For me it's not about an indigenous player getting the jumper.
Personally I would see that as not being helpful to acceptance, equality and working towards us all being Australians. It contradicts the whole end goal by once again making a point of difference.
However I understand perhaps why in the short term that perpetuating a racial difference may be of benefit to some parts of society.
What I don't like about holding the number for a 'star' (as has been implied many times on this board) is that it diminishes the value of the number.
What made it special is that it wasn't handed to Paul Kelly because he was seen as the next big thing.
It's a lower number, and they tend to go to the better players, of those who have been on the list for a few years.
But handing it to say Heeney, who is likely going to be our next 'ultimate hero' is just reserving it for those who are worthy, and that's what the number will become.
I would have liked to have seen it kicked straight back into action (Or maybe retire it for only a year) and see how the player wearing it goes.
Could be that they do a couple of years and get traded. Maybe forced out with injury etc. But then someone else gets it and maybe they will turn out to be special.
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