AARON Davey says football’s role in reconciliation cannot be underestimated.

Davey, who has played the most matches for Melbourne by an Indigenous player (178 games), said the club’s Reconciliation Action Plan, launched at the Koorie Heritage Trust on Wednesday, was a special day.  

And he reflected on his time at Melbourne, when there were six Indigenous players on the list in 2009 (Davey, Matthew Whelan, Neville Jetta, Liam Jurrah, Austin Wonaeamirri and Jamie Bennell), which he said was crucial for the club.

“In an unofficial way, when all six of us Indigenous boys were down at Melbourne, that was reconciliation in the same way, with 40 of our brother boys, our teammates, the non-Indigenous boys,” he told Melbourne TV.

“The club’s come a long way and Jacko (Peter Jackson) and everyone has embraced it as well. The AFL has gotten behind it as well, so most clubs have got their own RAPs now and [we have] the Indigenous Round and the jumpers. Footy, in my eyes anyway, is the most powerful [reconciliation] in the land and it’s had such change.

“Everything always evolves, and this is the start of a really good initiative – the RAP. In years to come, it’s going to evolve and become even greater and even more stronger and more powerful.”

Davey, who won the 2009 best and fairest and was a vice-captain of the club, said he loved his time at Melbourne.

“I can’t thank the club enough – I love it. I spent 10 years there and it really helped develop and shape me out as a person,” he said.

“I’ve got nothing by admiration and a special thanks to the footy club – Danners (Neale Daniher) and [others at] the club like Craig Cameron, who years ago took a punt on a skinny little Indigenous player with a massive afro.

“To keep chipping away – I wouldn’t have thought I’d last 10 years there – but I think that’s reflective of the great football club it was and how they really embraced myself.”

Davey praised the likes of Whelan and Jetta for their work at Melbourne and among the Indigenous community.  

“Having a leader like Matty Whelan – it’s great to have him back at the club – he was my mentor coming through. Everything I learned off him – I gave it to Nev and these boys, and Nev has taken it on his own journey and he’s doing an amazing job,” he said.

“The best thing about it was [playing with] Aussie (Austin Wonaeamirri), Liam [Jurrah] and Nev and the friendships that you forge. Even the non-Indigenous guys – some of the best memories I have of them are behind closed doors.

“I love the club and my kids love the club – even last week up in Darwin – to watch it and see all of my family represented in the Melbourne jumpers and their flags, they really love the club as well. It plays a massive part in not only my life, but also my extended family.”