ON FRIDAY afternoon, Melbourne received a welcome to country and smoking ceremony in its Joondalup hub.

Phil Walleystack delivered an inspiring speech to the Demons' players, coaches and staff, and performed some songs in the local language, with the help of Neville Jetta on the didgeridoo.

Read below to gain an understanding of Phil's message, and watch the video above to see the ceremony take place.

"We are all connected through our Songlines that our Ancestral spirits created while forming this land and Lore. We have many languages, dances and songs that speak for Country. When we sing, dance or speak in our local language, we vibrate the ground to awaken our spirits and to ask them to watch over us and our visitors to this land. We ask the good spirit our creator to keep us safe on our journey so we can return safely to our families. We perform a smoking ceremony to ward off any bad spirits and to cleanse our own."