THE AFL’s annual Indigenous Round recognises and celebrates Indigenous players and their culture, and it’s an occasion Hawks forward Cyril Rioli looks forward to every year.

“Just celebrating our culture and what our Indigenous players have done, mostly in the past and most of all the dreamtime game, it’s going to be awesome,” Rioli said.

“It seems to have gotten a lot bigger, I’ve been playing for a while now so I’ve seen a few, and it’s one of the rounds I definitely enjoy the most.”

Rioli helped celebrate Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round this afternoon as the club hosted a match between the Eastern Eaglehawks and Haileybury.

Hawthorn’s Indigenous players are actively involved with the Eaglehawks - an all-Aboriginal football team formed in early 2014, and Hawthorn’s affiliated Indigenous under-21s team – providing guidance and valuable insights into their AFL pathway.

“We have had an affiliation with the Eaglehawks for a few years now, it’s good getting down on our day off and watching a bit off footy, and hopefully seeing some good skills,” Rioli said.

To mark the occasion, all 18 clubs will wear special Indigenous-themed guernseys, with Rioli, Shaun Burgoyne, Jermaine Miller-Lewis and Bradley Hill all contributing to Hawthorn’s design.

 Blue skies ahead for Hawks, says Rioli

Each design tells of the four players’ personal stories and culture, with Rioli’s signifying his special connection to the Tiwi Islands.

Rioli drew inspiration from paintings he received as wedding gifts, which depict the animal that represents his family, the sea turtle.

 Behind the guernsey: Cyril Rioli

Rioli, who played one of his first ever games at The Gabba, is looking forward to returning to some warmer weather and seeing the guernsey worn by all his teammates.

“It’s going to be really cool running out on the oval with all the other boys, especially those who helped design the jumper, it’s going to be unreal,” he said.