St Kilda utility and Indigenous community leader Bradley Hill has called on the AFL to broaden their search for First Nations voices as the code looks to navigate dwindling Indigenous participation.
The 32-year-old praised the leadership of those he's taken the advocacy mantle from, with a particular reverence given to those who took him under their wings when he first joined Hawthorn at the conclusion of the 2011 season.
Speaking at the launch of Sir Doug Nicholls Round, Hill called for the input of those men, and community pillar Uncle Colin Hunter Jr., that they may inform policy inside AFL House moving forward.
"When I first got to Hawthorn, I had a big group of Indigenous players (around me)," Hill said.
"Cyril (Rioli), "Shauny" Burgoyne, Buddy (Franklin), Chance Bateman when I first got there. I had a lot of good leaders around.
"We're always going to have challenges, (but) I think everyone's learning more, and getting educated. It's obviously something we want to keep improving.
"For me personally, we've got a lot of Indigenous boys at our club. Being that support for them, and making it a safe environment for them so they can be happy and and come to training and be able to be themselves - that's how I look at myself and my role at the club, being that older head."
When asked if the First Nations Advisory Committee assembled by the AFL was "drawing on the right people", Hill spoke frankly.
"If you want my honest opinion, that's probably why I did say those names," he said.
"I thought there definitely could have been some more Indigenous people on that committee.
"With the people that I touched on before - they're doing the roles in the grassroots. Personally, Uncle Colin has been the best for me. He helps a lot of these grassroots people coming through. He runs all of our All Star (programs), our Indigenous camps - I feel like he knows more than nearly anyone."
Hill also praised the work of retired superstar Eddie Betts and his foundation that boasts a particular focus on the wellbeing and outcomes of First Nations' youth.
"You've got Eddie doing his foundation - he's seen what the struggles are for these young kids and I feel like he would have a real (sic) big voice and impact on that committee."
Hill declined to add further comment to the furore surrounding coach Ross Lyon's "slip-up", having already done so on a podcast, earlier this month.
