Fans heading to Adelaide’s match against Fremantle on Saturday night are encouraged to arrive early for a special celebration of the game’s Indigenous players and culture.
As part of the entertainment for the 2017 Toyota AFL Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round clash, the Adelaide Oval stadium lights will be turned off at about 6:30pm following the player warm-up.
The lights will remain off for the duration of the pre-match show, which includes a ceremony to recognise the incredible contribution of Indigenous people to the game.
Fans are encouraged to be seated by 6.30pm to enjoy it ahead of the 7.10pm clash.
The Adelaide Oval Stadium Management Authority are also urging patrons to allow additional time due to an increase in security measures for all events.
As part of the celebrations on Saturday night, there will be a Welcome to Country, smoking ceremony, Indigenous didgeridoo and song performance, and the playing of the didgeridoo ahead of the first bounce.
Indigenous music via Crow Radio will greet fans as they make their way into Adelaide Oval, and images of players will be showcased via lights at the southern entry.
Each player will have a mascot for the match.
Bendigo Bank has donated the opportunity to Crows Children’s Foundation partner Kickstart for Kids to give underprivileged children, including nine-year-old Indigenous twins Phrasswell and Wyatt, the opportunity to run onto the ground with their heroes.
Gates open at 5pm. From 5.05pm girls and boys, who participated in the 2017 McLeod Challenge – a nine-a-side round-robin football tournament for Year 8 and 9 students – will meet in two curtain-raiser matches.
Now in its fourth year, the McLeod Challenge is an integral part of the Crows' Indigenous programs led by Club legend Andrew McLeod and wife Rachael.
More than 280 students competed in an event held at the Club on May 12 for the opportunity to play in the curtain-raiser.
In the boys’ division, a combined team from Wiltja Secondary Collage and Woodville High School, together with the team from Rostrevor College and Wirreanda High School will play off in the final.
While in the girls’ division, a combined team from Roma Mitchell Secondary College and Henley High School will go up against Ocean View College.
Saturday night’s Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round match will be the pinnacle of a week of Indigenous cultural celebration at the Adelaide Football Club. Tickets are still available.
Crows players, coaching staff and Club administrators joined together on Wednesday for an Indigenous performance and to hear past players and elders share their experiences.
The Crows will wear a guernsey specially designed by accomplished South Australian artist Allan Sumner.
Fans can bid on the players’ match-worn guernseys and run-out t-shirts via CROWmania.
Leaders Taylor Walker and Rory Sloane, together with Eddie Betts, Charlie Cameron and Wayne Milera will also wear specially painted boots, designed by local Indigenous artist Shane Cook.
These boots will be auctioned to raise funds for the Crows Children’s Foundation, which helps kids in need.
This is the eleventh year the AFL has celebrated Indigenous Round and the second time the Round has been celebrated since being renamed after Sir Doug Nicholls.
Each match during the 2017 Toyota AFL Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round will have the Aboriginal flag painted in the centre circle, the Torres Strait Island flag painted on one of the 50 metre markings on each half of the field, and ‘67’ placed on the other 50 metre markings.
