Indigenous footballers still an important ingredient in the spotlight of the national game

Michael McLean declares the workplace that is AFL football a better place to be

All Stars coach Michael McLean and captain Andrew McLeod acknowledge the crowd after beating Carlton in 2003. Picture: Michael Marschall

MICHAEL McLean looked back on four decades of involvement with the national game last night and decided the bridge between indigenous footballers and the Australian public has finally been crossed.

The man they called ‘Magic’ in a 200-game career at the elite level and ground breaking playing and coaching roles with the Indigenous All-Stars, can see some sunny days ahead for the players and the fans.

McLean rated last night’s Dreamtime Game between Essendon and Richmond in Darwin as the culmination of 23 years hard work since the word racist was first used in the AFL.

“Games like that are super important and a big part of educating people from all walks of life to connect with each other and in the case of indigenous people, showcase their own culture,’’ he told the NT News.

“It’s also a chance to talk a little bit about the past and use the old saying ‘never forget where you come from’ when reminding ourselves it was pretty tough in the early days when a lot of people had to go through it.

“Having the Dreamtime Game in Darwin is sensational, there is something extra special about holding the game up here, even if it will probably never happen again.’’

McLean said indigenous footballers were a lot more comfortable on the playing arena now, though he said social media’s role was still questionable.

“For me that part of it is disappointing, but most definitely the playing side of it, considered to be your workplace, has gone from being pretty daunting and a sad place to be in to a lot more healthier and easier for guys to go out and do their job,’’ he said.

“It’s good to see the players going out there now and playing with a lot more freedom as we witnessed the other night with the love people have for Eddie Betts and others like Isaac Rankine, Jack Martin and Liam Jones doing some great things.’’

And the controversy surrounding the non-appearance of the coveted Aboriginal flag on playing arenas around the country?

“I’m disappointed, it is the people’s flag and I carried it proudly in the first (1994) Indigenous All-Stars game all those years ago,’’ he said.

“That was a really proud day for us as a people and it’s sad that we can’t do it today because they (VAM Clothing) won’t do it in tandem with the AFL.

“It’s a core business, I understand that and we don’t know the ins and outs behind the scenes, but it must have been a fair whack of money they were asking for.

“Good on the AFL for not throwing too much coin behind it, but hopefully common sense will prevail and some serious conversations about the future of the Sir Doug Nicholls Round and the Aboriginal flag will change things very quickly.’’