Matthew Knights is expecting a hungry Richmond to come out firing at the annual Dreamtime at the ‘G clash on Saturday night.
After two solid performances in the last two weeks, the Tigers will be looking to get their first win on the board against the Bombers on one of football’s biggest stages.
“The Tigers have had two really strong weeks without winning – one when travelling and one at home against the Hawks,” Knights said to Bomber.tv.
“We are expecting a really fired up Richmond and I think their midfield is getting in good touch, which will present a good challenge for our own midfield.
“They are in pretty good nick at the moment and are probably playing their best footy of the season.”
Knights - who says the Tigers have played good football in seven of their past eight quarters of the game - believes the Indigenous players on Essendon's list will be determined to shine in a game that celebrates Indigenous contribution to football.
“Dreamtime at the ‘G is a fabulous night for both the Essendon and Richmond Football Clubs and we are really looking forward to it,” he said.
“Our club has got fabulous links to Indigenous communities all over Australia.
“We have had great Indigenous people at our football club like Michael Long, Nathan Lovett-Murray and Paddy Ryder.”
Lovett-Murray is considered a good chance to return from a foot injury for the Dreamtime clash. The Bombers have eight Indigenous players on the 2010 list.
A crowd of more than 70,000 is expected for the game (details below of schedule of events) which will feature Essendon 'home-game' theming of the stadium including giant four metre pillars of our eight Indigenous Bombers.
4:00pm - The Long Walk activities begin at Federation Square
4.02pm - Rio Tinto Cup Curtain Raiser begins at MCG – Northern vs Southern
7.00pm - Dreamtime at the G presentation begins featuring:
- 600 Long Walk participants walking one lap around the boundary line (led by Michael Long)
- Call to Ceremony performed by Maurial Rose Spearim
- Archie Roach to perform
- Aunty Joy Murphy perform a smoking ceremony
- Introduction of the six creator spirits to music
- Bart Willoughby, Deline Brisco, Tjimba Possum Burns and guests to perform
7.30pm (approx) - Essendon and Richmond FC enter
7.40pm - Welcome to Country Ceremony
7.45pm - Match commences
8.50pm (approx) Half Time – Auskick / Flying Boomerangs Lap of Ground
10.20pm (approx) - On-field post match presentations of Yiooken trophy to the player adjudged best on ground and the Kevin Sheedy Cup to the winning team captain.
Legendary Bomber Michael Long made a stand for his people when he walked to Canberra in 2004 to meet the Prime Minister. Michael wanted to highlight the social inequities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. This Saturday night we ask Essendon supporters – and all football fans - to join Michael on the 2010 Long Walk.
