Adelaide is proud to host its second Indigenous Round home fixture this Saturday night against Fremantle at Adelaide Oval, supported by The Maxima Group.
Crows Hall of Famer and games record holder Andrew McLeod spoke with afc.com.au to discuss the significance of the AFL’s Indigenous Round, the importance of role models to Indigenous youth, and the story behind Adelaide’s 2015 Indigenous Round guernsey.
“I’m proud to have both Aboriginal and Torres Strait bloodlines.
“On my Aboriginal side, we are the Wardaman from west of Katherine in the Northern Territory. From my Torres Strait side, my family is part of the Wagadagam people from the Badu and Mabuiag Islands.
“Sport was very important to me growing up, and I had many great role models including several footballers, who I really looked up to.
“Back home in Darwin, I had Michael McLean who was one of my role models and a great leader. I was very lucky because he was married to my cousin, so I used to pick his brain a lot as a kid.
“Obviously, the likes of Michael Long, Maurice Rioli, Gil McAdam and Darryl White were also important to me as we all came from the same place.
“Looking back now, I can understand and appreciate the impact these great role models had on my life. So it’s nice that someone like Eddie Betts can say that about me these days.
“I’m sure there are plenty of other young blokes, just like Cam Ellis-Yolmen and Charlie Cameron right now, who would say the same thing about Eddie (Betts). He is their role model that they both look up to.
“Indigenous Round is such a special occasion for us as a people. We’re the oldest living culture in the world and it’s a chance for us to recognise and celebrate what is something truly special about Australia.
“And it’s not just about us, either.
“When we designed the guernsey it was about us as a football club. We wanted all the players to embrace it because we think it’s important that they are aware of our history.
“Continuing our story is important through the Indigenous Round jumper, but it’s also continues the story about us as a footy club. Although we are quite young compared to other clubs, we’ve already built such as strong culture and a proud history that is important to everyone who represents the footy club. We need to continue to grow that.
“The Club has had a strong history of drafting Indigenous boys.
“We’ve had 20 Aboriginal boys who have been drafted or who have played with the football club in our first 25 years. What we’re trying to do with our Indigenous Programs is, hopefully, grow that number and make it a place that the boys want to come. We want to be a destination club for the young blokes coming through the system.
“Having strong role models like Eddie, Cam, Charlie and Anthony involved makes it a reality for us.
“I hope people feel a sense of pride when they put on this jumper – the same pride that the players do when they represent this football club.”
