'So many highlights!' All Stars blitz Freo in 'fast, furious' clash as ...

The Indigenous All Stars celebrated their decade-long return in style, toppling Fremantle by 43 points, 16.12 (108) to 9.11 (65) as their stars put on a show at Optus Stadium.

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Jy Simpkin won the Polly Farmer Medal as best on the ground, while Bobby Hill (four goals) and Jason Horne-Francis (three goals) also dazzled for the All Stars.

Simpkin revealed post-match his emotional goal celebration in the second quarter was a tribute to his late Pop as the gun midfielder fought back tears.

Hill kicked the opening goal before celebrating in– one of two goals to the star small forward in a particularly hot start.

The Indigenous All Stars looked like breaking away early in the game as their electric ball movement overwhelmed the Dockers. Fremantle steadied with two goals including a crafty snap from Luke Jackson around his body as the home side got within 17 points at the first change.

The All Stars pushed their lead back out to 18 points in the second term, before Fremantle was again able to wrestle back momentum with consecutive goals through Jye Amiss and Michael Frederick.

The visitors led 7.5 (47) to 5.5 (35) after a “fast and furious” first half, as put by Dockers legend Matthew Pavlich.

In a touching moment early he second term, Simpkin kicked a goal after perfectly roving a pack then pointed to the sky afterwards. The Kangaroos midfielder was clearly overcome with emotion as he retrieved to the bench with his face in his hands as he was consoled by teammates.

Michael Frederick kicked his third goal in the third term as a standout for the Dockers, but Hill and Horne-Francis responded with their fourth and third goals respectively to push the All Stars’ lead out to 30 points at the final change.

It was party time in the fourth quarter for the All Stars. A scintillating play started with a big Liam Ryan tackle, followed by a thrilling Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera run on the wing, before Tyson Stengle goal assisted to Jesse Motlop inside 50. The All Stars led 87-50 early in the fourth.

The Indigenous All Stars continued to kick away late, with Willie Rioli then Tim Kelly adding two more goals to open up a 39-point lead. Hill missed two key chances in the fourth quarter to kick his fifth goal, but it was still a big night to celebrate for the All Stars following a decade-long absence.

It marked new Docker Bolton’s last game against Fremantle following his off-season trade from Richmond. Alex Pearce was also set to play against the Dockers but was forced to pull out due to an ankle issue, while The All Stars were also without Liam Jones after the Bulldogs defender suffered a hamstring setback.

Fremantle was missing Nat Fyfe, Hayden Young and Sean Darcy due to injury.

Due to Perth’s heat, there was a change to Saturday’s match conditions with the AFL confirming quarters of the marquee clash were be shortened.

With temperatures forecast to be around 33C at bouncedown, the match was played in 21-minute terms plus two minutes time on - instead of the original 23min plus 2min time on.

THE 3-2-1 (via Catherine Healey) ...

3. SIMPKIN CLAIMS FARMER MEDAL AS ALL STARS SHINE

There were no shortage of Indigenous All Stars lighting up Optus Stadium.

Arguably none were as impressive as Jy Simpkin, who claimed the Polly Farmer Medal after a strong 30-disposal performance through the midfield.

Simpkin also made an emotional tribute to his late pop after kicking a goal in the second quarter then pointing to the sky.

The Kangaroos skipper appeared to be reduced to tears on the bench thereafter as he was consoled by teammates.

Elsewhere, Jason Horne-Francis and Bobby Hill also put on a show.

Horne-Francis is the former No. 1 draft pick who keeps getting better – and he’s still only 21.

The Power superstar showed why he is one of the most dangerous players in the competition. He was everywhere in a dominant opening term as he racked up eight touches, two goal assists and slotted his own goal.

After limited minutes in the second term, Horne-Francis went back to dominating the contest in the third as he slotted two more goals.

But it was his work off the ball that impressed as he chased down rivals, put on blocks and went after the footy time and time again.

Hill was also very impressive.

