The AFL launched its annual Sir Doug Nicholls Round celebrating First Peoples and the contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to the game at Melbourne's Marvel Stadium on Tuesday.
Named in honour of Nicholls, a Yorta Yorta man, former activist, pastor, governor of South Australia and Fitzroy Football Club player from Cummeragunja Mission in New South Wales, the round has carried his name since 2016.
The tradition was previously celebrated as Indigenous Round.
Across rounds 10 and 11 of the AFL season, all 18 AFL clubs will don Indigenous jumper designs.
On Tuesday, the league's general manager of inclusion and social policy Tanya Hosch spoke of 2023's theme, Moments Forged by First Nations.
"This year Sir Doug Nicholls Round is recognising unforgettable moments and contributions of past and present Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and umpires who paved the way for First Nations people in our game," Ms Hosch said.
The opening weeks of the 2023 season were marred by a string of racial and vilifying incidents directed towards Indigenous players, sparking Ms Hosch to reiterate the league's stance on the issue at the launch.
"Too many of our players, who are just out there doing their jobs…are still subject to too much racism. And we know that's the tip of the iceberg when we think about what must be going on in communities," she said.
Ms Hosch said the league continues its efforts towards wiping out racism within a sport which she said has had a "powerful impact in helping educate this country" on the contributions of First Nations people.
Among the incidents of abuse directed towards players, ongoing Hawthorn racism investigations have ignited a heightened environment of scrutiny on the AFL.
In recent weeks, Ms Hosch distributed a memo to all clubs encouraging each to take respond back with a position on the proposed Indigenous Voice to Parliament with a league-wide stance expected to follow.
Ms Hosch recently told National Indigenous Times that all clubs that have expressed their view to the league have been in favour of the Voice.
"I've only heard from supportive clubs so far," she said.
Speaking at the launch, AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan hinted at a 'yes' stance, saying it would be "odd" for an organisation of their size and significance not to express a view.
His comments come after push back from prominent public figures - including former Prime Minister John Howard, who told The Australian: "..a national or state body to take a position on the Voice is potentially divisive and disturbing to fans and followers".
A formal stance looks set to follow an AFL Commission meeting on Wednesday.
McLachlan said people could "join the dots" on the timing of the announcement ahead of the start of Sir Doug Nicholls Round.
"I don't like to talk to commission meetings, but there's a commission meeting (on Wednesday) and we've got Sir Doug Nicholls round coming up so you can probably join the dots about the timing on that," McLachlan said on Tuesday.
McLachlan said he is "hopeful" of a mediation process beginning between parties involved in the Hawthorn Investigations.
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Photo: (left to right) Hawthorn's Jarman Impey, Essendon's Jayden Davey, AFL GM inclusion and social policy Tanya Hosch, Carlton's Jesse Motlop, Aunty Pam Pedersen (daughter of Sir Doug Nicholls), Geelong's Brandan Parfitt, Sir Doug Nicholls Round honoree Glenn James, Richmond's Maurice Rioli Jr, Collingwood's Bobby Hill, AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan, Josh James and St Kilda's Bradley Hill. Image: Jarred Cross.
