Dreamtime at the 'G facts for kids
Dreamtime at the 'G match logo
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| Teams | Essendon Richmond |
|---|---|
| First meeting | 9 July 2005 |
| Latest meeting | 21 May 2022 |
| Next meeting | 20 May 2023 |
| Broadcasters | Network Ten (2005–2011) Seven Network (2012–present) |
| Stadiums | Melbourne Cricket Ground (2005–2019, 2022–present) TIO Stadium (2020) Optus Stadium (2021) |
| Statistics | |
| Meetings total | 18 |
| All-time series (Australian Football League only) | Richmond – 12 wins Essendon – 6 wins |
| Largest victory | Richmond – 71 points (2 June 2018) |
The Dreamtime at the 'G is a special annual Australian rules football game. It's played between two big clubs, Essendon and Richmond.
Since 2007, this match happens every year on a Saturday night. It's part of the AFL's "Indigenous Round", also known as the Sir Doug Nicholls Round. The name "Dreamtime" comes from an important Aboriginal term. "The 'G" is a nickname for the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). This is where the game usually takes place. Only twice has it been played elsewhere, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Many people come to watch this game. It's one of the most popular matches of the season. Usually, over 70,000 fans attend. In 2017, a record 85,656 people watched! The team that wins gets the "Kevin Sheedy Cup". The best player in the game receives the "Yiooken Award".
Contents
History of the Game
The first Dreamtime at the 'G game was in 2005. Its main goal was to celebrate the amazing contributions of all Indigenous players to the AFL. It was first held during NAIDOC Week.
From 2006, the Yiooken Award started being given out. It goes to the player who performs best in the match.
In 2007, the game was so popular that the AFL created a special Indigenous Round. This round is now an annual event. The Dreamtime at the 'G match is the most important game in this round. Because of its huge success, the two clubs agreed in 2016 to keep the match going for another ten years.
Since 2016, the Indigenous Round has been named after Sir Doug Nicholls. He was an AFL player who was also knighted. He was the only Aboriginal person and AFL player to become a state governor. Every year, players from all 18 clubs wear special jerseys. These jerseys feature artwork by an Indigenous artist. In 2019, former Essendon player Michael Long was honored during this round.
In 2020, the game had to be played at TIO Stadium in Darwin. This was because Melbourne was in lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, another lockdown in Victoria meant the game moved again. It was played at Optus Stadium in Perth.
The Long Walk
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The Dreamtime match is linked to a special event called The Long Walk. This is a charity inspired by Michael Long. He was an Indigenous former Essendon player. In 2004, he started walking from Melbourne towards Canberra. He wanted to bring attention to the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. He stopped his walk when the Prime Minister, John Howard, agreed to talk with him.
On the day of the Dreamtime match, The Long Walk holds a big community party. There's entertainment, activities, and information stalls. Before the game, Michael Long and thousands of others walk from Federation Square to the Melbourne Cricket Ground. This walk helps promote reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. In 2013, over 15,000 people joined the walk. Important leaders like Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and the Leader of the Opposition, Bill Shorten, have also attended.
Curtain Raisers
Sometimes, a shorter football match is played before the main game. These are called "curtain raisers". These matches are often between two Indigenous football teams from different parts of Australia.
| Year | Match/Series Name | Team | Team | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | West Australian Clontarf Aboriginal Academy Western Australia |
vs | Victorian Indigenous Victoria |
|
| 2006 | No curtain-raiser match, only entertainment and welcome ceremony | |||
| 2007 | Tiwi Bombers Tiwi Islands |
vs | Rumbalara Shepparton, Central Victoria |
|
| 2008 | Santa Teresa (Ltyentye Apurte) Alice Springs, Northern Territory |
vs | Fitzroy Stars Melbourne |
|
| 2009 | Imalu Tigers Tiwi Islands |
vs | Brambuk Eels Western Victoria |
|
| 2010 | Rio Tinto Challenge Cup | Northern Northern Australia |
vs | Southern Southern Australia |
Pre-match Ceremony
Before the game starts each year, there's a big show. It features Indigenous music and entertainment. For example, in 2008, famous musicians like Paul Kelly and Kev Carmody performed.
Match Results Summary
| Club | Winning years | Total wins | Yiooken Awards | Total awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essendon | 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014 | 6 | 2007, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2021 | 6 |
| Richmond | 2005, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 | 12 | 2006, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022 | 11 |
The Kevin Sheedy Cup
Since 2005, the winner of the Dreamtime at the 'G game receives the Kevin Sheedy Cup.
Kevin Sheedy is a very important person in Australian Rules Football. He played 251 games for Richmond. He was part of their winning teams in 1969, 1973, and 1974. He also won an award for being the best and fairest player in 1976. After playing, he became the coach for Essendon from 1981 to 2007. He coached 635 games and led Essendon to four premierships in 1984, 1985, 1993, and 2000. He is known for supporting Indigenous football, reconciliation, and education.
Images for kids
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Logo for the relocated match in Darwin in 2020.
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Logo for the relocated match in Perth in 2021.
See also
- Indigenous Team of the Century
- Indigenous All-Stars (Australian rules football)
- List of individual match awards in the Australian Football League
