League bosses have discussed various ways in which the game could permanently and tangibly recognise and celebrate Australia's Indigenous culture.
While unwilling to speculate as to what it might look like when implemented, AFL community engagement manager Jason Mifsud told AFL.com.au the launch of the League's Reconciliation Action Plan last week would help fast track his desire to see Australia's game permanently celebrate its first people.
A key part of the two-year Reconciliation Action Plan will be to further the game's acknowledgement and celebration of Indigenous culture.
"It's fair to say that over the last six to eight months we've really been able to give some greater consideration to a year-round acknowledgement and representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander contribution," Mifsud said.
"I'm really optimistic that over the next period of time we'll start to see some of those things brought to life over a 12-month period as opposed to a one-week period.
"You've got to balance the symbolism with the substance and we've worked really hard to ensure that the substance has been one that when tested stands the rigours of any scrutiny.
"Some of the initiative that we bring to life in Indigenous Round through symbolism, whether it be the jumpers, whether it be our partnership with Recognise, whether it be the indigenous footballs…I think all of those are significant and important opportunities for us to take under consideration," Mifsud said.
"There have been some preliminary discussions internally in relation to what that might actually mean and I guess with the announcement of our inaugural Reconciliation Action Plan, that'll help accelerate that discussion and eventually bring to life some of our own types of thinking."
Indigenous Round does a brilliant job of recognising the connection Australia's game has to its Indigenous people, but Hall of Fame inductee Andrew McLeod last week told AFL.com.au the time had come to discuss a longer-lasting celebration.
McLeod said to recognise the country's indigenous culture in the national game each round would make sense.
"Football's got many names, Marngrook is one of them," McLeod said.
"People talk about Women's Round and how we should be celebrating women in football all the time, I see [Indigenous Round] a bit like that – don't get me wrong – I think it's fantastic what's happened, every club has embraced the round.
"But there's no reason why we can't have a conversation about making something a bit more permanent."
Twitter: @AFL_Harry
