The Indigenous talent who Xavier Clarke would love to take back to North Melbourne

If Xavier Clarke could pick one Indigenous player to take back to North Melbourne, who would it be?

The Kangaroos assistant will coach the Indigenous All-Stars when they clash with Fremantle at Perth’s Optus Stadium on February 15 next year.

The hypothetical question was put to Clarke by Julian De Stoop on SEN: “The AFL says thanks for doing this job and as a reward you get to bring one player back to North Melbourne in 2025 from the Indigenous All-Stars - who are you choosing?”

While Clarke admitted he had been put on the spot, he did consider his answer before putting forward a surprise name - Geelong’s Lawson Humphries.

“There’s so many to choose from,” he said.

“I’m going to go with one out of the box - young Humphries from Geelong.

“I love what he does across half-back.

“I think he’s going to be a very good player for a long time.”

De Stoop and co-host Adam Cooney immediately reacted to Clarke’s surprise choice.

De Stoop: “What an impact he had last season from nowhere.”

Cooney: “He was playing twos in the WAFL!”

The 21-year-old from Pilbara was playing reserves football for WAFL club Swan Districts in season 2023 before the Cats selected him with Pick 63 in last year’s draft.

He did, however, play more senior WAFL games for the Swans than he did in the twos.

After biding his time in the VFL for the first half of 2023, Humphries exploded onto the AFL scene in the blue and white hoops.

He played 11 games last season, averaging 17 disposals, 5.9 marks and 2.6 rebound 50s while racking up 20 or more touches on four occasions including 20 in the Qualifying Final win over Port Adelaide.

Humphries received a Rising Star nomination for picking up 23 disposals and taking 13 marks against Collingwood in Round 18.

As for the coach, Clarke feels honoured to be handed the reins after a decade without an Indigenous team having also played for the All-Stars almost 20 years ago.

“It’s definitely up there in terms of being able to have the privilege to coach the team,” the former St Kilda and Brisbane player said.

“It’s 10 years in the making since it last was played (in 2015). I was fortunate enough to play in one of them in 2007.

“So to be able to play and then eventually get the opportunity to coach is a great honour and something I’m really looking forward to.”

A 30-man squad will be pulled together for a three-day camp before taking on the Dockers which will coincide with overall preparations for the 2025 AFL season.