AFL 2025 LIVE updates: Essendon, Richmond prepare for Dreamtime at the 'G
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Pre-game schedule
The schedule for tonight's Dreamtime at the G events as per Essendon's media team.
Key Timings
3pm – The Long Walk Naarm Festival (Birrarung Marr Hilltop)
5.30pm – MCG gates open
5.30pm – The Long Walk to the MCG commences from Birrarung Marr
6.15pm – The Long Walkers enter the arena
7pm – Dreamtime Pre-Game performance begins
7.28pm – Essendon enters the field
7.35pm – Pre-Game ceremony
7.45pm – First bounce
Gift Exchange
Before the first bounce at Dreamtime at the 'G, Essendon and Richmond will both partake in a gift exchange. Our Dreamtime gift exchange is The Roo Skin; this will be the first time in our history the Roo Skin has been gifted for a Dreamtime at the 'G gift exchange. With assistance from Ricky Baldwin, a Gunai Kurnai artist, the Roo skin has been wood burned, and hand painted with Ochre from Lake Tyers State Park on Krauatungalung Country (Gunai Kurnai). Alwyn Davey, Jade Gresham and Jack Peris all contributed to the design and art on the skin, and t he meaning behind the gift runs deep with themes of protection, unity and heading into the match.
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Lachie Hill, proud Yorta Yorta man and lifelong Bomber's supporter, will be playing the Didgeridoo as the clock counts down to the first bounce for Dreamtime at the 'G.
6.34pm
Sisters share a special MCG moment
By Brittany Busch
Misting rain and the scent of burning eucalyptus hangs in the air as hundreds of walkers set off from the Birrarung Marr hilltop for the Long Walk to the MCG.
Victorian opposition leader Brad Battin led the procession alongside Michael Long, the former footballer whose walk to Canberra inspired the annual awareness-raising event at the MCG.
Long-time Dreamtime attendees, sisters Lisa McKenna and Karen Christie, walked arm in their Richmond scarves, and said it was an overwhelming moment for them after discovering they had Indigenous heritage following their mother's death.
'Everyone gets involved in it, which is really, really special. And I think it's really good for the Indigenous community to know that they've got so much support,' McKenna said.
Asked about their team's prospects, the siblings were guarded.
'It doesn't matter who wins, really, but it's a great night. You've just gotta embrace what it's for,' Christie said.
McKenna said: 'May the best team win'.
6.30pm
Richmond star to make rare VFL appearance
Richmond are hoping a conservative approach through the VFL will help premiership midfielder Dion Prestia finally overcome his tortured run with soft-tissue injuries.
Instead of returning in the Tigers' Dreamtime clash with Essendon at the MCG on Friday night, Prestia will make his comeback in Frankston when he plays two quarters against the Bombers' VFL side.
After being restricted to 13 games last year, the 32-year-old is yet to play a game this season following an achilles injury.
But Richmond coach Adem Yze believes the club has learnt valuable lessons on how to manage their star veteran.
'There always is, with the talent he's got and the leadership he provides,' Yze said of the temptation to bring Prestia straight back into the AFL.
'Last year, you could see how important he was when he came in and we probably did it the wrong way and he missed six weeks. We've got to learn from that.
'If he gets through, he'll be available the week after.
'We're playing the long game with him.
'I'm not sure the last time he's played VFL, but he's bought into that.'
During Prestia's absence, the triple premiership player has taken a great interest in mentoring Tigers young guns Sam Lalor and Josh Smillie.
Rebuilding Richmond have defied grim pre-season predictions to already win three games this year.
Despite Essendon coming off a 91-point smashing by Western Bulldogs last Saturday night, the Bombers will start as warm favourites to beat the Tigers.
Richmond will be without captain Toby Nankervis (managed), veteran forward Tom Lynch (concussion), star defender Noah Balta (court-imposed curfew) and former best-and-fairest winner Jayden Short (calf).
Samson Ryan is back to take on ruck duties, with Maurice Rioli Jnr and Campbell Gray also recalled.
'We're going to be a really young side, on a big stage, which is an awesome opportunity,' Yze said.
'I sat in the forward line meeting and it felt like I was in a creche.
'It's hard to fill Lynchy's shoes ... they've just got to share the load.
'They're young but it will be exciting.'
Essendon's Jade Gresham and Matt Guelfi are back from injuries and hard-running teen defender Angus Clarke will debut on the big stage.
Dylan Shiel, Saad El-Hawli and Archer Day-Wicks have been dropped.
AAP
6.08pm
Pre-game schedule
The schedule for tonight's Dreamtime at the G events as per Essendon's media team.
Key Timings
3pm – The Long Walk Naarm Festival (Birrarung Marr Hilltop)
5.30pm – MCG gates open
5.30pm – The Long Walk to the MCG commences from Birrarung Marr
6.15pm – The Long Walkers enter the arena
7pm – Dreamtime Pre-Game performance begins
7.28pm – Essendon enters the field
7.35pm – Pre-Game ceremony
7.45pm – First bounce
Gift Exchange
Before the first bounce at Dreamtime at the 'G, Essendon and Richmond will both partake in a gift exchange. Our Dreamtime gift exchange is The Roo Skin; this will be the first time in our history the Roo Skin has been gifted for a Dreamtime at the 'G gift exchange. With assistance from Ricky Baldwin, a Gunai Kurnai artist, the Roo skin has been wood burned, and hand painted with Ochre from Lake Tyers State Park on Krauatungalung Country (Gunai Kurnai). Alwyn Davey, Jade Gresham and Jack Peris all contributed to the design and art on the skin, and t he meaning behind the gift runs deep with themes of protection, unity and heading into the match.
Dance Ceremony | Will Shake Spears
Will Shake Spears began as a small group of Koori youth coming together to learn and carry culture.
