St Kilda became the first Victorian AFL club to introduce an Indigenous day for their legion of fans on Saturday, an initiative encouraged by many of its First Nations players.

Bradley Hill (Noongar), Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (Kokatha/Narungga), Marcus Windhager (Pyemmariener), Lance Collard (Noongar), Liam Henry (Ballardong/Walmatjarri), J'Noemi Anderson (Warlpiri/Warumungu) and Natalie Plane (Kamilaroi) all supported the First Nations Family Day, with the event including a Euro-Yroke Marngrook junior clinic.

"The event is really being driven by our playing group – especially the First Nations boys – and the football department, along with support of the broader club, which has been excellent," a club spokesperson exclusively told National Indigenous Times.

"Aunty Katrina Amon (Hawthorn's Karl Amon's mother) has also been instrumental in getting it off the ground too."

The club utilised traditional knowledge held by St Kilda's First Nations players, the club embracing its players' mobs to share culture with supporters through Dreamtime yarns.

Cultural activities included a Welcome to Country, smoking ceremony, Blak market and Indigenous book readings.

In recent preseasons before the start of the AFL season proper, St Kilda has been conducting its own internal acknowledgement of Country, with a smoking ceremony at Moorabbin for its players, officials and staff.

However Saturday represented the first time the club extended an opportunity for its loyal supporters to participate in the spiritual event.

"The aim of the event is to not only celebrate First Nations culture and the impact that First Nations people have had on, not only the football landscape and St Kilda, but the community more broadly," the spokesperson said.

The club which has produced 34 Aboriginal players, all since 1951 – the most from the AFL/AFLW teams in the state – including 15 in the past 10 seasons alone paid a cultural tribute to its Indigenous players on Boonwurrung lands.

Wanganeen-Milera, who is studying a Business degree in Sports Management, is one Saint who is already leading the way through his First Nations role at the Tjindu Foundation.

The 21-year-old is working towards creating long-term positive change for Indigenous children across his home state of South Australia through cultural education.

"I'm very much enjoying my studying … and developing my skills outside of footy," he said.

"I'd love to one day explore a leadership position within the Indigenous community and use what I've learned to coach and mentor Indigenous youth."

The Indigenous elements included at the Saints' annual family day drew a mixed reaction online prior to the event from several of the club's supporters.

Some Saints fans on social media questioned the change away from past family days days out from the event, which did not include First Nations culture.

"What a divisive club we have become, why can't it just be a Family Day all welcome," one Saints fan said, while another added, "What (about) the rest of us? Is there going to be an Anglo Family Day, and a Greek family day, or an Asian Family Day? How ridiculous, are the Aboriginals unable to be among the rest of us? This is RACISM".

The Club had made it abundantly clear that all fans were welcome and no one was excluded from attending.

It said the annual gathering in February welcomed all supporters no matter their background, but supported a decision to be inclusive of Indigenous culture for others to better understand another perspective of society.

"(We're) really keen to emphasise that this event is open to everyone, not just First Nations people," the spokesperson said after acknowledging comments on the club's Facebook post that promoted St Kilda's First Nations Family Day.

There were more supporters of the Moorabbin faithful who backed the club's initiative and its decision to celebrate the culture of current and past players who have starred for the Saints over the years.

St Kilda has recruited superstars of the game, including Nicky Winmar and Gilbert McAdam, who one day back in 1993 famously showed off their Aboriginal pride in a record-breaking victory over Collingwood at Victoria Park up against the howls of many past racist footy supporters.

Michael Egan was one of the Saints followers to back one of the current team's most experienced Indigenous players, while pointing the finger at the haters inside the club's diverse fan base.

"Would any one of you dills have the ticker to say any of this to Brad Hill's face?" he wrote.

"Thought not, blowhard keyboard warriors."

Neil Prentice had sympathy for the many Aboriginal fans of St Kilda that have stuck by the club through thick and thin.

"It is sad to read so many deeply racist comments," he said.

"We have a great deal to learn as a society – inclusion benefits us all."

While Tony McPherson shared some quiet introspection behind supporting the First Nations Family Day at Moorabbin.

"Let's all be proud of our players and club, who wish to be inclusive and show support to our great young indigenous players, both past and present."