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This week the AFL is in the throes of heavily and appropriately promoting the newly named Sir Doug Nicholls Round, in celebration of our AFL Indigenous champions past and present.
The genesis of this round is not traced to the workings or genius of the AFL hierarchy, but in the outstanding advocacy led by Kevin Sheedy – one could argue the AFL does not need a marketing department thanks to Sheeds – and also Nicky Winmar and Michael Long – who stood up in their own respects to stamp out racism in footy in the ’90s.
As a result, “Dreamtime at the ‘G” was first held in 2005, with the aim being to celebrate the contribution of all Indigenous players to the AFL.
Personally, as a Swans supporter, I have been privileged to witness a range of champion Indigenous footballers play the game.
Derek Kickett, Jamie Lawson (until his tragic leg injury), Troy Cook, Lewis Jetta, and obviously the indomitable duo of Adam Goodes and Michael O’Loughlin have graced the SCG with their own brands of grace, pace, physicality and skill that embody the modern footballer.
After last week’s jaw-dropping display, defenders cannot allow Buddy Franklin any space 80 metres from the goal-square – he will probably start potting goals from half-back at the SCG.
Goodes also utilised the equivalent round last year to celebrate Indigenous heritage which prompted a significant debate on racism in Australia, and almost prematurely ended his career.
This year we are celebrating the 12th iteration of the “Dreamtime at the G”, which has expanded across the nation, whereby Indigenous players, families, artists and community leaders contribute to on-field events, towards advocacy, and to 18 jersey designs specifically for the weekend.
The next challenge is not to just celebrate Indigenous heritage and culture once a year on the footy calendar but regularly acknowledge this culture as a key part of Australia’s history, present and future. And to note we still have some challenges to address along the way.
Part of this is recognised through the Close the Gap campaign.
The campaign’s goal is to raise the health and life expectancy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to that of the non-Indigenous population within a generation: to close the gap by 2030.
Secondly, it seeks to ensure that Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child born in this country have the same opportunity as other Australian children to live a long, healthy and happy life.
As an example, one of the stark reminders of this gap is that Australia is the only developed nation in the world to still have trachoma. This entirely preventable eye disease disappeared from white Australia 100 years ago, and is only attributable to Indigenous Australians.
When Kevin Sheedy launched Indigenous Round in 2005, he said the following which encapsulates what this round is all about.
“Anzac Day is a very spiritual day for this country, there is no doubt about that – where men and women lost their lives. But this is about building a country.
“It’s in another direction, the people who were here first, and the people who have come since. It’s whether you get your act together and have the great country we should have.”
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