Entertainment | Briggs
Adam Briggs, a Yorta Yorta man and passionate Dons supporter, is a prominent Indigenous Australian artist known for his work in hip-hop, comedy, and writing.
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Complete with a guitar, Nable said he was inspired by his daughter to dress up as the iconic guitarist. Nable's brother Adam died from MND just over a year ago. He fought back tears when paying tribute to the cause. 'You know, what I see with Neale Daniher, his fight, he's truly inspiring. A lot of you here wouldn't know what it's like with his family and how hard it is, but he is a truly great Australian and a man of great inspiration. I am so proud and privileged to be here,' he said. If you'd like to view this content, please adjust your . To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide. The netball superstar nailed her impression of Barbie, played by Aussie superstar Margot Robbie. 'A lot colder than I thought,' she said. 'It is an absolute honour. This is such a special day. It is Neale's day. For him to come in there and share with all of us how important this is, it's an absolute honour. Just great to be part of this awesome group.' Watson goes down as Barbie. Credit: Getty Images The Channel 7 star and former sprinter went down as Thor, played by Australian actor Chris Hemsworth. Shirvo promised to stay in his uniform on his flight back to Sydney to raise more money for the cause. 'You're getting on a plane in a moment. I had someone say if you stay in the Thor uniform and do not have a shower, they will donate $10,000,' Hamish McLachlan said to Shirvo. 'If they let me through security, 10 grand to the cause, Neale, hopefully we will make it happen, hey?' Shirvo responded. Shirvo loved the cameras. Credit: Getty If you'd like to view this content, please adjust your . To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide. The captain of the all-conquering Australian cricket team paid tribute to Magda Szubanski's iconic Sharon character from Kath and Kim. She joked that she had a 'snog' with Shane Warne out the back before taking the slide. 'Really special afternoon. We may have had a snog out the back. Very special to be here, be a part of it, to be Sharon, even better,' she said. Healy nailed her Sharon get up. Credit: Getty The Melbourne great went down as Indigenous AFL legend Michael Long. He had a puffer jacket on just like Long does for the Long Walk. But the jacket appeared to weigh him down slightly in the pool. 'It actually nearly drowned me just then,' he said. 'Where's Danners? 13 years, never got an ice bath till now. Love you. Massive part of my life. Gave a young man a dream and very fortunate enough to call you family.' Davey takes the plunge. Credit: Getty Images The Supercars icon looked the part in his leather jacket as Mad Max, played by Aussie actor Mel Gibson. The driver completed a little backflip when he entered the water. 'There's no doubt he and the family are doing a fantastic job. Proud to be here, proud to support it and represent Supercars and I think it doesn't matter where you are, what demographic, you sometimes go through it,' he said. Lowndes went down as Mad Max. Credit: Getty Images The Australian cricket great went down as former teammate Shane Warne. 'I was lucky enough to play a lot of my career with my late mate. Miss him, but love what he did for this country in sport,' he said. 'Brought slow bowling back into Test match cricket which people love. People here at this ground, right around the world, loved him. As I said to Tim, great to be here to support him and probably more importantly on a day like today, support FightMND and Neale Daniher, also a great Australian.' If you'd like to view this content, please adjust your . To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide.
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a day ago
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Chills, they're multiplying as Big Freeze fights beast
Shazza and her idol Warnie continued the good fight against the beast as Max Gawn met his Mini Me and everyone's chills were multiplying. The 10 sliders rose to the occasion at the 11th Big Freeze, the fundraiser at the MCG that honours FightMND icon and Australian Of The Year Neale Daniher. As always, amid the fun of 10 celebrities in goofy dress-up sliding into a minus-six degrees ice bath for a good cause, there was pathos and heartache. Daniher is now confined to a wheelchair and can only talk through eye recognition software as he continues his long fight against MND, which is incurable. His daughter Bec now does much of the spruiking for their cause. Big Freeze is held before the King's Birthday clash between Melbourne and Collingwood. As Demons players warmed up, they all went to greet Daniher, the former Melbourne coach, as he completed a lap of the MCG. Collingwood players also helped form a guard of honour for him. The theme this year was Australian icons and national cricket captain Alyssa Healy was Sharon "Shazza" Strezlecki, the netballer from Kath and Kim. Magda Szubanski, who has revealed she is battling an aggressive cancer, made "Shazza" an all-time great Australian TV comedy character. Healy did it justice, complete with neck brace and a suitably stunned expression as she walked out for her slide. Former Australian captain Mark Taylor, the last slider, dressed as Shane Warne - Shazza's crush. The slide, fittingly, was set up in the shadow of the Shane Warne stand. Actor Matt Nable came as Angus Young from AC-DC and remembered his brother Aaron, who died of MND last year. Cadel Evans, the only Australian to win the Tour de France, was a miniature Max Gawn and the Melbourne captain greeted him after his slide. Gawn, who stands at 2.08m, is also an avid cyclist and Evans, all 174cm of him, is one of his idols. "Your worst day on the bike is better than my best day on a footy field," Evans told Gawn. Swimming great Ariarne Titmus was Sandy from Grease, played by Olivia Newton-John, and as the song from the movie goes, chills were multiplying in the ice bath. Former Melbourne star Aaron Davey honoured AFL and Indigenous great Michael Long, while TV presenter and former sprinter Matt Shirvington was Chris Hemsworth's movie character Thor. A $10,000 bet was made that Shirvington would stay in his costume for the flight back to Sydney. Peter Daicos, whose sons Nick and Josh were playing for the Magpies on Monday, always loves the limelight and he came as Heath Ledger's iconic Joker. National netball captain Liz Watson was in all pink as Margot Robbie's Cowgirl Barbie and motor sport great Craig Lowndes was in all black as Mad Max.
