EVEN as a veteran of AFL/AFL Players' Association Indigenous All Stars camps, Bradley Hill was still learning about his people's culture on last week's trip to far north Western Australia.
Hill joined 54 other indigenous AFL players who flew to Broome for the four-day camp, which focused on personal and cultural development as well as industry education.
For the 23-year-old Fremantle recruit, who has previously been to Alice Springs and Perth with the All Stars, visiting the Kimberley region for the first time was an eye-opener.
"All Aboriginal cultures are different," Hill told AFL.com.au. "So we saw how they do things.
"All the indigenous people speak a different language and go about it in a different way.
"The dances are different no matter what community you're in.
"I've learned that they've got skin groups with people you can marry and who you can't and who your family are.
"That was the first time I've heard about it. It's pretty interesting."
Parts of the camp were football focused, with the players training together, running a huge clinic for hundreds of local children and learning about coaching and umpiring pathways from Mark 'Choco' Williams and Leigh Fisher, respectively.
But there was also a heavy emphasis on the players connecting with their culture.
At One Arm Point – more than three hours north of Broome and only accessible by four-wheel drive – they were treated to traditional dance performances, ate local turtle meat cuisine and went spearfishing.
"Lindsay Thomas caught a fish with his first throw," Hill said.
"Then they showed us around their area where they're from and their land and we went with a swim with all the kids, so it was pretty fun."
With the JLT Community Series and premiership season fast approaching, the camp was a chance for the game's indigenous players to bond in a relaxed environment before focusing on the business of winning football matches.
"You can't get a word in, everyone's talking and laughing the whole time. It gets pretty loud the energy and buzz," Hill said.
"Everyone loves being around each other and in each other's company.
"Everyone gets a bit out of it, players and staff."
AFL general manager inclusion and social policy Tanya Hosch said the camp supported the personal and professional development of the game's indigenous stars.
"We have worked with our players to ensure the camp has a strong cultural focus and celebrates and strengthens their cultural identity," Hosch said.
"Our game is the number one choice sport for many indigenous Australians across the country and to see 15 per cent of all players drafted last year identify as indigenous men shows the strong links between football and indigenous people.
"We hope all of these footballers continue to enhance their leadership capacity and continue the legacy of great indigenous footballers who have laid the foundations for their success."
Players who attended the camp:
Brisbane Lions: Allen Christensen, Cedric Cox
Carlton: Jarrod Pickett, Kym LeBois, Liam Jones, Sam Petrevski-Seton
Collingwood: Kayle Kirby, Mitchell McCarthy
Essendon: Jake Long
Fremantle: Bradley Hill, Danyle Pearce, Michael Walters, Stephen Hill
Geelong: Brandan Parfitt, Jamaine Jones, Nakia Cockatoo, Quinton Narkle
Gold Coast: Brandon Matera, Callum Ah Chee, Jack Martin, Jarrod Harbrow, Sean Lemmens, Steven May
Greater Western Sydney: Jeremy Finlayson, Nathan Wilson
Hawthorn: Cyril Rioli, Kieran Lovell, Shaun Burgoyne
Melbourne: Dion Johnstone, Jeffrey Garlett
North Melbourne: Jed Anderson, Jy Simpkin, Lindsay Thomas, Paul Ahern
Port Adelaide: Aidyn Johnson, Brendon Ah Chee, Chad Wingard, Jake Neade, Jarman Impey, Karl Amon, Patrick Ryder, Sam Powell-Pepper
Richmond: Daniel Rioli, Nathan Drummond, Shai Bolton, Shane Edwards, Tyson Stengle
St Kilda: Ben Long, Jade Gresham
West Coast: Josh Hill, Malcolm Karpany, Lewis Jetta, Francis Watson, Sharrod Wellingham, William Rioli
