REPRESENTING his people and his culture is a burden Crows star Andrew McLeod is all too happy to carry.

Since making his debut in 1995, McLeod has become an advocate for indigenous players in the AFL and, on the eve of Indigenous Round, the dual premiership player organised a special Greetings to the Country Ceremony for the all of the Adelaide Football Club players, coaches and staff.

A Greetings to the Country Ceremony is a traditional Aboriginal protocol, symbolising the traditional owners’ consent to another Aboriginal language group to enter or pass through the traditional boundaries of their land.

On Monday, the Kaurna people, who are the traditional owners of the land at West Lakes where the Crows play and train, gave McLeod and his Aboriginal teammates permission to use their land for the very first time, with a traditional ceremony.

The ceremony, led by Karl Tefler and his mother Georgina Williams of the Kaurna Peoples, involved Aboriginal dancing and an ancient fire and smoke ritual where each of the Crows indigenous players, along with skipper Simon Goodwin, were cleansed and offered spiritual and physical protection.

McLeod, who also demonstrated his skill on the didgeridoo during the ceremony, said it was a valuable education for all involved.

“It’s something that is pretty special to us. It was a nice ceremony, very well done and it was nice to have all the boys out here,” McLeod said.

“We all come from different cultures, different places and different groups from all around Australia. To be welcomed onto the land by the traditional owners is something that is important to all Aboriginal people and it happens wherever you go and whenever you step onto their land.

“It’s been happening for many centuries, so I was honoured to be welcomed onto Kaurna land and to have their permission to play footy here.”

McLeod, who is already a dual premiership player, dual Norm Smith medallist, five-time All-Australian and the first indigenous player to be named captain of the All-Australian team, is only 10 games-shy of another historical milestone.

The 291-game veteran is on track to become the greatest-ever indigenous player when he breaks Gavin Wanganeen’s record (300) for the most games AFL played by an indigenous footballer.

But the modest star was reluctant to take any credit for the rapid rise in numbers of indigenous players in the league today.

“To have 70-odd indigenous players in the AFL is just great and it’s wonderful that the AFL can dedicate a round to the indigenous people of Australia,” McLeod said.

“I wouldn’t say there are more Aboriginal players in the game today because of what I’ve done, or what Graham Johncock has done, that was done many moons before my time.

“Growing up, I watched blokes like Maurice Rioli, Michael McLean Michael Long and before them, Polly Farmer and Syd Jackson. It’s just important that we keep it going and be positive role models to give kids something to aspire to.

“Indigenous Round probably just makes you a lot prouder that you are able to represent your people. You probably think about that more this round and it’s a nice burden to carry.”

Throughout the ceremony, McLeod, who is studying a degree in Aboriginal Culture, stood side-by-side with five of his indigenous teammates, Jarrhan Jacky, Jon Griffin, Tony Armstrong, rookie Jared Petrenko and Johncock.

Rookie Ed Curnow is also of Aboriginal heritage, but was absent from the ceremony because of personal reasons.

The Crows consciously recruited four indigenous players during the off-season, Jacky, Armstrong, Petrenko and Curnow, to give the club the second-highest number of indigenous players in the league.

“I’m proud of all the Aboriginal boys playing and in particular our blokes,” McLeod said.

“In my time, I’ve played with a few Aboriginal boys, but to be where we are now is a great reward to the fact that the club has got great service from some of their Aboriginal blokes.

“I guess that gives the club the confidence to employ some more. Hopefully, the next group or generation of boys coming through, like Jarrhan, Tony, Jared and Ed, can carry that legacy on and it might even open the door for a few more.”

All seven of Adelaide’s Aboriginal players are proud of their heritage, none more so than ruckman Griffin.

Griffin surprised many by revealing his background at this time last year, but according to McLeod the emerging big man has embraced his culture.

“I had a chat to Griffo about him being able to come out and express himself,” McLeod said.

“Initially, he was a bit shy to express the fact that he’s an aboriginal boy because he doesn’t look aboriginal and he was a bit ashamed, but he’s really embraced it and really proud of who he is.

“Whether or not that has flowed into his footy is another thing, but he’s come along in leaps and bounds and he’s developing into a very good player.”

Round nine is the AFL’s Indigenous Round, highlighting the relationship between the game and Indigenous Australia. This year’s round features a number of events, culminating in the Long Walk and the annual Dreamtime at the 'G game between Essendon and Richmond on Saturday night. Click here for full coverage.