THE AFL and Melbourne on Friday confirmed this year’s Sir Doug Nicholls round would start in Alice Springs, when the Demons host Adelaide.

The round 10 match, to be played at TIO Traeger Park on Sunday, May 27, will mark the start of a week-long celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and their contributions to Australian Football.

Speaking at Desert Park in Alice Springs on Friday, the AFL’s general manager inclusion and social policy Tanya Hosch said Sir Doug Nicholls Round gives the football community the opportunity to formally celebrate and acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players, communities and cultures.

“The AFL has celebrated Australia’s first people’s cultures through a dedicated round for 12 years, with this year being the third time we’ve celebrated under the banner highlighting former South Australian Governor and ex-footballer Sir Doug Nicholls,” Hosch said.

“We look forward to celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures across a full week this year and at all levels of football, beginning in Alice Springs.

“The role football continues to play in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across the country is something we don’t take lightly. We are fully aware we have a responsibility to genuinely invest and support programs to ensure everyone has the same opportunities in football.

“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders continue be proudly represented in large numbers in our game – even though Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians make up about three per cent of the population in Australia, they make up close to 10 per cent of players in the AFL – and there is a long history of Aboriginal people excelling on the football field, many of whom have hailed from Alice Springs.”

Before the Melbourne-Adelaide match, the Central Australian Redtails, a representative team which also seeks to achieve social engagement outcomes through providing health and education program for Aboriginal footballers in the Red Centre, will play in a curtain-raiser against the Top End Storm representative team, with the match to be broadcast live by the Seven Network. The curtain-raiser will be followed by a 15-minute Aboriginal cultural performance.

“I would like to thank the Seven Network and Melbourne Football Club for their hard work and commitment to growing the Alice Springs match to become a marquee game alongside the ‘Dreamtime at the G’ game in Melbourne and the Marn Grook game in Sydney,” Hosch said.

Melbourne CEO Peter Jackson said the round 10 match was an outstanding opportunity to connect the game to something that is quintessential to the history and character of Australia – the Red Centre.

“Playing football in the centre of Australia is a truly unique experience and it’s a privilege for Melbourne to launch Sir Doug Nicholls Round in Alice Springs,” Jackson said.

“We have a genuine investment in the Northern Territory and have engaged with communities across the Territory for eight years. This is our fourth year playing in Alice Springs and we are excited to grow this game into a truly unique experience and fixture on the AFL calendar, while at the same time, delivering genuine and meaningful programs that create opportunities and experiences for the local Alice Springs community. 

“The club would also like to acknowledge the Seven Network, in particular Lewis Martin, who has shown incredible passion and commitment in bringing the Alice Springs showcase to life.

“We see this as a fantastic opportunity to grow the Alice Springs game, in partnership with the AFL and Channel Seven into the real dreamtime and a true celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, staged in the heart of our nation. 

“The club is also incredibly proud of our partnership with Rob Clark and the Redtails Football Club. The Redtails have achieved significant results in the through the power of football and we look forward to growing our partnership to strengthen talent pathways so that the local talent of Alice Springs can be showcased on the national stage.” 

About Sir Doug Nicholls Round

In 2007, following the success of ‘Dreamtime at the 'G matches in 2005 and 2006, the AFL nominated a specific Indigenous Round which in 2016, was renamed in honour of Sir Doug Nicholls. The round celebrates the relationship between the game and Indigenous Australia by connecting AFL fans to Indigenous culture. The round also celebrates the incredible impact Indigenous players have made on our game. 

Sir Doug, who epitomised the spirit of reconciliation, played 54 games for Fitzroy and was a brilliant all-round athlete. The first Aboriginal person to be knighted, he also served as Governor of South Australia and was devoted to the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

This year there are 80 male players who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander which makes up approximately 10 per cent of AFL lists, and 10 female players (about 5 per cent) who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander in the NAB AFL Women’s competition.