Essendon coach Brad Scott says strengthening Indigenous pathways in the AFL would benefit from a sector-led approach, rather than the bulk of responsibility being placed on individual clubs.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Scott revealed some of the points raised at the previous night's dinner between a group of Melbourne-based club coaches and league administrators, including chief executive Andrew Dillon.

It comes after reports former Bombers list boss Adrian Dodoro issued suggestions for bolstering Indigenous participation at the elite level in an email to Dillon and his predecessor Gillon McLachlan in an email four years ago.

63 male First Nations players sat on club lists ahead of the 2025 season, down from an all-time high of 86 in 2020 amid a five-year progressive decrease.

The last time there were less than 60 Indigenous players in the men's competition was 2006.

At present, the Bombers lineup for the league's leading fixture celebrating First Nations history and culture, Friday's Dreamtime at the 'G, may not include an Indigenous player.

It would be a first for the club across the fixture's 21-years.

Fitness of Jade Gresham, one of the club's two current Indigenous male players, will be assessed at training, with hopes he will return against the Tigers after missing the previous two weeks with an abductor injury. Alwyn Davey Jr hasn't featured in the senior side in 2025, playing out his start to the season in the VFL.

On Tuesday morning, The Herald Sun reported the club's former list head recruiter emailed Dillon and McLachlan with his concerns around Indigenous numbers in the game in 2021.

Dodoro reportedly wrote his fears were falling on "deaf ears" and the game was not providing "necessary incentives for Indigenous youth to play the game under the current system".

He is also said to have made suggestions for a club mandate to recruit one additional Indigenous player on a 12-month contract, with a linked scholarship and educational element, according to the outlet.

At the time, McLachlan reportedly responded saying the proposal "feels like a good idea on face value" without the matter progressing.

Former Bomber Dean Rioli told the Herald Sun, the number of Indigenous players across the league is "tracking backwards" and "Whatever the AFL is doing is not working. It doesn't mean it can't improve".

Rioli said the AFL could better support pathways-associated foundations and the grassroots level.

"There is just a monster, monster gap between say the Tiwi Bombers to where Maurice and Daniel (Rioli) are at right now," Rioli said, according to the Herald Sun.

"It is a really big challenge getting these kids to leave their homes (from regional areas) and get them to live a Victorian lifestyle, or Adelaide or Perth."

In February, National Indigenous Times asked AFL executive general manager of football Laura Kane about support systems in place for lower draft, rookie pickups and fringe players at clubs, particularly Indigenous players from smaller communities and/or interstate.

Kane said the league is in regular contact with clubs and healthcare teams about the support systems, and transition opportunities in place for players not regularly selected into senior sides, in a broad manner.

"We don't have a different plan for different players on the list, but we're also really mindful that for the players who are playing consistent AFL football, AFLW football, we need to be really tuned into what happens next," Kane said, adding "there's so many different conversations that occur, but all of them are geared towards extending their lifetime on an AFL list, which is where we know they want to be."

Last week, coinciding with the first week of Sir Doug Nicholls Round, AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon wrote a memo to all 18 clubs asking them to consider what they as clubs, the league, players and coaches to consider to improve elite environments for Indigenous and multicultural players, and players of colour.

Scott said on Tuesday that recruiting pathways and developing talent, in a broad sense, and who takes responsibility for this were part of discussions between coaches and league administrators at the previous night's dinner.

"We're obviously playing in a massive game this Friday night at the MCG, Dreamtime at the 'G. And you know, we're looking to foster Indigenous pathways, and that's something that I think we can always do better," the Essendon coach said.

"It's been a really important part of our game's history. How do the clubs and the AFL develop better pathways for all boys and girls? But in particular, as it relates to this Friday night's game, Indigenous pathways.

"A lot of that's been pushed on the clubs, I think it takes an industry approach, rather than just the club approach."

Scott said pointing to reasons why numbers have decreased is complex.

"I think the Coates (Talent) League is one of the best things to happen to AFL football in the last 30 years, and we need to resource that as well as we possibly can to foster all talent, but in particular, Indigenous talent," he added.

Also in February, Kane told National Indigenous Times an expansion Flying Boomerangs and Woomera programs, increased playing opportunities or introduction of all-Indigenous setups in Victoria's Talent League and interstate colts and high-performance competitions are "all really good ideas, and I think we should consider all of the above".