Kirby Bentley was an inaugural AFLW player running out for Fremantle, and later Carlton, in the opening years of the competition.

In 2025 she's been announced as the league's honouree during its sixth Indigenous Round.

At the round's launch on Tuesday, Bentley said Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander contributions to the game are crucial for its growth - not just from players, but in all aspects of the game.

There are 22 First Nations players listed at AFLW clubs in 2025.

Among them are league best-and-fairest winners, premiership heroes and young talents already making an impact on the competition.

"It's obviously an honour to be named the honouree for this year. As a player who has played, and a player who's now watching, I think it's really exciting for Aboriginal girls to be able to see what they can be," Bentley said.

In Western Australia the Kirby Bentley Cup annual round robin provides Indigenous girls aged 13-15 with opportunities to showcase their footy abilities in front of local clubs and WAFLW pathway setups.

10 teams and more than 150 players participated in the first cup in 2014.

Increasing participation in footy, from players to coaches, umpires and administrators is central to the initiative.

Bentley said it was a "can of worms question" when asked on Tuesday what could be done to increase Indigenous participation at the elite level.

"I think the contribution from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is crucial in our game for growth, and that's not only as players, but coaching staff, management, umpires from all layers and levels," the Noongar woman said.

"Without that, we can't really create that shift that we're looking for," Bentley added, "And until then, we don't understand what that support looks like for those players in the system".

Bentley said priorities and responsibilities are going to be different for different people, different backgrounds and different Indigenous nations.

Patience is also needed within the top level system of footy, she said.

That goes with understanding the person, "and supporting that person for whatever needs that they need, that they they're looking for to be the elite athlete that they need to be".

"Not only does that help them, it helps their teammates, and it helps the growth of the game. That's invaluable. I think," she said.

Bentley follows Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin, Aunty Pam Pedersen, NT football pioneers Ebony Abbott-McCormack and Mary Dunn, and Dockers teammate Alicia Janz as Indigenous Round honourees.

After taking the game north in 2024, Garramilla's (Darwin) TIO Stadium will again host the Dreamtime Game between Richmond and Essendon on Friday night.

Kuwarna (Adelaide), Narrm (Melbourne), Euro-Yroke (St Kilda), Waalitj Marawar (West Coast), Yartapuulti (Port Adelaide) and Walyalup (Fremantle) have adopted traditional place names and language for the upcoming two weekends of fixtures.

At Tuesday's launch current Indigenous players in Hawthorn's Kaitlyn Ashmore, North's Mia King and Euro-Yroke's Natalie Plane spoke of their excitement at celebrating First Nations people and culture over rounds three and four of the competition.

Plane, a Kamilaroi forward at the Saints, said she loves the spotlight Indigenous Round shines on First Nations culture.

"I think as a First Nations player, it's almost like a bit of magic. You feel a bit special when you get to go out there...it's like 'this is what I love, this is why I do it'. It's really important," she said.

Bentley said she is also a fan of seeing the Indigenous All Stars game, brought back ahead of the men's competition for the first time in a decade in February, added to with a women's fixture.

"The AFL is proud to launch its sixth dedicated AFLW Indigenous Round where we can all come together as an industry and broader community to acknowledge the contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women across generations," recently appointed AFL general manager of First Nations Engagement and Inclusion, Taryn Lee said.

"We're thrilled to recognise Kirby Bentley as our AFLW Indigenous Honouree this year, who has been a terrific role model, advocate and leader for our game both on and off the field.

"This year's theme of Past Legacies, Future Legends highlights the many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women who have paved the way for women's football and this year's new ball design by Emma MacNeill is a great example of how we are celebrating the women of the past and the exciting future ahead.

"AFLW Indigenous Round is an important event on the Australian sporting calendar and with a host of exciting cultural celebrations and blockbuster matches lined up across the country, it's sure to be one all fans can enjoy."