Dreamtime at the 'G

Dreamtime at the 'G
Locale Melbourne, Victoria
Teams Essendon
Richmond
First meeting 2005
Latest meeting 28 May 2016
Next meeting TBA
Broadcasters Network Ten (2005-2011)
Seven Network (2012-present)
Statistics
Most wins Essendon
Richmond (6 wins each)
Largest victory Essendon – 50 points
(31 May 2014)
Richmond – 38 points
(24 May 2008, 28 May 2016)

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

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.[1] It was held during NAIDOC Week.[2]

From 2006, the Yiooken Award has been awarded to the player judged best on ground in the match.[3] 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",[4] 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.

Year Match/Series Name Team Team
2005[5] West Australian Clontarf Aboriginal Academy
Western Australia
vs Victorian Indigenous
Victoria
2006 No curtain-raiser match, entertainment and welcome ceremony[3]
2007[6] Tiwi Bombers
Tiwi Islands
vs Rumbalara
Shepparton, Central Victoria
2008[7] Santa Teresa (Ltyentye Apurte)
Alice Springs, Northern Territory
vs Fitzroy Stars
Melbourne
2009[8] Imalu Tigers
Tiwi Islands
vs Brambuk Eels
Western Victoria
2010[9] Rio Tinto Challenge Cup Northern
Northern Australia
vs Southern
Southern Australia

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

Year Home Team Score Away Team Score Attendance Yiooken Award Winner Game Report
2005 Richmond 14.8 (92) Essendon 9.12 (66) 49,975 -
2006 Essendon 13.17 (95) Richmond 13.19 (97) 58,439 Dean Polo (Richmond) [10]
2007 Richmond 12.12 (84) Essendon 12.20 (92) 61,837 James Hird (Essendon) [11]
2008 Essendon 10.12 (72) Richmond 16.14 (110) 60,333 Nathan Foley (Richmond) [12]
2009 Richmond 12.13 (85) Essendon 19.11 (125) 73,625 Jason Winderlich (Essendon) [13]
2010 Essendon 19.16 (130) Richmond 14.11 (95) 64,709 David Hille (Essendon) [14]
2011 Richmond 16.9 (105) Essendon 13.11 (89) 83,563 Trent Cotchin (Richmond) [15]
2012 Essendon 19.14 (128) Richmond 15.19 (109) 81,200 Brett Deledio (Richmond)
2013 Richmond 9.8 (62) Essendon 13.13 (91) 84,234 Jobe Watson (Essendon)
2014 Essendon 15.14 (104) Richmond7.12 (54) 74,664 Brendon Goddard (Essendon)
2015 Richmond 10.12 (72) Essendon 8.11 (59) 83,804 Brandon Ellis (Richmond) [16]
2016 Essendon 10.7 (67) Richmond 16.9 (105) 56,948 Dustin Martin (Richmond) [17]

Wins

Essendon: 6

Richmond: 6

Kevin Sheedy Cup

In 2005 Richmond and Essendon first competed for the Kevin Sheedy Cup.[18] 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.[19]

See also

References

  1. Karen Lyon (6 July 2005). "Tigers, Bombers conjure 'Dreamtime at the 'G'". Melbourne: The Age.
  2. Callander, Sean (2005). "Football Dream". AFL Record (Round 15): 12–13.
  3. 1 2 "Dreamtime at the G - 2006". Essendon Football Club. 10 May 2007. Archived from the original on 14 May 2007. Retrieved 18 August 2009.
  4. "Dreamtime at the G". Melbourne: Essendon Football Club. 5 July 2005. Archived from the original on 14 May 2007.
  5. "2007 Dreamtime at the G". Melbourne: AFL Bigpond Network. 23 May 2007.
  6. "Indigenous curtain-raiser at Dreamtime at the 'G". Melbourne: Essendon Football Club. 21 May 2008.
  7. "Ryder says Dreamtime will be something special". Melbourne: Essendon Football Club. 20 May 2009.
  8. "Dreamtime clash inspires Bombers". Melbourne: Essendon Football Club. 21 May 2010.
  9. "Polo recognised for starring debut". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 9 May 2006. Retrieved 18 August 2009.
  10. "Dreamtime delight for the Bombers". Melbourne: Essendon Football Club. 26 May 2007.
  11. Burgan, Matt (24 May 2008). "Bombers fall to Tigers". AFL BigPond Network.
  12. Witham, Jennifer (23 May 2009). "Dons down Tigers by 40". AFL BigPond Network.
  13. Burgan, Matt (22 May 2010). "Dons in dreamland after easy win". AFL BigPond Network.
  14. Goraya, Raman (21 May 2011). "Young Tigers beat Bombers on big stage". ABC.
  15. "Dustin Fletcher's 400th AFL match ends with Richmond Tigers beating Essendon Bombers by 13 points". Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  16. "Match report: Tigers make it three straight with win over Dons". Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  17. Wilson, Caroline; Rielly, Stephen (3 March 2006). "Dons, Tigers join in 'dream' game". The Age.
  18. McLaughlin, Murray (12 February 2007). "Sheedy still promoting Indigenous football talent". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
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