AFL expects crowd of more than 70,000 to attend the Essendon-Richmond Dreamtime at the ‘G game at the MCG

The AFL is budgeting for a crowd in excess of 70,000 for Saturday night’s much-anticipated return of Dreamtime at the ‘G. The annual clash was played outside Melbourne for the first time in the past two seasons, in Darwin then Perth, because of the Covid-19 pandemic, but Richmond and Essendon will lock horns at the MCG this weekend. Maurice Rioli jnr is set to play his first Dreamtime game and sixth overall after impressing in a new-look Tigers forward line in recent weeks. “It’s a very big game for all Indigenous players and you get to represent all your family from back home and your culture,” Rioli said. “Hopefully, I get to kick a goal to do a celebration or dance, or something like that. “If I get the chance, I’ll grab it with two hands and it will be a dream come true. I wanted to play in it ever since the round came into the AFL. “It’d be a very big opportunity and a big achievement to play in the Indigenous Round.” The 19-year-old’s nephew, Daniel Rioli, has been one of Richmond’s most consistent players this season in a new defensive role and he said they would relish the opportunity to compete on this stage together. “Playing on a big ground with a family member and a few of the other Indigenous players alongside would be awesome,” he said. Another son-of-a-gun, Essendon’s Tex Wanganeen, hopes to run out for the Bombers on Saturday night after making three senior appearances earlier in the season. Wanganeen’s Brownlow Medal-winning father, Gavin, played 127 of his 300 matches for Essendon and was still in the competition when the Dreamtime concept started in 2005 but was at Port Adelaide by then. The 18-year-old has a nervous wait ahead to find out if he will be recalled for the contest. “The decision is up to the coach right now. I’ve done all I can and I’m just leaving it to their hands at the moment,” Wanganeen said. “It’d be a dream come true to wear the jumper and represent my culture, my tribe and all my family members ... it’s a special round, Dreamtime.” Wanganeen’s teammate, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti designed the Bombers’ Dreamtime guernsey but hasn’t played at AFL level this year after taking personal level earlier this season. “There’s no timeframe yet for him, but he’s going well and tracking well,” Wanganeen said. “He seems in the right headspace at the moment, so hopefully we get him back soon.” The AFL’s Travis Auld left the door ajar for the Dreamtime match to be played interstate again in the future but said this year “we need to get it back to the MCG”.