Locale Melbourne, Victoria First meeting 2005 Next meeting TBA | Teams EssendonRichmond Latest meeting 28 May 2016 | |
Broadcasters Network Ten (2005-2011)Seven Network (2012-present) | ||
Dreamtime at the 'G is an annual Australian rules football match between Australian Football League clubs Essendon and Richmond.
Contents
- History
- Notable matches
- The Long Walk
- Curtain Raiser
- Pre match ceremony
- Match results
- Kevin Sheedy Cup
- References
The name of the match 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 each year.
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. It was held during NAIDOC Week.
From 2006, the Yiooken Award has been awarded to the player judged best on ground in the match. 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.
Notable matches
The Long Walk
The match is associated with the pre-game ritual "The Long Walk", which is a charity inspired by Indigenous former Essendon player Michael Long, who walked to Canberra in 2004 to get the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people back on the national agenda. On the day of the Dreamtime game, The Long Walk hold a community celebration featuring entertainment and activities as well as community organisation information stalls. Prior to the Dreamtime match, Long, and several other thousand participants walk from Federation Square to the Melbourne Cricket Ground to promote reconciliation. In 2013, over 15,000 participants walked to the MCG. 2014 marks The Long Walk's 10th anniversary.
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
Wins
Essendon: 6
Richmond: 6
Kevin Sheedy Cup
In 2005 Richmond and Essendon first competed for the Kevin Sheedy Cup. The cup has continued to be awarded to the winner of each Dreamtime at the 'G game.
Sheedy has a strong connection with both Essendon and Richmond, having played 251 games for Richmond including 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. He was a selector for the Indigenous Team of the Century and has championed Indigenous football, reconciliation, and education.