OLYMPIC gold medallist Cathy Freeman could provide the key to victory should Essendon take the points against Richmond in Saturday night's Dreamtime at the 'G clash at the MCG.

First-year Essendon coach Matthew Knights spoke of the impact Freeman had on his club after she delivered an inspiring speech at Windy Hill on Tuesday. Knights said Freeman touched on some "fabulous themes", which benefited not just the indigenous players at Essendon, but all involved in the red and black. 

"We went into the auditorium and all watched her 400-metre event from [the 2000] Sydney [Olympics and she was] someone who had enormous amount of pressure on her, representing Australia," Knights said.

"She spoke about the pressure, the experience and she spoke about how focused she was as an individual and how ruthless she was on her goals.

"It was really a great insight for our players and significant this week with Dreamtime at the 'G and it was just a great day for our club yesterday to have Cathy down there and have her down there for 30 or 40 minutes."

Richmond coach Terry Wallace, who has guided his side in its two previous Dreamtime at the 'G encounters, believes the match has reached similar heights to the Collingwood and Essendon Anzac Day clash.

"To see the crowds that have been here over the last couple of years and the way the game's grown, both the pre-match game and the game itself, it's very similar to the Anzac [Day] game that's been played in fantastic spirit over the last two years in particular," Wallace said.

"It's very, very similar to Anzac Day - it doesn't matter where the two sides are on the ladder, I think the understanding of what the game's about and how it's grown is not lost on the two clubs."

Versatile Bomber Nathan Lovett-Murray, who has featured in both Anzac Day and Dreatime at the 'G matches, believes both matches are on a par.

"I probably rate the Indigenous Round right up there as the same as the Anzac Day match," Lovett-Murray said.

"I played in my first Dreamtime at the 'G two years ago and the pride that I get playing in that game and representing all of the indigenous people around Australia - it's one of the highlights of my football career."

For Knights, the match is also significant on a personal level, as it will be the first time he has coached against Richmond in a premiership fixture - the club where he was named in the Team of the Century. 

"Yeah, there is [an extra sting in the match], there's no doubt about that," Knights said.

"I've said I've always been proud to be Richmond player and a Richmond captain and, when I first arrived at the club, the great Kevin Bartlett and Neville Crowe were standing out on Punt Rd and shaking tins, trying to keep the club alive.

"Going through that period and coming out the other side, the club is still alive today, so [I'm] proud.

"But [I] know this week it's game on and I'd love a win as much as anyone this week, but they're playing better and their form line's good, so it's going to be a tough contest."

Round nine is the AFL’s Indigenous Round, highlighting the relationship between the game and Indigenous Australia. This year’s round features a number of events, culminating in the Long Walk and the annual Dreamtime at the 'G game between Essendon and Richmond on Saturday night. Click here for full coverage.