ESSENDON champion Michael Long is urging footy fans to brave the expected wet and windy weather on Saturday evening and take part in the seventh Long Walk from Federation Square to the MCG.
 
The walk, which attracted a crowd of more than 13,000 people last year, has become a regular part of the build-up to the Dreamtime at the 'G clash between the Bombers and Richmond.

A number of activities will take place at Federation Square from 1pm on Saturday, before the participants in the walk depart for the MCG at 6pm.

The first Long Walk in Melbourne was held in 2005. Seven months earlier, the two-time Essendon premiership player had made headlines by walking from his home in Melbourne to Parliament House in Canberra to raise awareness of indigenous issues.
 
Long's effort inspired the creation of the Long Walk Trust, which counts the Telstra Foundation among its many supporters.
 
This week the trust has been engaging school children in its Walk the Talk program.
 
"Football is a language that we all speak," Long said on Thursday.
 
"But mainly we talk to the kids about some of the issues indigenous people are going to face in the future with health, education, life expectancy and employment," Long explained.
 
"We want them to have a deeper understanding of the challenges we face and also get an idea about how we can all work together to make a difference."