New Dreamtime award
richmondfc.com.au
Thursday, May 10, 2007
THE Essendon Football Club, the Richmond Football Club and the AFL have announced that each year a retired indigenous player will be named the Dreamtime Player of the Year.
The award is an extension of the Essendon versus Richmond Dreamtime at the 'G activities, which this year will form the focus of the AFL's Indigenous Round in round nine.
This award is open to all clubs and the AFL community, and nominations for the award are being sought from clubs, state leagues and community groups.
AFL chief executive officer Andrew Demetriou said indigenous players had made an incredible on-field contribution to the game of Australian football and had made a similar impact in their work in the community.
"The award will recognise an indigenous player who has contributed significantly to AFL football, their club and community," Demetriou said.
Essendon managing director Peter Jackson said two key criteria to win the award were the playing record of the individual (they should have at least played at state league level) and the contribution the player had made to the community, either the indigenous or the broader Australian community.
Nominations for the award must be sent to the AFL by Wednesday, May 16, 2007.
The annual Dreamtime at the 'G match – to be played on Saturday, May 26, this year – will provide an ideal stage to celebrate the award recipient. This will include an official presentation of the award before the game, and the winner will then present the Yiooken award to the player judged best on ground.
"The (Dreamtime Player of the Year) name is a working title and members of the indigenous community have been asked to provide a name that encompasses the attributes of the award," Jackson said.
The winner will be selected by a panel of six made up of representatives from the AFL, Essendon, Richmond, past indigenous AFL players, an indigenous community and AFL Sportsready.
Richmond CEO Steven Wright said: "It is important to note that this award isn’t just about the two clubs participating in the Dreamtime at the 'G game, it’s about the celebration and recognition of all indigenous players and their work in the community. We certainly look forward to this being embraced by all clubs, state leagues and community groups and becoming a landmark award."
Another highlight of Dreamtime at the 'G will be a curtain-raiser between Essendon's affiliate club, the Tiwi Bombers, and the Rumbalara Football and Netball Club.
The Tiwi Bombers hail from the Tiwi Islands (home to Essendon and Richmond greats Michael Long and Maurice Rioli) and will play their first full season in the Northern Territory Football League this year. This will be the Tiwi Bombers' first game at the MCG.
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