Covid-19 shake-up an opportunity for the AFL to bring the Dreamtime Game to the Territory for a second year

As Covid-19 throws the AFL season into chaos for a second straight year, the AFL has the opportunity to once again bring the game north, to the place it should be played every year.

WHEN Richard Fejo stood in front of the Covid-19 reduced capacity crowd at TIO Stadium for the 2020 AFL Dreamtime match and addressed the nation on national television during his Welcome to Country, it was a moment that made the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.

Surrounded by dancers dressed in the colours of Richmond and Essendon, the speech was rousing, galvanising and uniting.

“Welcome to the Dreamtime in Darwin,” he said.

“Look after each other and look after yourselves.

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“You have come by way of Larrakia land.

“You will hear the voices of our ancestors and when you leave you will take the Larrakia message with you.”

It was the perfect moment for the perfect occasion and was followed by loud cheers from the Top End crowd happy to see the culturally significant match played before their own eyes.

And now as Covid-19 throws the AFL season into chaos for a second straight year, the AFL has the opportunity to recreate the same moment next weekend when the Tigers and Bombers are due to play in the Sir Doug Nicholls Round.

Richmond star Daniel Rioli, wearing the Indigenous Round Dreamtime jumper he designed with his parents in the Tiwi Islands, ready to play in the Dreamtime Game at Darwin’s TIO Stadium last year. He holds a local Indigenous football called a Marngrook (meaning game ball) with links to the AFL game. Picture: David Caird

Bring the game north, bring it to the place it should be played every year.

Mr Fejo and the Larrakia people proved Darwin is more than capable of making the match a massive occasion on the AFL calendar.

Make it happen.

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