Speaking at the launch of Saturday's Dreamtime at the 'G match, Essendon ruckman, Patrick Ryder, said the game had a meaning far beyond football.
 
“It is a great privilege to get the opportunity to play in the Dreamtime at the ‘G game because it is a chance to represent the Aboriginal people and celebrate their culture and everything they have brought to the AFL,” Ryder said.
 
“I am lucky to play alongside a number of Indigenous players at Essendon and we are all very much looking forward to representing Aboriginal people and their achievements at the MCG on Saturday.”
 
Ryder said his teammates are aware of the importance of the game and the entire squad was given a talk about key historic Indigenous players during the week.
 
The annual Dreamtime at the G match is a highlight of AFL Indigenous Round, which recognises thesignificant role the Indigenous community has played in shaping Australian Football.
 
 
 
Richmond’s Richard Tambling will play in his fifth Dreamtime at the G match this Saturday.
 
“The Dreamtime game is always a special occasion and I’m honoured to have played in the last four. I think it’s important to recognise the contribution of Indigenous players in the AFL, who help make it the most unique game in the world. The boys will be very keen to put on a show against Essendon in front of a big crowd at the MCG this weekend,” Tambling said.
 
Activities at the MCG will commence at 4.30pm when the Tiwi Islands’ Imalu Tigers play the Brumbuk Eels from western Victoria in a curtain-raiser.
 
The Long Walk will again play a key role on the night. Long Walk activities commence at Federation Square from 4pm, with the walk to the MCG via Birrarung Marr to begin at 5.50pm.Six hundredwalkers will make their way onto the MCG surface as part of the pre-match entertainment.
 
From 7pm the pre-match entertainment will feature multi-Aria award winning Indigenous artist Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, Dan Sultan and Scott Wilson along with a dance performance from the Movement Australia Dancers.
 
Prior to the match, respected Wurundjeri elder Joy Murphy-Wandin will conduct a short ‘Welcome to Country’ ceremony to welcome the clubs and spectatorsto the traditional lands of the local Indigenous community.
 
At halftime Qantas AFL KickStart participants from Far North Queensland will play the centre grid match while the 2009 Indigenous Youth Team, Flying Boomerangs, will walk a lap of the ground during the Dreamtime at the G halftime break.
 
The AFL has allocated 5000 general admission tickets for the game to local Indigenous community organisations who were invited to apply.
 
At the conclusion the game, the player judged best on ground will be presented with the Yiooken award. Pronounced yie-yoo-ken, it is a word from the Woiwurrung language of the Wurundjeri people which means ‘dreaming’. Previous winners of the award: 2006 Dean Polo, 2007 James Hird, 2008 Nathan Foley.
 
Network Ten is again supporting Dreamtime at the 'G and will broadcast the pre-match activities.
The curtain raiser between the Imalu Tigers and the Brambuck Eels will be aired on Southern Cross Television Central from 5pm EST. The match will be available in the Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania and regional Victoria.
 
Ten’s Luke Darcy will call the match alongside Charlie King and Gilbert McAdam. The match will also be shown on the Federation Square screen for Long Walk participants.
 
Dreamtime at the G Running Sheet
 
4.00pm Long Walk activities commence at Federation Square

4.15pm MCG gates open.

4.30pm Curtain-raiser match commences; Imalu Tigers (Tiwi Islands) v Brambuk Eels (Western Victoria)

5.50pm Long Walk leaves Federation Square for the MCG

6.20pm Walkers arrive at MCG

6.45pm 600 walkers enter the MCG as part of pre-match entertainment

7.00pm Pre-match entertainment commences (20 mins).

7.40pm Welcome to Country Ceremony performed by Joy Murphy-Wandin.

7.45pm Match commences.

8.50pm (appx) Half Time. Members of the Qantas AFL Kickstart program participate

in half time grid games and walk a lap of the MCG boundary

10.15pm (appx) Match concludes. Presentation of the Yiooken award

The Australian Government through the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) is proud to support Dreamtime at the 'G for a fourth year in 2009.

In collaboration with the AFL and its corporate partners, DEEWR highlights the opportunities for corporate Australia to take a leading role in closing the economic and social gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

The AFL is a valued member of DEEWR’s Corporate Leaders for Indigenous Employment program. Through this program, Indigenous Liaison Officers work with the AFL’s sponsors to create employment and training opportunities for Indigenous Australians. For more information about Indigenous employment call 1802 102.

Dreamtime at the G is also supported by DESA Australia and the Melbourne Cricket Club.