“It’s good to be home.”

Those were the words of Michael ‘Magic’ McLean upon his arrival back to VU Whitten Oval during Sir Doug Nicholls Round.

McLean and fellow former Bulldog Alan Thorpe returned to the Club last month to reminisce about their time in the AFL system and share some important messages with the staff at the Bulldogs.

The pair was joined by current players Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Arthur Jones in a panel discussion, facilitated by Bulldogs board member and Wotjobaluk woman Belinda Duarte, to recognise the importance of the round and the Club’s commitment to reconciliation.

“Weekly you were copping (racist remarks) from players,” McLean said.

“Back in the day the siren would go and crowds used to be able to run on the ground.

“I used to have 7-8 year-old kids run up to me and racially vilify me.”

Thorpe regaled some memories of his time and the calibre of players that helped him across his journey.

“I was playing with Chris Grant, Scott West, Luke Darcy, Brad Johnson, Libba – a real good generation of players,” Thorpe said.

“They’re all leaders in the Club in their own right now.

“What I love about this club, I love that this community is diverse. I experience that, I come in feeling that.”

Despite the difficulties of the past, Ugle-Hagan couldn’t be enjoying his time at VU Whitten Oval more, and credited his teammates as the driver behind a safe environment.

“Arty and I here as a team,” Ugle-Hagan said.

“I’ve got my teammates now, the captain is one of my best mates and pretty much my older brother. The experience is completely different to what happened to you.”

Jones expressed his thanks for what McLean and Thorpe had to go through to pave the way for the next generation.

“Hearing the stories, that really hits home,” Jones said.

“I’m sorry that you had to go through that but there is a stage where you had to go through it to make it easier for us.

“Hopefully we can follow your footsteps and educate people. We want to make the world a better place.”