BRINGING AFLW to the Top End is as much about encouraging the next generation of young Indigenous women as it is about fielding an elite-level match.

Essendon and Richmond are now in their third iteration of AFLW Dreamtime in Darwin, and AFLW Indigenous Round honouree Bronwyn Davey has seen the pathways for women expand since her days in the women's exhibition matches.

"Not many teams have been up here since the AFLW expansion has gone on. For our community and our young people in Darwin, it's great to get them exposed to the eliteness – so if they do dream of one day playing at the elite level, they can put their mind to it and do what they need to [in order to] be successful," Davey told reporters on Friday at Mindil Beach, Darwin.

"There were never any opportunities for me when I was a young woman growing up in Darwin. For my nieces, family members and extended family to have that opportunity now, and the pathways that's been created for them, it's great. They can look back and hopefully one day they can play at the highest level, whether that's the Dreamtime game, or in Melbourne itself.

"It's so extraordinary. Back then, I played because my brother pestered me to nominate, and I didn't really understand it could be a big expansion. Going from just that, to my league in South Australia (she moved there at 21) going from four teams to eight to 10, then to seven divisions, is very extraordinary. Then there's that pathway of SANFLW into the AFLW system."

While Indigenous numbers in the AFLW are small, some of the competition's favourites – including Courtney Hodder, Zippy Fish, Danielle Paredes, Gemma Houghton and Dakota Davidson – are among the most talented to take to the field.

The importance of their visibility is two-fold, both encouraging fans to tune into matches, and encouraging young Indigenous women to pick up a footy.

The ratio of Darwin's women to men in football participation is the most even in the country, with nearly a 50:50 split.

"If we didn't have [the AFLW Indigenous stars] there, we wouldn't have Indigenous role models for our up and coming young females who aspire to be them one day. It's very important," Davey said.

"It's been awesome, and I'm lucky enough to say I've been a part of that, coming back from South Australia in order to play in the Northern Territory. It's a huge difference, because in South Australia, there aren't many Indigenous women, so to come back here and have the majority of my team be on the Indigenous side of it is awesome, because the talent we've got is quite hidden. 

"If we can get our young ladies to express it more, then there'll be further opportunities and pathways for them."