Ronnie Burns can remember his move from Geelong to Adelaide like it was yesterday.

The 2002 AFL season had ended and Burns, an exciting, Indigenous small forward, was heading towards the back end of his career.

He had played 134 games for the Cats, won their leading goalkicker award five times and was halfway through his four-year contract.

But all Burns craved was that elusive Premiership.

At the time, he believed the best chance to snagging a flag was to switch to the Crows.

Speaking to AFC Media in an exclusive chat for Adelaide’s Members ahead of this weekend’s Sir Doug Nicholls Round, Burns said most people believed the Cats had wanted to trade him.

But, in fact, Burns revealed it was the other way around.

“It was my decision to leave, but a lot of people made the assumption that the Cats got rid of me,” Burns said.

“Gary Ayres was my first coach at Geelong, I was 31 years old at that stage (when I decided to leave the Cats).

“At that time, we weren’t (Geelong) playing finals and there wasn't really a window for me to get a Grand Final in those next two years.

“I had a phone call from ‘Bomber’ (Mark) Thompson and he told me I was still a required player but I made the decision to head to the Crows.”

The deal was struck in the final 30 minutes of the trade period that year, with the Crows giving up Ben Finnin in exchange for Burns.

“It was a rush because it was done in 30 minutes before the deadline,” Burns said.

“I was concerned it wouldn’t get done, I was still part of Geelong’s plan but I made that decision when I was overseas.

“I also had to take a pay cut to come to the Crows.

“But back then, it was about playing in a Grand Final. I was close to the end of my career and that’s all I wanted.”

Burns went on to kick 23 goals from 18 games during his first season at the Crows, but played just two games the following year and retired at the end of 2004.

Although his desire for an AFL Premiership never worked out, Burns said he did not regret his decision to join the Crows and the friendships he forged made the decision worthwhile.

“I came across the year that Wayne Carey came to Adelaide and that took the pressure off me and I could just get down to business,” Burns said.

“I had some great battles with Simon Goodwin, who always played on me when I was at Geelong, Tyson Edwards, but then to get to play alongside these guys was terrific.

“We talk about Ablett and Carey, but when someone asks ‘Who’s the toughest Captain you’ve ever played with?’ I say Mark Ricciuto would be right up there - just his leadership and his quality - once you crossed that white line, you knew it was ‘game on’ with Mark Ricciuto and you just followed him.

“To get to play alongside Andrew McLeod as well was great. We are both from Darwin, so to share the field together was great and I have great memories of that.”

According to Burns, being coached by Ayres was also a factor behind his decision to leave the Cats.

“Gary Ayres has also always been a mentor for me as well, from Geelong,” Burns said.

“He initially got me to Geelong and we’ve always had a great relationship, hence why I moved to Adelaide, to play under him.

“Gary always got the best out of me with my footy career and also mentored me and tried to teach me the good things from the bad things.

“I think I contributed to some of his grey hairs.”

And the former goalsneak said there was one piece of advice Ayres gave him that has remained with him since.

“I wasn’t good at Sunday recovery sessions at Geelong, I missed many sessions,” Burns said.

“He grabbed me by the ear and he said ‘There’s one thing I want you to do when you’re at the Crows, we are here together, don’t miss a Sunday recovery session’.

“I said ‘I won’t let you down’ and I think I missed two.

“He knew my time management wasn’t that good. He taught me a lot, Gary Ayres. As a young, Aboriginal kid coming from Tiwi Islands, growing up, time wasn't a big factor for me.

“Gary taught me a lot about being punctual and it’s better being an hour early, than an hour late, that’s what he used to say.”

Burns’ career ended in Adelaide but his passion for the game began while growing up in the Northern Territory.

Born in the Tiwi Islands, Burns grew up at Pirlangimpi, formerly Garden Point, before moving to Darwin for boarding school and then played with St Mary’s Football Club.

He later moved to Western Australia and lined up for Claremont Football Club, before returning to Darwin.

Burns was then lured back to WA and featured with West Perth in the WAFL, winning the 1995 flag with the Club.

“To get better and be exposed to more footy, a lot of guys from Darwin had to move south,” Burns said.

“I went down there because my uncle, my mum’s brother, Benny Vigona, is a legend down at South Fremantle Football Club, so he took me in and I was recruited to Claremont.

“I got home sick, so went back to Darwin for a bit, but then got lured back to Perth and played with West Perth.

“I ended up making some good friends, found my feet and spent five years with West Perth and played in a losing Grand Final and then a winning Grand Final.”

His performance in the WAFL in 1995 got him noticed by Geelong recruiters and eventually led to him being selected by the Cats at the 1995 AFL National Draft.

“I thought I was done in Perth after winning a flag and I was going to just go back to Darwin and work,” Burns said.

“I had a letter from West Coast to train with them after the flag - the letter was left at West Perth on the table while we were celebrating the flag - I didn’t open that letter and never took the opportunity.

“Footscray (the Bulldogs) had a lot of interest in me - they flew up to Darwin and had a meeting with me - I only had one phone call with Geelong and I never heard from them until they picked me up in the Draft.

“It was a surprise to get picked by Geelong - they picked me up at No.49 and I think Footscray were going to pick me at No.51 or No.52, so they missed out."

The now 50-year-old never played in a Sir Doug Nicholls Round - the AFL introduced Dreamtime at the ‘G between Essendon and Richmond in 2005, before dedicating an entire round to celebrate Indigenous culture from 2007.

Burns said introducing an Indigenous Round was one of the best things the AFL could have done and he was proud of how clubs and fans embraced it.

“How the clubs endorse the guernseys and the entertainment, it’s terrific for the football community,” Burns said.

“There were a lot of discussions in backyards at barbecues with my generation of Indigenous players, we had spoken about how good it would be to have an Indigenous Round.

“We’ve had chats at the back of Michael Long’s place - me, Nicky Winmar, Jeff Farmer -  a lot of this was discussed about how these things should be put in place, which they are now.

“It’s a great way to recognise the contribution Indigenous players - both men and women - have had on our game.”

Nowadays, Burns lives in Victoria and runs Yambuk Labour Solutions - a company which gives opportunities to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in construction and infrastructure projects - with former footballer, John McNamara.

He said he always keeps an eye on Geelong and Adelaide’s games, as he holds soft spots for both clubs.

“I’m still involved with the Cats and they invite me back to do some talks there,” Burns said.

“Geelong gave me the opportunity to start my career, so my heart is with them, but I do follow the Crows and take an interest in how they're going.

“I’ve always had a great relationship with the Crows and I’ve kept in contact and always like to see how they’re progressing.”