MAGIC SEES SUNNY DAYS FOR FOOTY

MICHAEL McLean looked back on four decades of involvement with the national game last night and decided the bridge between Indigenous footballers and the Australian public has finally been crossed.

The man they called ‘Magic’ in a 200-game career at the elite level – and groundbreaking playing and coaching roles with the Indigenous All-Stars – can see some sunny days ahead for players and fans.

McLean rated last night’s Dreamtime Game between Essendon and Richmond in Darwin as the culmination of 23 years of hard work since the word racist was first used in the AFL.

“Games like that are super important and a big part of educating people from all walks of life to connect with each other and in the case of Indigenous people, showcase their own culture,’’ he told the Sunday Territorian. “Having the Dreamtime Game in Darwin is sensational, there is something extra special about holding the game up here, even if it will probably never happen again.’’

McLean said Indigenous footballers were a lot more comfortable in the arena.

“Most definitely the playing side of it, considered to be your workplace, has gone from being pretty daunting and a sad place to being a lot healthier and easier for guys to go out and do their job,’’ he said.

“It’s good to see the players going out there now and playing with a lot more freedom as we witnessed the other night with the love people have for Eddie Betts and others like Izak Rankine, Jack Martin and Liam Jones doing some great things.’’

And the controversy surrounding the non-appearance of the coveted Aboriginal flag on playing arenas around the country?

“I’m disappointed. It is the people’s flag and I carried it proudly in the first (1994) Indigenous All-Stars game all those years ago,’’ he said. “That was a really proud day for us as a people and it’s sad that we can’t do it (last night) because they (VAM Clothing) won’t do it in tandem with the AFL.”