It was the AFL Indigenous Round and Carlton certainly celebrated the occasion with special guests at the President’s Luncheon including Carlton premiership player Syd Jackson, injured star Eddie Betts and entertainer, Herb Patton. While Syd and Eddie were interviewed during the luncheon, Herb entertained guests with a number of musical numbers on the gum leaf. Yes that is correct Herb plays the gum leaf and was such a hit that he was invited back on stage to play a few more songs. Along with Waltzing Matilda he played the Carlton theme song as well as a wonderful version of ‘Imagine’.

Being a Saturday afternoon the Club decided on a traditional match day and in keeping with a traditional day at the football Four ‘n’ Twenty pies were served as the entrée at the President’s Luncheon. The pies were served around the room by the “pie boys and girls” as guest arrived for the match with many of the guests enjoying the traditional footy food. Adding to the ‘traditional menu’ was the main course with ‘bangers and mash’ served to those guests who preferred a traditional meal over the chicken which was also available for guests.

In his address, Carlton President Richard Pratt, acknowledged Australia’s Indigenous people, the traditional custodians of our native land and the wonderful contribution Indigenous players have made to this country’s only true home-grown code. In particular at Carlton where supporters have marvelled at the uncanny, on-field brilliance of Indigenous players, from the trailblazing days in the late 1960s of Syd Jackson to today’s excitement machines, Eddie Betts and Andrew Walker.

Richard revealed that he had recently met with Michael Long where they briefly talked about the establishment of an all Indigenous team based out of Alice Springs and about a proposal to assist the cause of future Indigenous footballers, involving the Federal Government, the AFL and those in positions of influence in the wider community. The discussion looked at establishing a program to enable young Indigenous players to follow their dreams through to the elite level without having to be separated from their families or deprived of an education in the process.

Richard, through the Pratt Foundation has been involved with assisting the nations Indigenous. The Pratt Foundation has arranged for up to seven Indigenous students to pursue their studies in medicine in Israel and made available a vehicle outfitted with basic medical supplies to assist staff in remote Indigenous areas.

As Richard said that while there is still much more to be done for the Indigenous community we have come a long way in football terms and in 2007 over 10% of AFL players are Indigenous.