Essendon’s relationship with the Tiwi Islands stretches back more than a decade.

Shaun Edwards, Jake Long and Courtenay Dempsey have led the latest Bomber delegation through a pilgrimage across Melville and Bathurst Island.

“The little kids took us out and showed us their country,” Dempsey said.

“Going around, listening to them talk about their country – it’s amazing a lot of people don’t know what we have in our own country.

“The thing that I’d take away is how much football means to these kids.  All we did was sit down and talk and all they kept saying was my name.”

Dempsey and his teammates took some junior players for training throughout their stay.

“I kept hearing ‘Travy Colyer’, little kids asking where ‘Travvy Colyer’ is,” he said. 

“A few kids are even named after a few players.  We’ve seen a Matthew Pavlich running around.  He’s not as big as Matthew Pavlich at the moment but hopefully he will be.

“They just love football.”

The players also visited Tiwi College and Xavier Catholic College where they spoke to students about their journey. 

Tess Fong is the Principal of Xavier, a school with 110 students, 108 of whom are indigenous.

“They live and breathe football on the Tiwi Islands,” she said. 

“It’s wonderful for them to be able to see some of their heroes in real life. 

“Hearing some of these players stories shows these kids anything is possible and provides hope for the future.”