The Essendon Football Club, Richmond Football Club and the AFL today 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 of the clubs and AFL community, and nominations for the award are being sought from all 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,"" Mr Demetriou said.

The Managing Director of the Essendon Football Club, Peter Jackson, said two key criteria to win the Dreamtime Player of the Year are: The playing record of the individual (they should have at least played at State League level) and the contribution the player made to the community, whether this is the Indigenous or the broader Australian community.

""In both Indigenous communities and the broader general community, Indigenous players have made their mark. This award will help to recognise that work and also recognise players who have embraced community leadership roles,"" Mr Jackson said.

Nominations for the award must be sent to the AFL by Wednesday, May 16, 2007.

The annual Richmond versus Essendon Dreamtime at the G match - 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 of the award will then present the Yiooken award to the player judged best on ground at the end of the match.

""The award's 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,"" Mr Jackson said.

The winner will be selected by a six person panel, which will be named in the near future, made up of a representative from the AFL, Essendon Football Club, Richmond Football Club, past Indigenous AFL players, an Indigenous community and AFL Sportsready.

Richmond CEO, Steven Wright, wanted to highlight that applications could come from all areas within the AFL community. ""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"", said Mr Wright.

Another highlight of Dreamtime at the G will be a pre-match clash between Essendon's affiliate club, the Tiwi Bombers and the Rumbalara Football and Netball Club. The Tiwi Bombers hail from the Tiwi Islands at the top of the Northern Territory (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.

Dreamtime at the G is in its third successful year and the match and surrounding activities have been so successful that the AFL has developed an Indigenous round across the competition in Round Nine. Dreamtime at the G will remain as the marquee event of this featured round.

Dreamtime at the G and the Indigenous Round is about recognising the unique and exciting contribution that Indigenous players have made to football. It also celebrates current players and the excitement that they provide and encourages the building of bridges between Indigenous cultures and communities and the rest of Australia.