A Welcome to Country address will feature at every Crows home game in Season 2016.

An initiative of the Club’s Indigenous players, a Welcome to Country will be played on the Adelaide Oval big screen before each home match, with the exception of Indigenous Round when the ceremony will be performed live.

A Welcome to Country acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land and shows respect for Aboriginal people as Australia’s First Peoples. It is spoken by a traditional Aboriginal custodian or Elder, who welcomes people to their land.

Adelaide Oval is built on the land of the Kaurna people. Kaurna Elder, Uncle Lewis, joined Crows Eddie Betts, Charlie Cameron, Cam Ellis-Yolmen, Wayne Milera Junior and Curtly Hampton at the ground to record a Welcome to Country.

Betts said the introduction of a regular Welcome to Country was a positive step.

“It’s important that we acknowledge our ancestors, the traditional custodians of the land which the Adelaide Oval sits on,” Betts said.

"AFL is an excellent platform to showcase our culture, and to educate the community about our people and our ways. It can help break down the barriers between indigenous and non-indigenous people in a positive way.

“We’ve seen Welcome to Country ceremonies in Indigenous Round before. Now, we’re really proud that our Club has taken the next step towards reconciliation and will perform a Welcome to Country address before every home game.

“It will be great to see.”