Legendary ruck Stephen Michael, a champion of the WAFL in 243 games for South Fremantle, will be the Sir Doug Nicholls Round honouree for 2025.

Regarded as one of the greatest players to have never played in the VFL/AFL, Michael won back-to-back Sandover Medals in 1980-81 as the best player in the WAFL, while he was also a premiership player at South Fremantle in 1980 and a five-time best-and-fairest winner for the Bulldogs.

A proud Noongar man, Michael never played outside Western Australia, but his remarkable career was recognised nationally when he was selected captain of the 1983 All-Australian side.

He was also picked at centre half-forward in the Indigenous Team of the Century and inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1999.

Today, Michael is patron of the Stephen Michael Foundation, a charity that delivers school and community-based programs to at-risk and disengaged youth in Western Australia.

"I'm extremely proud to be named as honouree," Michael said.

"Sir Doug Nicholls was a pioneer for Indigenous football and to be recognised for the round named in his honour, and alongside some of the previous honourees, is extremely humbling."