For Noongar umpire Joshua James there's no greater stage or privilege that officiating during Indigenous round - let alone Saturday's Dreamtime game at Princes Park.

After debuting in round one of the AFLW season, James thought his tenure between the goals was likely over with finals approaching if more senior umpires were favoured at the pointy end.

Getting this far was a pipedream when he started umpiring as a teen in his home state out west.

James is just the second Indigenous person to umpire at the top level after icon Glenn James, no relation, plied his trade in the 1970s and 80s.

"By far the main reason as to why I wanted to get into AFL elevation from the VFL is to get more scope and be that leader or champion person where people can look up to," he said.

"Seeing someone from your cultural background or your beliefs…seeing someone succeed gives you that motivation to be able to push and succeed yourself and I think I'm doing that which I'm really proud of."

Messages of support, pride and acknowledgement have flowed in from mob "just touching bases having a yarn about Aboriginal person doing AFL footy".

"There's word getting out there that there are other possible ways of employment through the AFL other than playing," he said.

Before debuting as a goal umpire, James told National Indigenous Times if there's only two games he umpires this season, he hoped Sir Doug Nicholls Round would be the second.

Wearing his own design just adds to it.

All umpires will pull on a specialist shirt alongside the club's Indigenous guernseys this weekend.

"Mob back home back will be able to see me wearing it…I'm actually really excited about what the story holds," James said.

"By wearing it myself, it gives me (and others) strength and the determination to overcome any challenge I have. Whether it be on the football field, or personal life…regardless of your religious beliefs, the colour of your skin, sexual orientation, everyone's included."

He hopes that strength and prompt for reflection extends to others.

James was named as goal umpire for the Dreamtime game between Essendon and Richmond earlier this week.

"For an Indigenous person umpiring or playing during indigenous land is one of the biggest things that can happen," he said.

Next year, James' focus is maintaining progression towards senior umpiring in the AFL.

He's also looking at strengthening pathways for Indigenous umpires to follow in his footsteps.