Michael Long kicked off the AFL's showpiece celebration of Indigenous history and culture on Friday, calling on all Australians to create a better country for future generations.
A sea of people joined the Essendon great on the procession to the MCG for the annual Long Walk.
76,000 fans packed the stands at a historic Dreamtime at the 'G, the first played on a Friday, for its 21st edition and 10th Sir Doug Nicholls Round, to see the Bombers overrun Richmond 11.15 (81) - 8.10 (58).
Bombers debutant Angus Clarke was the feel-good story for the night, starting his AFL career with three majors before half time, before his side took control from the mid-way point of the third term.
Nick Martin took home the Yiooken Medalas best afield after 35 touches and two goals - his first opening Essendon's scoring.
Richmond showed strong signs earlier on in the contest.
The junior outfit were creative and damaging through periods, particularly when moving the footy, but failed to take full advantage of controlling the run of play, before momentum swung against them.
Tigers Pakana forward Rhyan Mansell had strong moments in the contest.
The 24-year-old designed Richmond's Sir Doug Nicholls Round guernsey with his father and grandfather - the proudest achievement of his career, he told National Indigenous Times last week.
Mansell's long-bomb early in the third helped the Tigers towards taking a brief lead.
Magic Mansell lights up the 'G ✨ðŸ'¥ pic.twitter.com/GXtzGl7J6G
— Richmond FC 🯠(@Richmond_FC) May 23, 2025
Maurice Rioli came on as the Tigers sub after half time, while Yorta Yorta forward Jade Gresham, on return to the Bombers' line up for the Dreamtime game, was unlucky not to snag a goal from his ten touches.
Ahead of play, Briggs headlined entertainment, joined by Kobie Dee, Baarka and Paul Kelly on stage.
Briggs and Kelly opened with the rapper's 2015 track 'The Children came back' - released featuring Dewayne Everettsmith and Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu - with its lyrics referencing the likes of Doug Nicholls, Adam Goodes, Cathy Freeman, Anthony Mundine and the late music icon, Archie Roach.
Hours earlier, Michael Long spoke to the hundreds who gathered at Birrarung Marr.
In 2004, Long embarked on a walk from Melbourne to Parliament House in Canberra to bring awareness to his concerns regarding struggles faced by Indigenous Australians.
Long met with then-Prime Minister John Howard in the nation's capital, stoking a wave of support from both afar and those joining him on foot during the journey.
The two-time premiership winner embarked on another hundreds of kilometres journey in the lead up to the Voice referendum in 2023 with "hope that, we could make change in this country for for all the right reasons," Long said on Friday.
"We must carry on. We must keep fighting for equality for Aboriginal people, but all Australians…this is not about Indigenous people and non-Indigenous people. It's about all Australians," he said.
Long later added "hate" - with direct reference to social media, "has got to stop".
"It's time to reflect as a nation. As people, black and white, everyone, because at the end of the day, when we leave this country, we've going to leave it in a better place for our children, and our children's children," he said.
"Is this the type of Australia we want? We've got to stop the hatred we stop because we're better than that as a country and a nation.
"We need peace, and it starts from you. It starts from the people, and we've got to come together."
The Long Walk has grown into an organisation, alongside becoming an annual piece of Dreamtime at the 'G, hosting smaller walks across the country.
'Original walkers' joined Long on stage at Birrarung Marr, including member for Solomon in the Northern Territory, Luke Gosling.
"I don't speak for the federal government here...but I just think that we've got some work to do to make sure that the truth is told about the history of our nation." Mr Gosling said.
"As a great man said back in 2004 we can only go forward together."
Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy and Victorian Minister for Treaty and First Peoples Natalie Hutchins also spoke.
Long also paid tribute to Sir Doug Nicholls, who after his football career rose as a prominent activist for Indigenous rights, and alongside being a pastor, was the first Indigenous person to be appointed as a Governor (South Australia) and to receive a knighthood.
