The global debates about race and ethnicity are reflected in the prominence given to Indigenous artists in this year’s prize. The Archibald has been restored to the central gallery, and some of the best spots allotted to artists such as Blak Douglas (AKA. Adam Hill), Vincent Namatjira, Tiger Yaltangki and Kaylene Whiskey. Elsewhere in the show, Craig Ruddy has painted Indigenous historian, Bruce Pascoe; Julie Fragar has captured artist, Richard Bell, and Charlene Carrington has portrayed her dad, Churchill Cann, in classic Kimberley ochres.

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I’m hesitant to take a punt, partly because I don’t want to spoil anyone’s chances by making a public prediction, but Vincent Namatjira must be favoured, somewhat because he should have won two years ago. His Stand Strong For Who You Are, is a double portrait, featuring the artist himself alongside footballer, Adam Goodes. It may sound like a manifesto but the work has an off-beat charm that is very seductive in this company.

If the Trustees are not hell-bent on an Indigenous winner they might still score some political kudos by awarding the prize to Angus McDonald, for an excellent, albeit very straight, portrait of refugee writer, Behrouz Boochani. If they were feeling light-hearted, it’s hard to go past Richard Lewers’ portrait of arts patron Elizabeth Laverty or Wendy Sharpe’s Magda Szubanski, with the netball uniform but without her friend Kim.

One thing that hasn’t changed this year is the familiar routine of the Packing Room Prize, which is traditionally awarded to a good sort or good bloke. This year it was the blokes’ turn. The winner, announced on Thursday, was Meyne Wyatt, for a self-portrait with one eyebrow raised in the manner of a Bond villain. As an Indigenous artist and actor, Wyatt has the jump on history, as he is now the first Indigenous Australian to win any of the prizes associated with the Archibald. He would, however, be very long odds to take out the big one - not because he’s Indigenous, but because he’s won the Packing Room Prize.