The one thing that never fails to unite people is a sport, and TV producers are exploring that a lot this year. Joining the likes of ‘Welcome to Wrexham and ‘All or Nothing: Arsenal is Prime Video’s ‘Warriors on the Field’, a sports documentary about culture, community, and a lot of talent in the Australian football scene. The Australian Football League partners with Amazon Studios and EQ Media Group to bring this intimate sports documentary to the public.
‘Warriors on the Field’ was directed by Larissa Behrendt, an indigenous academic, and executive-produced by David Alright, Brendan Dahill, Tanya Hosch, and Jackie Munro. The fifty-minute-long documentary, which premiered on Amazon Prime Video this year, was edited by Amanda Knight. It is presented by AFL legend Michael O’Loughlin of the Sydney Swans.
What is ‘Warriors on the Field’ about?
Warriors on the Field is an intimate narration of the lives and careers of three indigenous Australian rules football players who share similar roots and struggles. The sports documentary explores the impact of indigenous players on Australian football, and their determination to make history despite discrimination against them. Warriors on the Field focuses on Michael O’Loughlin, who talks at length about his football-influenced childhood and successful career.
O’Loughlin is joined by upcoming Australian rules footballers Tarryn Thomas of the North Melbourne football team, and Michael “Sony” Walters of the Fremantle Football Club. All three discuss what it is like being an Aboriginal footballer, facing racism and discrimination, and having your people, your culture, and your community help you get past it all.
Through the lens of sport, AFL legend Michael O’Loughlin shines a light on the history and experience of the Indigenous Australian people. Current AFL players, Michael Walters and Tarryn Thomas join O’Loughlin to unpack racism, discrimination, and the unbreakable bond they each share with their indigenous communities. – Amazon Prime Video
‘Warriors on the Field’ Cast
Warriors on the Field features three indigenous AFL players: retired legend Michael O’Loughlin, and upcoming stars Tarryn Thomas and Michael “Sonny” Walters. The three men share their experiences growing up and their struggles as they enter the football scene in the face of discrimination and racism. Their individual narratives are backed by family, friends, and everyone that made or has made a difference in their football career.
Michael O’Loughlin, who is the host and backbone of the narration, introduces us to several other players during the fifty-minute run time, allowing us to get a wider, albeit surface-level, understanding of the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to Australian football, and the effects of racism on the players. Some of the other cast in Warriors on the Field are:
- Muriel O’Loughlin, Michael O’Loughlin’s mum
- Michael “Muddy” O’Loughlin, Michael’s uncle
- Jackeline Trindall
- Jeanelle Trindall
- John Maynard
- Martha Penny
- Colleen Haywood
- Clyde Rigney
- Bill Wilson
‘Warriors on the Field’ Release Date
Following the release of an official trailer on YouTube on June 14, 2022, Warriors on the Field premiered exclusively on Amazon Prime Videos on July 8, 2022.
‘Warriors on the Field’ Ratings
The full impact of ‘Warriors on the Field’ was not felt due to its short run time. The show seemed to have a lot to unpack but restricted itself to such a short duration, presenting its essential points as a shallow aggregate of footnotes rather than an in-depth well-sectioned article. It would have covered a lot more as a miniseries or a much longer, say two-hour, documentary. That said, Warriors on the Field has a rating of 6.5/10 on IMDb, and 3 out of 5 stars on ‘Ready Steady Cut’.
On other review sites including Amazon, the show does not have enough reviews to derive an accurate rating. I guess this show is more of a localized ‘to whom it may concern’ documentary than a global one. Nevertheless, If you are a fan of sports or Australian football, in particular, you will definitely enjoy the intimate stories and clips of thrilling football moments within.
Where to Watch ‘Warriors on the Field’
You can stream Warriors on the Field only on Amazon Prime Video which is available in over two hundred countries and territories.
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