Dreamtime game grows into indigenous round
Emma Quayle
The Age
December 16, 2006
THE EMERGING tradition of the Dreamtime at the 'G game will grow even stronger next season, when the AFL devotes an entire round to celebrating indigenous footballers and their culture.
Round nine has been set aside as "indigenous round," with Essendon to play Richmond on Saturday night at the MCG, and other clubs to acknowledge the contribution of Aboriginal players.
The Dreamtime at the 'G game was created by Bombers coach Kevin Sheedy in 2005, with the two teams' colours — red, black and yellow — the colours of the Aboriginal flag.
The AFL's general manager of marketing, communications and public affairs, Colin McLeod, said after the success of last season's game, other clubs had sought to be involved.
He said the week's schedule would be settled early in the new year but that there would be an emphasis on promoting awareness of the various issues facing indigenous people and communities.
The plan comes after 15 young Aboriginal players were chosen by clubs at last month's national draft. Last year, 1000 people participating in the annual Long Walk walked across the William Barak Bridge into the MCG as part of the pre-match entertainment, before the Tigers won the game by two points and first-gamer Dean Polo won the Yiooken award as best on ground.
"The game's been such a big success that what we really want to do is make it bigger," McLeod said. "It's not about trying to give football a pat on the back because there are lots of indigenous kids playing, it's about trying to raise some awareness, because a lot of challenges faced by indigenous people don't just end because they become AFL footballers.
"It's a celebration. We want to salute indigenous footballers and reflect on how far we've come, but also say something very clear about how much further we've got to go."
The indigenous round will become the league's seventh themed round. Round three is rivalry round, round five recognises Anzac Day and round 17, the heritage round, has a 1970s theme.
The AFL has decided to make its women's round (round 19) distinct from the round seven Mother's Day round, and will push its "respect and responsibility" message.
"We thought Mother's Day had its own vitality, and that it was worth recognising the other many different roles that women play in football," McLeod said.
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