Wirrpanda in reflective mood

REFLECTING on a career free of racial vilification, indigenous icon David Wirrpanda has praised the players that came before him for creating a clean, inclusive sport.

In his 14th season at West Coast, Wirrpanda said he had never come into contact with the racism that indigenous players Michael Long and Nicky Winmar took a stand against in the 1990s.

This week, the AFL's Indigenous Round celebrates the role football has played in building bridges between cultures, and Wirrpanda said the annual event was very important. 

"It's been well highlighted for the last couple of years now the importance of Indigenous Round for recognition of a lot of indigenous players before me," Wirrpanda said.

"When you look at the history of AFL footy, the stance that Michael Long took – (it) really did change the face of footy and really did make a massive difference within the football world.

"Players like myself, I never ever witnessed any racial abuse at all. Creating a cultural awareness was very important, not only for indigenous people, but all cultures right through the AFL.

"I haven't had any contact with that racial abuse whatsoever, so it goes to show that we're a clean sport, and we're professional as well."

West Coast will celebrate Wirrpanda's long service this Saturday night against Collingwood, with the Subiaco Oval match also supporting the foundation set up in the premiership player's name.

A modern-day leader for his people on the field, Wirrpanda has also been proactive off it, setting up the David Wirrpanda Foundation to provide indigenous children with strong role models.

Former Fremantle midfielder Troy Cook, West Coast Fever netballers Bianca Franklin, Kirby Bentley and Josie Janz, Commonwealth Games boxer Anthony Little and model Shannon McGuire are all indigenous role models through the David Wirrpanda Foundation.

"Basically it's all about education and health and working in with kids first-hand," Wirrpanda said of the community-minded initiative that was launched in 2005.

"It gives them a lot of opportunity to open up personally to us, and it helps us develop them in areas that they may be at risk at."

Wirrpanda said his role with the foundation was "one of the biggest rewards outside of sport" and balanced out the pressures of AFL football.

But with the importance of football to indigenous children, he said the two worlds often crossed over. 

"If you go around to a lot of communities, not only here in Western Australia but all around the country, football plays a massive role, especially with indigenous kids," he said.