In what is going to be a huge year for the Norm Smith Medallist with Hill coming out of contract at the end of the season, the Magpie started 2025 with a bang.

He proved unstoppable as Fremantle’s defence simply had no answers, proving once again he performs best on the biggest stage.

“He’s an absolute star,” Fox Footy’s Eddie Betts praised.

“That’s what we come to watch.”

Fellow Fox commentator Shaun Burgoyne said it was clear Hill and his teammates were embracing the chaos game.

“They are taking the game on with speed,” he said.

“One of (coach) Xavier Clarke’s messages was how can you make your teammates better? Put them in a better position and then you can make it up which is what they’ve been doing.”

And it was Hill who capitalized with ** goals.

The performance is sure to put the competition on notice, with rumours Hill could be open to explore a move home with his young family.

2. ‘VANILLA’ FREO STILL STAGNANT... BUT COACH REVEALS SHOCK REASON

Stagnant ball movement was a concern for Freo in 2024. And while it’s only one match and an exhibition largely irrelevant in the wider scheme of things, it’s not ideal that they again looked off the pace in their first hitout of 2025.

But coach Justin Longmuir said their “vanilla” play was planned - and revealed the stunning reason why.

“We played a pretty vanilla brand. It’s interesting because all the other teams are getting the vision and be able to watch it from behind the goals. So we tried to keep it pretty vanilla and we’ll work on bits and pieces next week (when) we’ve got match sim and the vision is not released,” he said post-match.

“We didn’t want to expose some of the things we’ve been working on today.

“I know when we do our match sim 18 on 18, no one gets the vision. So we’ve been working on a few things in that space.

“Don’t want to give too many teams a look at it today.”

Freo great Matthew Pavlich had noted his former team appeared “a bit vanilla” and “too stagnant” when moving the ball at times during Saturday night’s clash, while the Indigenous All Stars threw caution to the wind at every opportunity, simply embracing the chaos ball and making it work.

Whereas Fremantle appeared “overcoached” as they resisted that quick ball time and time again.

“I think Freo at times have been a little too cautious, particularly between the arcs,” Pavlich said.

“Are they going too measured and too controlled? Can they get a little more speed on the ball? They’ve got Jordan Clark on the half back flank who is electrifying,” Shaun Burgoyne added.

“(Brandon) Walker as well… he’s got great speed as well,” Pavlich said.

“I think teams can sometimes be almost coached within an inch of their life.

“They had two out (inside 50 and resisted the quick kick) – just get it in there.”

AFL great Eddie Betts said the Dockers needed more confidence in big forward Josh Treacy.

“Kick it to him quicker,” he said after Treacy won a big one-on-one battle and went on to set up a goal for teammate Jye Amiss.

“If they see him one-on-one, get the ball to him because he’ll win those one on ones.

“Look early… if he’s on, get it to him.”

Pavlich agreed it was worth a gamble when going to the likes of the big-bodied Treacy.

“The perfect play or perfect ball movement can overcoached,” he said.

“Josh Treacy is one I think in this Fremantle side that says kick it to me, give me a chance, and we’ll make the rest up.

“That’s often when you get the best looks forward of centre.

“When it’s a little bit chaos, a little bit unpredictable.”

Given the pace Fremantle possess, a bit of speed could get them moving in the right direction up the ladder.

1. ALL STARS HERE TO STAY?

It’s may have been a decade since we last saw the AFL’s Indigenous All Stars take to the field, but we surely won’t have to wait another 10 years, if Saturday’s clash is anything to go by.

The Indigenous All Stars of 2025 pulled out all the tricks to entertain the crowd of more than 37,000 at Optus Stadium.

AFL Executive General Manager Inclusion & Social Policy Tanya Hosch believes there is enough room in the pre-season calendar for the marquee match to remain.

“I always thought we’d get good numbers,” she said.

“It’s hard to fixture an extra game … Without the clubs and the players really supporting us to get it done, we wouldn’t be here.”

When asked if the clash could become a regular fixture, Hosch replied: “I think we will.”

