Community embraces Indigenous Round at the NTFA

Rocherlea and Georgetown football clubs competed in the NTFA Division 1 indigenous round clash on Saturday afternoon in Launceston.

It was the 'top of the ladder' game this year, and it is the Association's tribute to past and present Indigenous players.

As a part of the celebrations, Michael 'Smokey' Beeton', became the sixth player to be inducted as an NTFA Aboriginal Legend.

Graham Gardiner, one of the instigators of the Indigenous Round, which has been going for three years, said, "the Aboriginal community is right behind this, first and foremost, that was the key."

"The support from the local Aboriginal community, the support from the broader community, the businesses, the government departments are behind it, it really is something to behold."

Special guest speaker for the day, Ronnie Burns mingled with the crowd and spoke about the changing nature of the Australian Football League, for Indigenous and non-indigenous players.

Burns played in the AFL for Geelong and Adelaide in the AFL, and now appears on the ABC 2's Marngrook Footy Show.

For the record Rocherlea defeated Georgetown 14.12-96 to 7.8-50.

The Marngrook Footy Show is on ABC 2 Thursday nights live at 7:30PM.

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