The Collingwood Football Club will host a special indigenous curtain raiser match at the MCG this Sunday 31 May 2009, in the lead up to the round 10 AFL game between Collingwood and Port Adelaide.

The match will involve two indigenous teams from remote communities in Central Australia. A combined team from the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands, in the far north west of South Australia will play the Yuendumu Magpies from the Northern Territory, for the inaugural Desert Spirit Cup.

The match is the brainchild of the Industrial Magpies, a coterie of Collingwood and its Chairman, Federal Industrial Relations Commissioner Mr John Lewin. The Industrial Magpies is dedicated to supporting the Yuendumu Magpies and national reconciliation through social inclusion and individual development.

Mr Lewin said: "We are delighted to be able to work with the club and to assist Collingwood’s commitment to support indigenous Australians and live the club's most important principle, ‘Side by Side We Stick Together'." 

Collingwood Football Club President Eddie McGuire said, “We are thrilled to be able to host this match and to see a great deal of hard work from many people come to fruition. I would like to congratulate all the parties involved and in particular the Industrial Magpies who have been at the forefront of our indigenous programs for many years.

“Football clubs play a vital role in remote communities such as Yuendumu, as they bring together people from the surrounding regions and promote positive social behaviours and disciplines. This match and the programs that support it will have a very positive impact on the communities involved. Go the Yuendumu Magpies!”

The Hon Jenny Macklin MP, the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs will present the Desert Spirit Cup along with The Hon Richard Wynne MP Minister of Aboriginal Affairs in Victoria, The Hon Karl Hampton Minister for Aboriginal Affairs in the Northern Territory and the Hon Jay Weatherill MP Minister for Aboriginal Affairs in South Australia.

The match is a joint project between the South Australian, Northern Territory and Victoria Governments, the Port Adelaide and Collingwood Football Clubs together with support from the Australian Football League and Melbourne Cricket Club.

The Desert Spirit Cup will take place at 1.30pm on Sunday at the MCG (Entry is available through Gates 1 and 3.), with the teams contesting 15 minute quarters.

A function will be held at the Lexus Centre on Friday evening and the players from each team will watch Collingwood train on Saturday morning at approximately 10:30am and also take part in a special training session hosted by Collingwood coaching staff after the AFL Magpies train.