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Dreamtime at the 'G is an annual Australian rules football match between Australian Football League clubs Essendon and Richmond.

The name of the match is comes from Australian Aboriginal mythology The Dreaming or Dreamtime and the Australian, but more specifically Victorian, colloquial reference to the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the 'G, where the match takes place.

Since the 2007 season the match has been held on Saturday night of the AFL's Indigenous Round (round 9).

The winning club is awarded the Kevin Sheedy Cup and the best player on the ground is awarded the Yiooken Award.

History

Dreamtime at the 'G was first held in 2005, with the aim being to celebrate the contribution of all indigenous players to the AFL^[1]. Essendon and Richmond were chosen to play in the match because their combined jumper colours - red, yellow and black - make up the colours of the Aboriginal Flag.

From 2006, the Yiooken Award has been awarded to the player judged best on ground in the match^[2]. In 2007, following the success of the Dreamtime at the 'G match in 2005 and 2006, the AFL nominated a specific Indigenous Round (round 9) which has become an annual event in which the Dreamtime at the 'G match takes centre stage.

The game is the only time either club wears their clash jumper.

The Long Walk

The match is associated with the pre-game ritual "The Long Walk" [1], which is a reconciliation program spearheaded by indigenous former Essendon player Michael Long. Prior to the game, Long and several other participants walk from Federation Square to the Melbourne Cricket Ground to promote reconciliation.

Curtain Raiser

A curtain-raiser match is held between two Indigenous football teams from around Australia and its territories.

Pre-match ceremony

Each year the game is preceded by an extravagant indigenous-based music and entertainment show. Performers in 2008 included Paul Kelly and Kev Carmody.

Match results

Kevin Sheedy Cup

Kevin Sheedy played 251 games for Richmond as, primarily, a back-pocket player, kicking 91 goals. He played in their 1969, 1973 and 1974 Premiership teams. He won the 1976 best & fairest award, captained the club in 1978, was named on their Team of the Century at left back-pocket and inducted into the Richmond Hall of Fame in 2002. He retired in 1979.

He then went on to coach Essendon from 1981 to 2007, amassing 635 games as coach and led the club to Premierships in 1984, 1985, 1993 & 2000. He was named as coach of the Essendon Team of the Century.

Sheedy's strong connection with both Essendon and Richmond, as well as his nurturing of Australian indigenous players as coach of Essendon, led to the Cup being named after him.

References