FOOTBALL great Michael O'Loughlin wants to work with the AFLPA to make sure indigenous players are better supported when they leave the game. 

His declaration comes a week after it was reported on Channel Nine that O'Loughlin, Des Headland and Derek Kickett were behind a movement that could result in the establishment of a separate players' association for indigenous players.

The thinking behind the movement is that the current players' union isn't equipped to work with the challenges indigenous players face when transitioning out of the game.

INDIGENOUS JUMPERS Your club's design

O'Loughlin said on Thursday he wanted to work with the current players' union to make sure retired players had those needs met.   

"All we're saying is it could be done a lot better," O'Loughlin said at the Long Lunch at Melbourne's Crown Palladium.

"I think there are some players out there really doing it tough.

"In my experience the players' association and the AFL and everything else has been very, very positive, but I'd be naïve and have my head in the sand to suggest and think that's the case for other players.

"We've got to find a voice there and we've got to get things done better, and hopefully we can work together.

"That's a real small snippet of the responsibilities of an ex-player who's done OK and been through the system and had a positive journey.

"That's not the case for a lot of our players, so we need to get better at that."

The report on last week's The Footy Show said the trio had already met with the AFLPA to air a "long list of grievances" about all aspects of life for an indigenous footballer, and the specific support they needed to transition out of the game. 

O'Loughlin retired in 2009 after 303 games for Sydney, Headland in 2010 after 166 games for Brisbane and Fremantle, and Kickett in 1996 following 152 games for North Melbourne, Essendon and Sydney.