A new documentary 'Australian Soccer’s Dreaming' highlights how John Moriarty Football and the National Indigenous Football Championships are opening new pathways for young Indigenous footballers.

The documentary was shown on NITV on Sunday last week and is available on SBS on demand here. 

John Moriarty is a member of the stolen generation. When he was four he was taken from his remote Northern Territory community of Borroloola. He grew up in a home for boys called Saint Francis house in South Australia which was next to a football pitch.

In 1961, Moriarty was the first Indigenous footballer chosen to represent Australia. 

After retiring from football at just 27 due to injury, Moriarty then became South Australia’s first Aboriginal graduate. He also was a prominent figure in the 1967 referendum that gave Aboriginal people the right to vote for the first time.

In 2012, he and his wife Ros and son James created an education and Soccer program, John Moriarty football (JMF) in Boroloolla.

Two years ago, Shadeene Evans became JMF’s first elite athlete after the then 13-year-old was spotted by Matilada’s coach Allen Stajic playing for the Northern Territory.

Soon after, the talnted footballer was offered a scholarship to both Westfield Sports High School and Football NSW.

The documentary features interviews with John Moriarty Football (JMF) Co-Founder John Moriarty, JMF scholarship holder Shadeene Evans, Shay's Sydney host sister Gracie Johns and JMF Board Member and former Socceroo Craig Foster.

It also features JMF scholarship holders Tremaine Simon, Brenda Hogan and Lloyd Johnston who inspired by Shay also made the trek down to Sydney to follow their football dreams.

Western Sydney Wanderer 's W-League goalkeeper Jada Whyman is Shay’s teammate at Football NSW and she also features in the story.

The Inaugural National Indigenous Championships (NIFC) that were held in Nowra last year featuring Indigenous teams from all around the country is also the focus of the documentary.

The NIFC component features interviews with the first Indigenous footballer to captain Australia Jade North, FFA CEO David Gallop and South East Queensland Dingoes Captain Ramon Close.

Historian John Maynard and Author of the book Aboriginal Soccer Tribe is also interviewed and he provides an historical context of Indigenous football.

Founder at Digeridoo Academy Mark King also plays didgeridoo throughout the documentary.

Australian football has failed to grasp the opportunity that gave rise to former Indigenous footballers such as John Moriarty, Charles Perkins and Harry Williams.

The latest figures show the Indigenous Population is at three % of the total Australian populous but when it comes to certain sports that number increases dramatically.

While AFL has nine % and Rugby League has 12 %, football has less than 1% Indigenous representation in the A-League.

This documentary is timely as it was reported earlier this year that FFA contributed just $10,000 towards Indigenous football, cutting their annual funding in half from the previous year.

While football’s governing body is failing to grasp the potential of Aboriginal footballers grassroots organisations are finding new pathways for young Indigenous footballers to follow their dreams.

The National Indigenous Football Championships take place in Shoalhaven again later this year from November 1-4.

If the SBS on-demand link expires you can watch the documentary below: