Melbourne City FC held its annual Indigenous Recognition Match on Sunday, acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the land and their contribution to football.
Sunday was the first time our W-League side was involved in the day, with the match being even more significant for Indigenous players Lydia Williams and Kyah Simon.
As part of the week, our W-League stars visited Birrarung Marr to learn more about the Indigenous history of the area on the Birrarung Wilam Walk.
Our W-League side completed the Birrarung Wilam Walk, learning more about the indigenous history of our city ahead of the Club's indigenous recognition match.
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On match day, Ron Murray – a highly-respected Victorian Indigenous educator, storyteller – held didgeridoo lessons on City Square, later playing his instrument on AAMI Park as the sides walked out while Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin – a Senior Wurundjeri elder of the Julan alliance – delivered the ‘Welcome to Country’ flanked by Lydia Williams and Kyah Simon.
The Club also welcomed children from the La Trobe Valley to carry out the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island flag before kick-off. The group was hosted by former Melbourne City player James Brown who conducts football sessions for Indigenous kids around the state.
The Club would like to thank those involved in the day. We recognise the Traditional Owners of the land on which we play and train on and pay our respects to Elders past and present.
