The annual Dreamtime at the G match between Richmond and Essendon has become a showcase event on the AFL fixture, celebrating Indigenous culture and Indigenous contributions to Australian Football. 

 

Essendon coach James Hird said he was looking forward to coaching his first Dreamtime match.

 

“Our club has significant ties to Indigenous communities across Australia and we are proud that the Essendon Football Club recognises Indigenous talent.

“The Dreamtime at the ‘G clash between Essendon and Richmond is always a wonderful night for the two clubs,” Hird said.

Former team mate and Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said Dreamtime at the G is an important part of the Tigers' fixture.

 

“We are privileged to be involved in this game, which has become one of the showpiece matches in the AFL calendar.

 

“It is important we recognise the contribution which Indigenous players have made to our great game, and the work the AFL and its clubs are doing to embrace reconciliation and Close the Gap,” Hardwick said.

 

Activities will commence at 4pm with the curtain-raiser match featuring participants from the Footy Means Business program. The curtain raiser will be broadcast on Southern Cross Television to remote areas (Central and Darwin markets) from 5.30pm AEST (90 minute delay). National Indigenous Television will replay the match on Sunday 29 May from 3.30pm AEST.

The AFL has allocated 5000 general admission tickets for the game to the community, including local Indigenous community organisations and schools.

 

The Long Walk activities commence at Federation Square from 4pm, with the walk to the MCG via Birrarung Marr to begin at 5.50pm.Six hundred walkers will make their way onto the MCG surface as part of the pre-match entertainment.

 

Pre-match entertainment will commence at 7pm and will include a traditional warrior dance, ‘Warrior for Life’ performedby Yung Warriors featuring Deline Briscoe, and Coloured Stone will perform ‘Black Boy’.

 

In memory of Maurice Rioli who passed away last December, his brothers John and Cyril Rioli II will toss the coin.

 

At the conclusion of 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 are: 2006 Dean Polo, 2007 James Hird, 2008 Nathan Foley, 2009 Jason Winderlich, 2010 David Hille.

 

Dreamtime at the G Running Sheet
3.45pm MCG gates open
4.00pm Curtain-raiser match commences
4.00pm Long Walk activities commence at Federation Square
5.50pm Long Walk leaves Federation Square for the MCG
6.20pm Walkers arrive at MCG
7.00pm Pre-match entertainment commences (17 mins)
7.04pm 600 walkers enter the MCG as part of pre-match entertainment
7.35pm Welcome to Country Ceremony performed by Aunty Joy Murphy-Wandin
7.40pm Match commences
8.50pm (appx) Half Time
10.15pm (appx) Match concludes. Presentation of the Yiooken award