When Hawthorn rookie, Jermaine Miller-Lewis, arrived at the AFL Players' Association Indigenous camp earlier this year he was excited to listen and learn from of the game’s most experienced indigenous players.

Instead he found himself leading them in a traditional Indigenous war cry.

“There was an opportunity and I jumped at it,” said Miller-Lewis.

“I waited to see if one of the older boys would jump up but then Hilly pushed me forward.

“At first it was a bit daunting, because I am trying to lead all these older Indigenous fellas, the likes of Adam Goodes and Shaun Burgoyne. And there I am, a rookie who hasn’t played a game trying to take the lead. But the boys were backing me and giving me confidence.”

Leading the war cry, though daunting, was something that came naturally to the Western Australian. Miller-Lewis is a member of a professional aboriginal dance group, Wadumbah, who perform cultural dances at events, and credits his mother for getting him into it.

“When I was a young fella mum always encouraged me to do dance and to be involved with my culture and to embrace it.

“I wasn’t forced into it, I enjoyed it and enjoyed being out the front on the stage and showing off my culture.”

The purpose of Wadumbah Dance Group is to “keep the spirit of Aboriginal culture alive (and) to enhance the pride of Aboriginal people,” something Miller-Lewis embodies.

“From my mother and father and my grandparents I’ve been taught to embrace your culture, be proud of it and don’t be someone you’re not.”

The 19-year-old certainly is his own person. He is a dancer, a painter and prefers to relax with a fishing rod rather than a beer in hand.

“Me personally I don’t drink alcohol because I just see it as poison. Poison for my people. We didn’t have that years ago and to see the affect it has had on some of my people that’s one of the messages I’ve got from my family, to stay away from it,” says Miller-Lewis.

Instead the teenager would prefer to pick up his paint brushes and find sanctuary in his art.

“I find it relaxing. There is a lot of satisfaction in finishing an art piece. There is so much detail, and you have put so much time into it and to put it up on the wall and be able to say that’s my piece.

“It gives me tingles.

“When I was a young fella I used to watch my dad paint a lot. Mum did more ocean paintings and Dad the more the earthy colours.

“My mum is from down south in WA, so we’re Noongar people and we live close by the ocean and Dad’s side are Yamaji and that’s up towards Geraldton and more sort of semi-desert type people."

Whilst the rigours of AFL football haven’t given him much time for painting yet, Miller-Lewis is still slowing “chipping away” at a piece and is certain he will continue to find time to paint and fish as he settles in at the club, a process which he has been shocked to find quite smooth.

“I’ve surprisingly fitted in well. When I first came over I stayed with Jed for two weeks and he made me comfortable. He is into his fishing and hunting too, so it was easy to get a conversation going with him.

As time went on I got lifts to the club with Shaun and I have a good relationship with him now too.”

Miller-Lewis is still learning to balance his life as an AFL footballer with his new job as a father to a four month old baby daughter, Aryana, but he is committed to making the most of his opportunities.

"Everyone gets home sick but I have never got to the extent of wanting to go home. This is a great experience and it may only come once.”

Whilst he won’t be playing in this weekend’s Indigenous Round, Miller-Lewis is still “excited” by the idea of a round committed to celebrating the culture of his people.

“It’s great. I always get excited. I would love to go to the MCG one day and watch the Dreamtime at the 'G match.”