Essendon is set to host the inaugural Dreamtime at Maali against Richmond at Optus Stadium next season.

The historic fixture marks a new chapter in the Club’s proud connection to First Nations football and its commitment to celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures through the game.

Since its introduction in 2005, Dreamtime at the ‘G has grown into one of the AFL’s most significant annual occasions, bringing together football, culture and community. The fixture was played at Optus Stadium in 2021, when COVID restrictions forced it out of Melbourne.

Essendon’s connection to communities beyond Victoria stretches back decades, with the Club regularly travelling interstate and to regional centres to bring football to supporters across the country.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the Bombers played matches in locations including Darwin, Cairns and Mount Gambier, helping establish relationships with communities that rarely had the opportunity to see VFL and AFL football firsthand.

The Northern Territory became a particularly important part of the Club’s history.

In 1986, Essendon travelled to Darwin to face an NTFL representative side at Gardens Oval, beginning a series of visits that strengthened the Club’s connection to the Top End.

Those relationships formed part of Essendon’s broader Indigenous football history, with future champions such as Michael Long and Dean Rioli leaving a lasting legacy in the red and black.

Essendon’s commitment to connecting with communities across Australia has remained an important part of its identity, with Dreamtime at Maali providing another opportunity to take Essendon football beyond its traditional home.

The foundations of Dreamtime at the ‘G as a fixture on the AFL calendar can be traced back to 2004, when Dons champion Long embarked on his historic Long Walk towards Canberra.

Long’s journey called for greater attention to the challenges facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and inspired a movement that continues to bring Australians together.

A year later, Essendon and Richmond came together for the inaugural Dreamtime at the ‘G. First played on July 9, 2005, the match marked the beginning of what would become one of the AFL’s most recognised annual traditions.

The fixture continued to grow in significance, with the AFL officially introducing an Indigenous Round in 2007.

Today, Dreamtime at the ‘G is a major occasion on the football calendar, with The Long Walk bringing thousands of supporters together ahead of the match each year.

The celebration has also extended into the AFLW competition, with Essendon and Richmond taking Dreamtime to Darwin and continuing to recognise the importance of Indigenous culture and connection through football.

With the Maali edition taking place during NAIDOC Week, the new fixture forms part of a two-year partnership with Tourism Western Australia and will provide a new opportunity to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures on a national stage.

The match will also recognise Western Australia’s rich Indigenous football history and the significant contribution of First Nations players and communities to the game.

Beyond the on-field action, both clubs will work alongside local communities to deliver a week of activities and engagement opportunities, with a particular focus on youngsters.

As part of that week, Essendon will take its Marngrook Kids program to Perth. Co-designed with First Nations community members and The Long Walk, the program uses traditional games, storytelling and play to help children connect with First Nations cultures.

With the fixture falling during the school holidays, the occasion also provides an opportunity for Essendon supporters across Australia to travel west and be part of the historic event.

More than 20 years after the first Dreamtime at the ‘G, the move to Perth represents another significant milestone in the fixture’s history, continuing its growth while remaining connected to the cultural recognition and community engagement at its heart.

Dreamtime at the ‘G will also continue in 2027, with Richmond set to host the Melbourne game.