“I think every year is probably pushing it, but we’ll review the success of today and consult everyone we need to and go from there,” she said.

“It’s an important piece of visual representation … Overall everyone’s very proud.”

It wasn’t just the match itself that ignited the Perth community – rather it was a week-long effort where the AFL’s best indigenous talent was out and about.

And let’s not forget Fremantle fully embraced the concept – even having their own teammates in Michael Walters and Shai Bolton playing against them.

Bulldog Jamarra Ugle-Hagan was another player to benefit from the All Stars weekend, as he was laughing and smiling with teammates.

Ugle-Hagan has been absent from Bulldogs training as he remains on a modified program for personal reasons.

But the lure of the All Stars call was enough to get the young gun on the plane in promising signs for a return to AFL action.

“They had a training run here yesterday, I was kicking some balls to him,” Shaun Burgoyne shared on Fox Footy.

“He has to get some kilometres into his legs ... He’s smiling, he’s happy, he looks rejuvenated out here.

“Hopefully he takes this enthusiasm back to the Bulldogs and he gets back into training with his teammates.”

Re-live Indigenous All Stars v Fremantle in our live blog below!

INDIGENOUS ALL-STARS SQUAD

Callum Ah Chee (Brisbane Lions) – Noongar, Palyku and Nyikina, Yawuru

Karl Amon (Hawthorn) – Noonuccal

Shai Bolton (Fremantle) – Minang and Wilman

Jase Burgoyne (Port Adelaide) – Kokatha, Larrakia, Warai

Charlie Cameron (Brisbane Lions) – Waanyi and Lardil

Jeremy Finlayson (Port Adelaide) – Yorta Yorta

Jade Gresham (Essendon) – Yorta Yorta

Bobby Hill (Collingwood) – Whadjuk, Ballardong, Noongar

Brad Hill (St Kilda) – Wilmen, Noongar

Jason Horne-Francis (Port Adelaide) – Wardaman

Lawson Humphries (Geelong Cats) – Nyul Nyul, Oomiday, Worrora

Jarman Impey (Hawthorn) – Yorta Yorta

Joel Jeffrey (Gold Coast Suns) – Kukatj, Wulwulam

Ash Johnson (Collingwood) – Jaru, Kija

Liam Jones (Western Bulldogs) – Kija

Tim Kelly (West Coast Eagles) – Noongar, Wongi, Yamatji

Coen Livingstone (West Coast Eagles) – Balardong, Noongar

Ben Long (Gold Coast Suns) – Anmatjerre

Steven May (Melbourne) – Larrakia

Jesse Motlop (Carlton) – Larrakia

Alex Pearce (Fremantle) – Palawa

Kysaiah Pickett (Melbourne) – Yamatji, Noongar

Willie Rioli (Port Adelaide) – Tiwi

Maurice Rioli (Richmond) – Tiwi

Liam Ryan (West Coast Eagles) – Yamatji

Izak Rankine (Adelaide Crows) – Kokatha and Ngarrindjeri

Tyson Stengle (Geelong Cats) – Wirangu

Jy Simpkin (North Melbourne) – Yorta Yorta

Michael Walters (Fremantle) – Whadjuk, Wilmen and Ngarrindjeri

Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (St Kilda) – Kokatha, Narangga

Zac Williams (Carlton) – Wiradjuri

FREMANTLE SQUAD

Sam Sturt

Jaeger O’Meara

Caleb Serong

Heath Chapman

Jordan Clark

Andrew Brayshaw

Luke Jackson

James Aish

Hugh Davies

Luke Ryan

Jeremy Sharp

Murphy Reid

Will Brodie

Liam Reidy

Patrick Voss

Karl Worner

Jye Amiss

Neil Erasmus

Cooper Simpson

Nathan O’Driscoll

Brandon Walker

Michael Frederick

Corey Wagner

Josh Treacy

Brennan Cox

Joshua Draper

Sam Switkowski

Bailey Banfield

Aiden Riddle

Matthew Johnson