games in Wadeye.
There were also concerns about the consistency of participation rules being enforced, particularly with regard to the most valuable players.
In past decade, the AFL has had a leadership role in reconciliation efforts, with strong encouragement of indigenous players and a tough stand against racial vilification.
There's 79 Aboriginal players on club lists making up 11 per cent of players.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs federal parliamentary committee will have a hearing in Canberra on Thursday.
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