Essendon legend Michael Long says it's an honour for the Northern Territory to host this year's Dreamtime match between Essendon and Richmond.

Held at the MCG and preceded by The Long Walk since 2005, the annual blockbuster will be staged at Darwin's TIO Stadium on Saturday night as a result of Victoria's COVID-19 situation.

It'll be one of two games held at TIO Stadium for Sir Doug Nicholls Round, with Gold Coast and Carlton to open the round on Friday night.

Long, who was born on the Tiwi Islands, raised in Darwin and lives there today, said Dreamtime in Darwin would be a mighty occasion.

"We were hoping to get a slice of the hub, but it's enormous for the Territory to get the Dreamtime game. To get Essendon and Richmond, especially with the success Richmond have had in the last few years, is great for us," Long told RSN 927 on Wednesday.

"We're all overwhelmed by getting those games here, especially the Dreamtime, because it's something so special.

"Having Daniel (Richmond's Daniel Rioli) and 'Tippa' (Essendon's Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti) come back ... obviously it's restricted to 5000, but to play in front of your home crowd (is special). We'll be cheering them on, but hopefully Essendon get over the line."

An event synonymous with the annual Dreamtime game, The Long Walk will be held over a five-day online event in the lead-up to Dreamtime in Darwin.

Pioneered by Long after his trek from Melbourne to Canberra in 2004 to meet then-prime minister John Howard and put the lives of Indigenous Australians back on the national agenda, The Long Walk is open to all Australians committed to reconciliation, equality and the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Click here to find out how you can walk virtually with Long this week.